Is it normal to have a constant feeling of anxiety about the CoL?

[CharChar91]

First of all I appreciate there are people/families in a much more desperate situation than we are and this isn't to say I've got it worse or a woe is me plea.

I have a constant feeling of uneasiness and anxiety bubbling away in the background about the Cost of Living crisis/finances. I'm not sure if this is a perfectly normal feeling that (unfortunately) a large chunk of the population have at the moment, or if it's something I need to speak to my doctor about.

It's getting to the point where it's all consuming, I think about it morning noon and night and I have an overwhelming feeling of bleakness and that 'this is it' now. Like I have to accept the fact it's going to be a constant struggle and just put on my big girl pants and get on with it.

We're making a very conscious effort as a couple to plan and spend sensibly. In fact I've never felt this close with DP in terms of our finances, but I feel just... gloom!!

Unfortunately it's not something I can seem to snap out of and I believe it's starting to make me ill (constantly got a cold, feel run down etc). Is this just a normal reaction to a stressful situation or do I need to speak to my doctor?

I'd stop watching the news / reading about it online and looking at threads on here.

If you've done a proper budget and can cover the bills it is disproportionate.

I think if it’s become so all encompassing, it is probably worth a chat with your GP, yes. Be kind to yourself @CharChar91 it’s been a tough few years and I’m sure there are lots of people also feeling that it’s a bit of a last straw.

Yes it is normal, unfortunately. You do not need to see a GP unless you try to manage it with self-help and that fails to improve matters. You are understandably stressed due to real life events and I would say you need to put yourself onto an active stress management plan - so more exercise, more rest, more active relaxation (e.g. craft or cookery are good), better food, less drinking, less news, try meditation or journalling, or active gratitude.

I watched the Channel Five 'Britain on the Brink' (stressful title!) last night and this feeling was described.

Worrying times = worried people. Do not listen to toxic positivity twats who think humans should be immune to their world. I am not worried for myself but rather worried for the country. One of the things the Tory cunts don't get is lots of us are not that happy to see other people suffer with their bills! But you can definitely improve your stress response, we all can. for you.

Being on Mumsnet can induce anxiety and paranoia especially about CoL "crisis"
Ditto listening/watching/reading news - they love to start a frenzy and keep whipping it up.

It's great that you and your DP are close. Concentrate on that you'll get through this.

This

MN is awful for depressing doom mongering

It depends. If you are actually in a position where you will struggle to pay for the basic necessities or if you are in a place where you can just get by day to day but couldn't afford to replace your washing machine if it broke then yes, that's the kind of feeling many people in that position have because it is a real and constant worry and one they are powerless to change or control.

If that's not you then you need to reframe your thinking. You are making savings and taking the action you can and you need to relax and bit and remember to enjoy life too.

How old are you OP? Because if I were younger we would be (as a gang of young friends) finding multi occupancy renting stock, think one couple per double bedroom. Eating together, staying in more and socialising at home.

If you are living as just a couple I would be looking at changing to not spend unnecessarily, so I wouldn't cut out holidays if at all possible, but would cut out beauty treatments that could be done at home, look at one car per house if possible, eat vegetarian a fair bit have meat/eating out as a treat, shop charity shops, not buy any new books read what I have (this always applies) and use library. Cut out gym membership and work out at home/jogging online yoga, gardening, dancing whilst hoovering.

So depends where you are in life.

Try and stop thinking doom and gloom and start taking some positive steps to reduce outgoings, if you can increase incomings, and find beauty and fun in the free around you.

It won't last forever nothing ever does.

I have anxiety and take medication for it. I would recommend turning off the news and staying in control of your own finances written down and journalling at night how you feel.
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I think it's perfectly understandable and probably pretty normal, but not a good place to be in. I agree with other posters, definitely see what you can do in the way of self-help. My concern is that with the health service and waiting times being what they are, trying to see your doctor might just be another thing to add to your anxiety pile rather than something that actually helps you.
It's particularly tough now I think because everything is just around the corner - we know energy prices are high but winter hasn't really kicked in yet so we don't know how cold we might be, we know interest rates are going up but we don't know how far. I think it's the uncertainty that is harder to handle. Hopefully as time goes on we'll at least know where we stand more and that will let our minds settle down a bit.

I think this depends on your position. If you have to economise (reasonably) but will be OK if you do, it’s extreme. If you are facing significant problems (heating or eating, being evicted / having house repossessed) and can’t see away out of it, you are not.

It depends. If you're barely keeping afloat, it's totally normal to feel this way. If you're financially OK and still worried sick, you should talk to someone.

I'm guessing you're much younger than I am, OP because while I have taken stock and made changes, I do feel I've been here before.

I think it's sensible to try to eliminate wasting money whatever that means to you. To me, it's not using the tumble dryer if I can dry washing on the line or indoors even if I have to wait a couple of days for better weather. I haven't turned on the heating yet, but I have made sure I'm not cold - as soon as I am, it'll go on. I'd rather do that and be able to afford to eat well, go on holiday and heat the house when it's really cold. I'm lucky in being able to do that - in the past, there have been times when I couldn't buy enough food, threats to cut off electricity etc.

I would also think long term - one of the best things I did when I was poor and pregnant was to start studying and get qualified. It took a while, but it changed my life.

I think there is false binary in your question. You are asking - 1) is it real? Or 2) is it in my head and my head needs support?

But we don’t see it this way for other crises do we? Bereavement, war, terminal illness, for example. These are BOTH extremely real, and deserving of mental health support which people access without batting an eyelid.

So the CoL crises too is similarly very real and your anxiety merited. But like any other real crises - you also deserve and should access support for your ability to respond to it.