Soaring interest rates and soaring food prices are a permanent feature of everyday life these days. And the stress over wallet issues takes its toll on the body.
"The biggest stress factor is uncertainty. We do not know how prices will develop and therefore cannot make a plan, says Niclas Almén, psychologist and stress researcher at Mid Sweden University in Sundsvall.
A low-intensity threat
When we feel a threat to something important, the body reacts by secreting stress hormones. It prepares the body for a fight against what threatens our existence, such as the lack of money.
"The economy is a resource that can protect us against almost everything. It allows us to satisfy our basic needs such as eating and having a roof over our heads. Without money, we cannot put food on the table for our children.
Niclas Almén says that stress is sometimes so low intensity that we don't think about it. But it bubbles under the surface.
"In principle, the body reacts to financial stress in the same way as any other stress," he says.
Limit the news
As we are constantly reminded of the situation, it also becomes difficult to let go of the thoughts of it.
"It can help to concretise exactly what you are afraid of. What's the worst that can happen and what courses of action do I have? How likely is it that the worst will happen? says Niclas Almén.
As a rule, stress is not a problem for us – provided that you can let it go sometimes.
"It becomes a problem if we watch a TV report about economics for five minutes and then think about it for three hours afterwards. Then you should probably limit your news consumption, says Niclas Almén.
In the clip, the psychologist explains what symptoms to watch out for and what protects us from financial stress.