Let’s face it: money is often an awkward topic. Although we’re expected to know how to manage it, we’re not allowed to discuss it. Your experiences with money have been negative or complicated. There are many reasons why money triggers stress for so many people. It’s normal to worry about money sometimes, especially when unexpected emergencies arise, or you’re feeling uncertain about the stability of your job. However, ignoring or avoiding the root causes of money stressors can lead to anxiety and even trauma.

There are a bunch of reasons why financial anxiety can hit you. Maybe you’re dealing with student loan debt, trying to make ends meet in a new city, or comparing yourself with those “picture-perfect” lives on social media. These examples are called triggers. A trigger or stressor is an action or situation that can lead to an adverse emotional reaction.
Depending on how or what you do to cope with triggers, this could lead to an urge. The urge becomes more intense. This may happen gradually or very suddenly.

This urge can cloud your judgment and cause you to feel, think, and act in ways that may negatively affect you. For example, you may spend too much money at Target or fear being judged or rejected because of your financial situation. You may even replay inevitable financial missteps and avoid situations, places, or people that trigger these thoughts.