While talking about mental health, a lot of us neglect the fact that our financial well-being directly impacts our mental & emotional health. Having spoken to scores of people about the nature of anxiety during COVID-19, almost all complained about the uncertainty of their financial health.
Some of the most common statements were:
- My employer won’t be able to pay me this month, I don’t know what to do?
- My clients have pulled off their projects, there’s no money anywhere!!!
- I’m running out of my emergency funds!
- I was supposed to join a new company, but now they don’t want me?
- I have to pay my employees, but how?
Such thoughts are extremely tormenting and often are met with responses like “it’ll all be okay soon” or “keep a positive outlook” and so on. But it’s horribly distressing to hear these things as instead of helping it causes more anxiety. What a person in such a situation really wants is validation of their feelings, someone who understands , empathizes and doesn’t dole out advice.
Although it’s easier said than done, finding a person who understands you during a pandemic like this can be challenging. Hence, here are a few pointers to help you navigate through these distressing times, especially if finance is your pain point.
Accept that not everything will go back to being as it was. Not immediately at least.
It can give you palpitations and your chest may tighten when you realize that things are not going to be the same as it were. However, accepting the fact will help move forward rather than being stuck in the hamster wheel of thoughts.
Work out the best and the worst scenarios
It’s important to understand where you stand and where you can go with your present resources. Having a blueprint of the best and worst that can happen, will help you mentally eliminate uncertainty. It isn’t easy, but will ease out a lot of pressure and empower you with multiple options.
Find your cheerleaders
Friends and family are the ones we always turn to in times of need. But this time find those people who could be your cheerleaders, the ones who have faith in you and can give you the encouragement you need right now to pull through.
Look for an alternative perspective
We often believe that we know best. However, sometimes, changing the lens and approaching challenges from another angle can make all the difference. Talking to people and sharing your problems might bring to light an alternative perspective.
It’s time to be vulnerable
Vulnerability is a strength! It takes immense courage to open up and ask for help, to pour out your feelings and be completely honest with someone. But once you do, help is never too far away. How often have you tried to put up a brave face while you were crumbling inside? It’s okay to ask for help.
Your image is not dependant on WHAT you do but HOW you do it
Another aspect of being vulnerable is being worried about how we’ll be perceived. However, it doesn’t matter what you do. You could either scream and shout so that people don’t approach you or you could request some alone time. In both cases, you achieve being alone. It’s HOW you do it.
List out what IS working for you and the lessons
Being caught up in the thought chain, we often don’t even notice what is working in our favor. Taking a pen and paper to actually list down what you might be earning from this experience can have a positive effect. You’ll have something to be glad about. You may even find out your unknown strengths. It was not all for nothing!
Name your feelings/ emotions to understand your inner self better
What does that make you feel like? Anger? Sadness? Naming your feelings and getting in touch with your inner self is often very liberating. Once you know what you are feeling, dwell deeper and try to understand where in your body do you feel it. Is it your chest or somewhere else? Simply staying with the feelings can dissipate them.
The above mentioned may not improve your financial condition, but it will most certainly give you the strength to pull through these trying times. The best part about the pandemic is that we all are in the same boat and together we’ll come out stronger. All we have to do is look around and you’ll find so many others who are with you!