How Financial Anxiety Shows Up in Everyday Life — and What To Do About It

You’re not imagining it.

That pit in your stomach when you check your bank balance.

The racing thoughts when a bill comes due.

The way your shoulders tense when someone casually brings up retirement.

That’s financial anxiety. And it’s more common than you think.

A recent survey found that 65% of Americans say money is a significant source of stress, and financial concerns consistently rank above work, relationships, and even health worries.

Another study shows that financial stress is linked to sleep problems, anxiety disorders, and even physical health issues like migraines and high blood pressure.

But here’s the thing: financial anxiety doesn’t always show up as panic attacks. More often, it sneaks into everyday life in ways you might not recognize.

Everyday Signs of Financial Anxiety

• Avoidance: Leaving bills unopened, procrastinating on budgeting, or ignoring account balances because it feels overwhelming.

• Overthinking: Constantly replaying “what if” scenarios—what if I lose my job, what if I can’t cover rent, what if I’m not saving enough?

• Physical Symptoms: Trouble sleeping, headaches, stomach issues, or fatigue triggered by money worries.

• Relationship Strain: Tension with a partner, avoiding social plans that involve spending, or guilt when saying “no.”

• Impulse Decisions: Swinging between avoidance and overcompensating—overspending to feel better in the moment, or extreme budgeting that isn’t sustainable.

If you see yourself in these, you’re not alone. And importantly—it doesn’t mean you’re “bad with money.” It means your nervous system is responding to financial uncertainty.

What To Do About It

The good news? You can take steps to calm financial anxiety while also building practical confidence with money.

✨ Name It: Simply recognizing that what you’re experiencing is financial anxiety can reduce shame and give you clarity.

✨ Claim It: It's often easy to identify what we don't do well, but quelling anxiety is possible when we lean into our strengths. Identify what you're good at in terms of your finances and let those strengths be your guide for taking action.

✨ Take One Step: Instead of tackling everything at once, choose one small action (like checking one account balance, or listing monthly bills). Progress—not perfection—is the goal. And after you take that step, celebrate it! Small wins build into bigger ones.

✨ Pair Support with Structure: Studies show that accountability and community dramatically improve follow-through. That could mean a financial coaching session, a body doubling call, or even a workshop where you’re learning alongside others.

✨ Connect Money to Wellness: Just like movement, sleep, and nutrition, your financial well-being is part of your overall health. Reframing it this way can reduce shame and motivate sustainable habits.

How Equip Advisory Can Help

At Equip Advisory, I work with clients to untangle the knots of financial anxiety and replace them with clarity, tools, and strategies that actually fit their lives.

Ways to start:

• 1:1 Coaching Calls → Personalized support for your goals

• Body Doubling Sessions → Get things done together, instead of alone

• Group Workshops → Learn in community, where you don’t have to pretend you’ve got it all figured out

• Newsletter → Monthly updates, advice, and resources to keep moving forward—without shame

You don’t have to carry financial anxiety alone.

You deserve tools, support, and a plan that makes money feel less like a constant annoying background noise—and more like a resource that works for you.

👉 Ready to take the first step? Book a 1:1 session today.