Discover how financial stress, debt, and poverty affects your health—causing poor sleep, overwork, and higher risks of chronic illness. 

Financial Stress and Mental Health

Money is more than just a means to pay bills, it is directly tied to our health and well-being. When finances are unstable, the impact stretches far beyond bank accounts. Living in constant worry about debt, job security, and survival takes a serious toll on the body and mind. For those living below the poverty line or just barely getting by, the effects can be devastating. In the Caribbean, financial stress is particularly impactful. For example, in Jamaica, 4 out of 10 adults report mental health challenges linked to money pressures. https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2025/05/29/link-mental-health-finances/

Financial stress is one of the most persistent and exhausting forms of anxiety. When people are unsure if they can afford rent, groceries, or medical bills, their minds rarely rest. This constant state of worry keeps the body in “flight or fight” mode, raising stress hormones like cortisol. Over time, this stress response erodes both physical and mental health. 

How Debt Causes Sleep Problems

Worrying about money often follows people to bed. Tossing and turning through the night becomes routine, leading to a poor quality sleep, or sometimes no sleep at all. Sleep is when the body repairs itself, balances hormones, and restores energy. Without it, fatigue builds, concentration drops, and the immune system weakens. Research shows that chronic sleep deprivation has also been linked to heart disease, diabetes, and depression. 77% of U.S. adults lose sleep over money worries at least some of the time. Among them, 41% deal with this nightly or nightly.  

Overwork, Burnout and Physical Exhaustion

For persons struggling financially, the solution may appear to be work more hours. That might mean getting a second job, asking for extra shifts at work. It could also mean taking on more tasks to prove their value, for fear of being laid off. While that may work short-term, the long-term effect can be burnout, chronic fatigue, and even physical injuries. The body simply cannot function at its best when it is running on empty. Working more than 55 hours a week is not just exhausting, it increases the risk of stroke by 35% and raises the risk of death from heart disease by 17%, as compared to more standard workweeks. 

Lifestyle Struggles When Money is Tight

Living below the poverty line often forces difficult choices. Nutritious food may be too expensive, making fast food or processed items the default. Preventive healthcare may be out of reach, and safe, stable housing may feel like a luxury. Add the weight of stress, and unhealthy coping mechanism, such as smoking, drinking, or overeating, become tempting escapes. Unfortunately, these habits only compound health risks. In the Caribbean, NCDs (like cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes) account for about 75% of all deaths in the region. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/caribbean/brief/the-economic-impact-of-non-communicable-diseases-in-the-caribbean. The economic impact is large: NCDs in some Caribbean costs between 1.36% and 8% of GDP (not including indirect costs like lost work, family burdens, etc.). 

The Cycle of Declining Health and Wealth

Poor health can make it harder to keep working, leading to missed shifts, medical bills, and reduced income. This worsens financial insecurity, creating a vicious cycle that is hard to break. In this way, money problems and health problems are deeply intertwined, each fuelling the other. 

Steps Toward Breaking the Cycle

While systemic solutions like fair wages, affordable housing, and universal healthcare are essential, individuals can also take steps to protect their health during financial struggles: 

• Prioritise sleep: Create a bedtime routine to calm the mind, even if worries linger. 

• Practice stress relief: Exercise, meditation, and deep breathing can reduce cortisol levels. 

• Seek support: Talking with friends, family, or a counselor can ease the burden. 

• Look for community resources: Charities, financial literacy courses, and local free health clinics can provide crucial help. 

If you are ready to take charge of your financial affairs and create a healthier life for yourself, check out this article on budgeting to help you get started.  https://livingloudonabudget.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=111&action=edit

Book a discovery call to discuss how we can help you on your journey to financial wholeness https://calendly.com/tanja-livingloud/30min?month=2025-10