Vicious Cycles: Financial, Physical And Mental Health

Feedback loops are powerful forces of nature. Melting polar ice caps reduce the earth’s reflectivity, causing it to absorb more heat from the sun, which accelerates the melting. The cumulative, accelerating aspects of such loops make it imperative to break the cycle before it gets out of control. Below, I identify three feedback loops among financial and physical and mental health and some ideas for breaking these vicious cycles.

Let’s begin with stress. Stress is the body’s response to any demand made on it. It affects almost every system of the body, including heartbeat, breath, muscles and our brains. A little stress can be a good thing, if it motivates us to respond constructively to a threat or opportunity and if it doesn’t last too long.

Unfortunately, stress resulting from financial challenges is often chronic, affecting 26% of Americans most or all of the time. Unexpected expenses, the need to save for retirement and out of pocket health care expenses are major culprits.

Source: 3 Vicious Cycles: Links Among Financial, Physical And Mental Health