The 7 emotions of overindebtedness

The state of our personal finances affects us more than we think.

Denial, shame, fear, anger, indifference, helplessness, guilt… Overindebtedness gives rise to a variety of emotions, and different people don’t react the same way to the stress created by a precarious situation. In any event, the first step in re-establishing our financial health is to recognize the emotion it provokes.

How do these emotions express themselves? Nothing better than hearing from people who have lived through financial difficulties in order to help you see things more clearly.

“It’s only temporary. By next payday, things will be better.”

This is DENIAL. This emotional state is characterized by the belief that the financial crisis doesn’t really exist, despite some obvious signs and warnings from those we’re close to.

“I’m not the type to go bankrupt.”

The disagreeable feeling of SHAME is caused by the realisation that perhaps we haven’t managed our personal finances as well as we should have. In this case, the person has developed the reflex of defending his weaknesses or failures. No need to be ashamed of declaring bankruptcy.

“I don’t want to lose everything I have.”

Financial hardship can provoke an inordinate amount of FEAR.  This painful emotion is born from the realisation of the gravity of our financial difficulties. It can often lead to financial insomnia, which can profoundly affect the behaviour of someone living with this condition.

“It wasn’t supposed to happen to me.”

Eventually, fear can lead to ANGER.  We can recognize this emotion by the bitterness or the intense rage that we feel towards people who refuse to help us.

“What do you want me to do?”

A feeling of INDIFFERENCE sometimes manifests itself in certain people. We see it in the total lack of concern faced with the precariousness of their situation, as if they can no longer see the trap that awaits them.

“I’ve done everything I can to get out of it, but nothing worked.”

The feeling of having tried everything translates itself into a feeling of HELPLESSNESS. Very close to discouragement, this emotion arises because of our perception that we are unable to remedy our financial situation.

“I don’t want other people to be affected.”

Some people feel massive amounts of GUILT when faced with financial difficulties, leading them to blame themselves for the wrongs they may have done to others. This can keep them away from their loved ones.