When I glance at my bank balance, my heart races. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Money anxiety is real, and it can be as subtle as a mild discomfort or as intense as a full-blown panic attack.

Understanding human behavior is a complex puzzle, especially when it involves financial matters. But those who experience this type of anxiety are often found to share 8 specific behaviors.

In an increasingly digital world, where we’re constantly dealing with numbers and transactions, it’s crucial to understand these patterns. By doing so, we can take steps to manage our money-related stress better.

Let’s dive into these behaviors and hopefully provide some insight into why your bank balance might give you the jitters.

1) Instant heart palpitations

It’s like a rush of adrenaline, but not the good kind.

You’re about to log into your online banking account, and as your finger hovers over the mouse or touch screen, your heart starts to pound in your chest like a drum.

It’s a physical reaction that’s completely out of your control – almost as if your body is preparing for some kind of imminent danger.

Crazy, right?

But it’s not just you. Many people who get anxious when checking their bank balance experience this same physiological response. It’s the body’s primal ‘fight or flight’ reaction kicking in, even though there’s no real physical threat.

And while it might feel overwhelming and even a bit scary at times, recognizing this behavior is the first step towards managing it.

Understanding what triggers our anxiety can help us develop coping strategies and ultimately lead to a healthier relationship with our finances.

2) Procrastination

I’ll admit it, I’ve been there.

Remember when I mentioned the feeling of a knot in your stomach? Well, this often leads to the next behavior: procrastination.

There was a time when I would put off checking my bank balance for days, even weeks.

Every time I thought about it, that familiar sense of dread would creep in. So, I’d find something else to do, something to distract myself from the financial reality waiting for me on the other side of that login screen.

I’d tell myself, “I’ll check it tomorrow,” and then tomorrow would become the next day and the next… Before I knew it, weeks had passed and I still hadn’t faced that balance.

But here’s the thing: ignoring the problem didn’t make it go away. In fact, it only made things worse because I wasn’t taking control of my financial situation.

It took me a while to realize that procrastination was just a temporary solution to a long-term problem. By acknowledging this behavior and working to overcome it, I was able to take significant steps towards reducing my money-related anxiety.

3) Overthinking

When it comes to checking the bank balance, some of us tend to get caught in a loop of negative thoughts. We start imagining worst-case scenarios, foreseeing financial disasters, and often blowing things out of proportion.

Did you know that humans have around 6,200 thoughts per day, according to recent research by Queen’s University? Now imagine if a significant portion of those thoughts are consumed by financial worries. It’s exhausting, isn’t it?

Overthinking is a common behavior among those who experience bank balance anxiety. It’s the brain’s attempt to solve an issue or prepare for a potential crisis. But instead of helping, it often amplifies the stress and makes the situation feel a lot worse than it actually is.

Being aware of this pattern is crucial because it allows us to challenge these thoughts and bring ourselves back to reality. Remember, overthinking leads to unnecessary worry and rarely results in productive solutions.

4) Excessive checking

On the flip side of procrastination, some of us react to money anxiety by obsessively checking our bank account. It’s like a compulsion – you might know that nothing has changed since you last checked an hour ago, but you still feel the need to verify.

This constant checking can become a time-consuming distraction. It might give you a temporary sense of control, but in reality, it’s just feeding your anxiety and keeping you stuck in a cycle of worry and reassurance.

The key here is to find a balance. It’s important to stay informed about your financial situation, but obsessively checking your bank balance can do more harm than good.

By recognizing this behavior, you can start to take steps towards managing your money anxiety in a healthier way.

5) Avoidance

This one hits close to home for me. I used to avoid any conversation or situation that involved money. Whether it was a dinner out with friends where we had to split the bill, a casual chat about investments, or even a trip to the grocery store, I’d feel a wave of unease.

In my experience, avoidance is a common coping mechanism for those of us who get anxious about our bank balance.

It’s like we believe that if we can steer clear of anything money-related, our financial problems will magically disappear. But deep down, we know that’s not how it works.

I had to learn this the hard way. Avoidance doesn’t solve anything; it only delays the inevitable. By facing these situations head-on and participating in money-related conversations, I found that my anxiety lessened over time.

So if you’re like me and have a habit of sidestepping anything to do with finances, remember: avoidance isn’t the answer. Facing our fears is the first step towards overcoming them.

6) Splurging

Now, this might seem a bit unexpected, but hear me out.

Sometimes, those of us who get anxious about our bank balance respond by spending even more money. It’s as if we’re trying to prove to ourselves that everything is fine, that we’re not in financial trouble.

This behavior often manifests in buying expensive items we don’t really need or going on shopping sprees to distract ourselves from the stress. Ironically, this only exacerbates the problem and contributes to more financial anxiety in the long run.

Recognizing this pattern is crucial for breaking the cycle. It’s important to remember that while retail therapy might provide temporary relief, it’s not a long-term solution to financial anxiety.

7) Sleepless nights

Money worries can often rob us of a good night’s sleep. If you find yourself lying awake at night, your mind racing with thoughts about your bank balance, bills, debts, or future expenses, you’re not alone.

Sleep is vital for our mental and physical health. But when financial anxiety takes over, it can disrupt our sleep patterns and lead to a host of other problems like fatigue, mood swings, and even more stress.

It’s important to acknowledge the impact that financial anxiety can have on our sleep. By doing so, we can start looking for ways to manage our worries and ensure they don’t encroach on our rest.

It might be as simple as establishing a relaxing bedtime routine or implementing a ‘worry time’ during the day to tackle these thoughts head-on.

8) Denial

Perhaps the most dangerous behavior of all is denial. Pretending that everything is fine, ignoring the signs of financial trouble, and refusing to accept the reality of our situation can have serious consequences.

Denial might seem like an easy way out, but it only delays the inevitable. It prevents us from taking proactive steps to address our financial issues and ultimately leads to more stress and anxiety.

Recognizing and confronting denial is crucial. It’s the first step towards taking control of our finances, managing our anxiety, and moving towards a healthier financial future.

Embracing the journey

If you’ve made it this far, it’s clear that you’re not alone in your financial anxiety. And, even more importantly, there’s a path forward.

Dealing with money anxiety isn’t about achieving perfection. Rather, it’s about recognizing our behaviors, understanding their impact, and taking small, consistent steps towards change.

Remember, every journey towards financial wellness begins with a single step. So whether it’s acknowledging your fear, checking your bank balance regularly, or seeking professional advice, each step is a victory in its own right.

Money is a tool – not a measure of your worth or happiness. And while it’s perfectly normal to feel anxious about it from time to time, it doesn’t have to control your life.

As you reflect on these behaviors and how they may relate to your own experiences, know this: you are more than the balance in your bank account. You are capable of overcoming financial anxiety. And most importantly, you’re not alone on this journey.

Because at the end of the day, we’re all just trying to find our balance in this chaotic yet beautiful world of numbers and transactions.