However, money is also intensely emotional. It is, after all, the biggest source of anxiety amongst UK adults, especially young adults. In fact, money is mental...

Feeling low or anxious is a normal response when you've lost your job, been made redundant, or you're struggling with debt. And poor mental health can make earning and managing money harder. It can start to feel like a vicious cycle.

For example, these are some common ways money and mental health can affect each other:

- Certain situations might trigger feelings of anxiety and panic. Like looking at your bank or credit card statements, or dealing with bills.
- Being in debt or dealing with the benefits system can cause ongoing feelings of stress.
- If you're feeling low, spending can give you a brief high, so you might overspend to make yourself feel better.
- Worrying about money can lead to sleep problems.
- Money problems can affect your social life and relationships. You might feel lonely or isolated.
- If you're feeling low, you may lack motivation to manage your finances. It might not feel worthwhile trying.

As money is mental, working out your habits and thought patterns around money is often the best place to start. Think about when you spend or save money and why. Think about what aspects of dealing with money make your mental health worse. Recording what you spent and why and how you were feeling before and afterwards can help you work out any triggers or patterns. Sometimes just being aware of these patterns can help you feel more in control.

Of course, there are also a ton of great practical resources available, from the Government’s Money Advice Service to the more commercial sites like Martin Lewis’s MoneySavingExpert. And of course, our wellbeing partners, Care first and Thrive can also help.

How Care first Can Help With Your Financial Wellbeing

The Care first lifestyle online portal has articles, webinars and tools on a range of financial issues - household money, budgeting, credit cards & debt and benefits. Their team of Information Specialists can also be contacted free of charge via the free phone support line.

Online Support: The Care first Lifestyle portal is available at:
www.carefirst-lifestyle.co.uk
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Information Specialist Support: Care first have expert advisors that have been trained by Citizens Advice and who can provide you with comprehensive answers and assistance on a wide range of issues which can affect daily life.

Information Support Line: 0800 174 319

Counselling Support. Care first also have a team of professionally trained, qualified and BACP Accredited Counsellors available 24/7 to offer support. No matter how big or small the problem may be, Care first counsellors are here for you.

Counselling Support Line: 0800 174 319

Thrive Webinar on Financial Wellbeing - Click here to register

Wednesday 22nd July 11am: Financial Wellbeing - Live Panel Q&A - hosted by Johanna Scheutzow, Thrive Business Psychologist + guest panellists Darren Laverty, Lee Healey and Jerry During.

Thrive are joined by three expert panelists from the industry: Darren Laverty - Partner at Secondsight, a leading employee benefits provider; Lee Healey - Founder of IncomeMax, who provide independent personal money advice for the real world; and Jerry During - CEO and Co-Founder of Money A+E, who transform lives through money advice and education.

They will discuss:

- The relevance of financial wellbeing
- How financial stress affects our health
- Tips on how to manage financial stress
- Open Q&A session with panelists