Why depression, anxiety, and chronic pain worsen during hard economic times

When the economy struggles, it doesn’t just hit your wallet—it can impact your emotional and physical health, too. During times of financial hardship, you might notice your depression deepening, anxiety intensifying, or chronic pain flaring up. These effects are caused by a mix of stress, reduced access to care, and unhealthy coping mechanisms, among other factors. Let’s break it down in a way that’s easy to understand, with examples to make things clearer.

1. Financial Stress Takes a Heavy Toll

Money problems can weigh on your mind like a constant cloud overhead. When you’re worried about how to pay your bills or feed your family, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed, and that stress can spiral into sadness or hopelessness (depression) or make you feel restless, anxious, or even panicked (anxiety). For example, if you’ve ever had a sleepless night thinking about overdue payments, you’ve experienced the mental toll financial stress can take. Research links economic hardship to mental health struggles, with clear evidence that financial insecurity fuels anxiety and depression (Marmot & Bell, 2019).

2. Feeling Alone and Ashamed

Economic struggles often make people withdraw from their social circles. Maybe you stop going out with friends because you can’t afford it, or maybe you feel ashamed to share your financial situation. This kind of isolation leaves you feeling lonely, and loneliness is a known driver of depression and anxiety. For instance, imagine skipping a regular family dinner because you’re embarrassed to admit you’re having money troubles. Over time, that isolation can make you feel even more lost and cut off from support networks (Cacioppo & Cacioppo, 2014).

3. Stress Makes Pain Worse

Stress doesn’t just weigh on your emotions; it affects your body too. When you’re under long-term stress, your body produces cortisol—a hormone meant to help in short bursts but harmful when levels stay high. Elevated cortisol can cause inflammation, which makes chronic pain conditions like arthritis, migraines, or fibromyalgia worse. For instance, if you’re dealing with back pain and worried about losing your job, that stress can amplify the physical discomfort, creating a vicious cycle of worsening pain (Vierck, 2006).

4. Access to Healthcare Becomes Harder

In tough economic times, many people lose their health insurance or can’t afford medical care. This means delaying or skipping important treatments for mental health or chronic pain. Let’s say you’re managing anxiety with therapy and medication but suddenly can’t afford either. Without support, your anxiety might spiral, making it harder to function. Similarly, chronic pain conditions often worsen when physical therapy or pain management becomes unaffordable (Druss et al., 2001).

5. It’s Tougher for Some People

While everyone feels economic hardship, certain groups face even bigger challenges. Single parents, low-income families, and people with preexisting health conditions are especially vulnerable. Imagine being a single mom working two jobs, barely able to make ends meet. On top of financial stress, you may not have time to focus on your own mental or physical health, leaving depression or chronic pain unmanaged (Gallo et al., 2006).

6. Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms

During stressful times, it’s easy to fall into unhealthy habits, like drinking, smoking, or overeating. While these might feel like quick fixes for stress or sadness, they can make things worse in the long run. For example, turning to alcohol to manage anxiety might give you temporary relief, but it can lead to depression, addiction, and even physical health issues like liver problems. These behaviors only make it harder to recover and move forward (Esser & Jernigan, 2018).

Conclusion

When money is tight, it’s not just your wallet that suffers—your mind and body feel the strain too. Depression, anxiety, and chronic pain often worsen during economic struggles due to financial stress, isolation, lack of healthcare access, and unhealthy habits. But understanding why this happens can help you find solutions. Reach out for support—whether from friends, community programs, or affordable healthcare options. Focus on healthy coping strategies, like mindfulness or exercise, to help manage stress. Remember, these tough times don’t last forever, and there are ways to take care of yourself even when things feel overwhelming.

Bibliography

1. Marmot, M., & Bell, R. (2019). Social determinants and mental health. The Lancet Psychiatry, 6(8), 659-660.
2. Cacioppo, J. T., & Cacioppo, S. (2014). Social relationships and health: The toxic effects of perceived social isolation. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 8(2), 58-72.
3. Vierck, C. J. (2006). Mechanisms underlying development of spatially distributed chronic pain. Pain, 124(3), 242-263.
4. Druss, B. G., Marcus, S. C., Olfson, M., Tanielian, T., Elinson, L., & Pincus, H. A. (2001). Comparing the national economic burden of five chronic conditions. Health Affairs, 20(6), 233-241.
5. Gallo, W. T., Bradley, E. H., Siegel, M. J., & Kasl, S. V. (2006). Health effects of involuntary job loss among older workers: Findings from the Health and Retirement Survey. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 61(3), S221-S229.
6. Esser, M. B., & Jernigan, D. H. (2018). Multisectoral action for reducing alcohol harm: Challenges for the alcohol control community. Addiction, 113(4), 623-625.