Are you unable to make calm decisions because your anxiety about money is too strong? One of the three major delusions of depression is the “poverty delusion”. In some cases, anxiety makes people unable to stop searching for money, which intensifies their anxiety. I will explain the characteristics of the psychology of poverty delusion and how to escape from poverty delusion.
Excessive anxiety about money continues … What is “poverty delusion”?
Even in the economic situation where you can live comfortably, you may be driven by excessive anxiety about money. “I don’t have money. What should I do?” In this way, the extreme anxiety of “I don’t have money” or “I will run out of money” is called “poverty delusion”.
Why is it that even people who have enough savings and income to live on can still be caught up in the delusion of poverty? I will explain in detail, including psychological coping methods.
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Poverty delusion is one of the three major delusions of depression
Poverty delusions are one of the three major depressive delusions, along with guilt delusions (the presumption that “it’s all my fault”) and hypochondriac delusions (the belief that “I have a serious illness”). Continuing severe depression caused by stress or other factors can distort cognition and lead to serious thinking. One of them is the “poverty delusion”.
Anyone can worry about money. However, by consulting with experts, gathering reliable information, taking a break, and changing your mood, excessive anxiety about money can be eliminated and realistic measures can be considered. Poverty delusions prevent us from thinking rationally in this way and leave us obsessed with money anxiety.
Even if you have enough savings, you think too much that you don’t have enough money
When you get caught up in poverty delusions, you lose your flexible way of thinking and think in a serious direction. Even though I have enough savings in my passbook to live on, I sigh thinking that “this money will run out in no time.” You may fall into extreme thoughts such as “I should sell my house right away” or “I have to stop my child from school.”
Even if people give advice such as “I have enough savings, so I’m fine” or “I have income so don’t worry”, I can only think in a certain direction, “I don’t have money” or “I’m running out of money”. .
Don’t jump to conclusions when you’re worried about money
If the delusions of poverty are intensifying, it is necessary to free yourself from the trap by consulting a psychiatrist or psychological counselor. Once you’ve regained your composure, you’ll be able to think more realistically. Even if you make a mistake, do not rush to conclusions because of poverty delusions. Postpone important decisions.
For example, do not rush to sell your house, move, or drop out of school out of a rush to say, “I have no choice but to sell my house in this situation,” or “I have no choice but to quit my child’s school.” Talking to a trusted financial expert may help you find a viable solution. If you consult with a financial institution or school, they will probably be able to suggest ways to review loan repayment methods and use scholarships.
However, as much as possible, it is desirable to receive such counseling together with your family or partner. In order to consider the situation from multiple angles, it is important not to think alone.
Stay away from disturbing information about money
It’s also important not to collect only serious information about money. If you keep looking at your smartphone or computer, you will repeatedly search for negative information about money, and you will often fall into a hopeless mood. Many people are unable to stop searching for keywords such as “self-bankruptcy” and “loan failure”, and their delusions of poverty are increasing.
Therefore, when you are alone at home, keep your smartphone and computer as far away as possible. You need to make yourself feel better by talking to someone and going outside for a change of mood.
First, restore your mental health and regain a multifaceted perspective
To reiterate, when you are stuck in the delusion of poverty, you can only think in a certain direction such as “I have no money” and “I will run out of money”. However, this is due to temporary distortions in cognition, and once mental health is restored, people will be able to think about money from a variety of perspectives.
Therefore, first of all, take care of yourself and get rid of fatigue. For that reason, talk to a mental health professional or counselor. And let’s aim to create a healthy state that allows you to sleep soundly and eat deliciously.