I was talking with a friend the other day about the unique and different challenges that men and women face. We explored the unique challenges women have that men may not have.
And in response to the challenges men face, her response was that she would not want the stress and pressure of being a sole financial provider for a family. I know that in today's families, the couple takes on the financial wellbeing of the family together. Most couples both have jobs that bring in income for the family. Yet men often still feel the burden of ensuring that their family is taken care of financially. When something impacts the financial wellbeing of the family, men often take on the responsibility for the impact and how to improve the situation.
The weight and burden of this responsibility can be heavy.
6 Ways Men Can Manage the Stress of Financial Strain
There is a lot in the news today that can create a sense of financial stress for men. Inflation numbers increasing, banks failing, reports of mass layoffs in various industries, wars in far off lands all can make for a sense of financial insecurity. As counselors specializing in men's counseling, financial stress tends to be one of the main causes of depression and anxiety in men. The weight and burden can feel very heavy at times. There are ways that have been shown to be effective in helping men manage the strain that financial stress can bring. Below are a few of the suggestions that our counselors for men provide the men they work with and help them to implement. While these are a few suggestions, it's by far not a complete list. These suggestions may be helpful for you or they may help you find your own ways to manage the strain of financial stress so that the strain doesn't lead to depression or anxiety.
There are several ways that men can cope with financial stress, according to our men's therapists. Here are some strategies that may be helpful:
1. Reach Out & Talk With Someone
I know. I'm a man and know what it's like to want to manage the strain of financial stress on my own. I don't want to burden other people with my problems. And besides, how is talking with someone about it going to help or change anything? We can be our own worst enemy sometimes. If we stay in our own heads when facing financial strain, we may be in an echo chamber of negativity and irrationality. It can be hard to see clearly when we're stuck in the fog of our own thoughts.
Reach out to a trusted family member or friend. Sometimes just the very act of saying your thoughts out loud to someone can bring clarity you didn't have before.
Many times, men report that as they were talking with someone, the answers came to them while in the process of talking. Others may have perspectives that you had not thought of too. We've heard the phrase, "two heads are better than one"?
Having an outside perspective on challenges that we face can be invaluable. If you think back, you've probably experienced this at some point in your own career.
2. Take Care of Yourself First
At face value, this seems rather selfish. However, when was the last time you took a flight somewhere? Do you remember the instructions the flight attendant gave in case of loss of cabin pressure? When the oxygen masks drop and you are sitting with a child, you are instructed to FIRST place the oxygen mask on yourself, then the child. Why is this? Well, as an adult, we're no good to anyone if we are passed out due to lack of oxygen! The same is very much true with stress. We all have our limits to our stress tolerance level. Some can take more than others, but what we all have in common is we have our limits. It's important that we do things to help manage our stress and take care of ourselves. Prioritizing self-care is a critical part of managing the strain of financial pressure. Self-care can include things like:
Getting the right amount of sleep, consistently,
Making exercise a part of your daily/weekly routine,
Eating a healthy diet,
Meditating or yoga,
Making a point to enjoy your favorite sport or hobby,
Being creative in supporting the important relationships in your life, etc.
Financial stress can take a toll on your mind, body, and emotions. Taking care of yourself will help you weather the storm. And the storm will blow over at some point.
3. Create a Budget
The stress of financial strain can do funny things to our thoughts and emotions. Our emotional brain can kick in at times and make us believe that things are far worse, dire, or ruin is just around the corner. Creating a budget gives us data to combat some of the more irrational thoughts our emotional brain creates. It can also help you feel more in control of your finances and see areas where you may be able to pull back on spending.
4. Be Proactive & Creative
It can feel overwhelming and leave us feeling powerless when financial strain hits. Yet we do have more options that we initially think.
There is a chance that your creditors will work with you and help by creating a payment plan. There are opportunities out there to also increase your income. These could be temporary side jobs or finding opportunities for passive income.
Lastly, seeking financial counseling or coaching can help too. A financial advisor or coach has worked with many men in your same situation. They may have ideas and plans of action that you may not have thought of.
5. Notice the Things That You Have & Practice Gratitude
No matter how tough things can get, we do have things in our lives that we can be grateful for:
We could find a feeling of gratitude in the friends and family we have,
The roof over our head,
The food we have to eat,
Our health,
Our children bring a sense of pride and gratitude (most of the time!).
Instead of focusing on the things that you don't have, practice gratitude for the things you do have. It will not change the fact that you are experiencing financial strain, but it can help decrease the amount of stress you feel.
6. If Things Seem to Spiral: Find a Men's Counselor in Katy, TX
When men (and women too) experience prolonged and chronic stress, it can spiral and often create depression or anxiety. When stress has turned into anxiety or depression, it is time to get some coaching.
We can manage many things on our own and be quite successful at that. But when depression or anxiety hits, this is something to tackle early and with someone who has helped others overcome anxiety and depression in men.
The longer anxiety and depression are allowed to take root, the more difficult it can be to overcome.
The key is to act when you first notice the signs of anxiety or depression. This way, it hasn't taken hold in your psyche and often can be resolved faster than letting it fester over time.
If talk therapy isn't your jam, a men's counselor can help direct you to other effective approaches in helping you overcome depression or anxiety. Some of those approaches include:
(Provided at Katy Counseling for Men in Katy, TX)
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)
(Provided at Katy Counseling for Men in Katy, TX)
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
(Provided at Katy Counseling for Men in Katy, TX)
tDCS (Can provide referral)
tMS (Can provide referral)
Katy Counseling for Men: Specializing in Men's Counseling Katy, TX & Houston
At Katy Counseling for Men, there is finally a place in Katy, TX where we specialize in men's counseling. Our men's counselors have focused their careers on counseling men and gaining advanced training in those approaches that can help men build stronger futures.
There is now specialized help available for you in Katy, TX. You don't need to trudge this challenging road alone. You have men's therapists to help walk that road with you and help build a stronger future, together!
At our Katy, TX location of Katy Counseling for Men, we are ready to help. If you are ready to start, all you need to do is follow these three simple steps:
Contact Katy Counseling for Men
Meet with one of our specialists in men's counseling
Start your journey in building your stronger future!
Other Support Services Offered at Katy Counseling for Men: Katy, TX & Houston
At our Katy, TX location of Katy Counseling for Men, we have a variety of both talk therapy and non-talk therapy approaches in counseling for men. Below are a few of what we have to offer:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (Talk Therapy)
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) (Not Talk Therapy)
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) (Not Talk Therapy)
Trauma therapy
PTSD treatment
Counseling for anxiety
Counseling for social anxiety
Board Certified Neurofeedback (Brain Training)
Peak performance (optimal academic brain performance)
Marriage Counseling & Couples Therapy
About the Author
Jason Drake is a Licensed Clinical Worker - Supervisor (LCSW-S), Board Certified in Neurofeedback, EMDR trained, and a Certified Brain Health Professional through the Amen Clinic.
Jason is the owner of Katy Counseling Specialists, PLLC (KCS). KCS is the parent company for Katy Teen & Family Counseling and Katy Counseling for Men.
Jason specializes in clinical program development, business administration, and leading high performing teams of specialized therapists in group practice settings.
Jason specializes in teen therapy, young adult counseling, family therapy, and neurofeedback for teens, young adults, and adults.
Jason is a leader in the field of teen, young adult, and family counseling as an expert program consultant providing coaching and technical assistance to teen Residential Treatment Centers across the country.
Jason is also a regular contributor to various magazines and publications lending his expertise to various mental health related topics. You can check these articles out at:
Katy Counseling for Men under "As Featured In", and
Our sister practice Katy Teen & Family Counseling under "Featured Articles".
Jason has also been a guest on Fox 26 Houston and on a podcast, "Grow a Group Practice" with Alison Pidgeon.
If you are ready to start building your stronger future today, call, text, or email us today!
Phone Number: 832-346-9614
