Financial dysmorphia - how thoughts about money destroy our lives
Millions, if not billions of people on our planet are worried about financial issues. Some are underpaid, some cannot save for a rainy day, while others want to invest, but are afraid of losing money. These are all signs of financial dysmorphia, an unpleasant condition that affects more and more people every year.
Initially, the term dysmorphia, or dysmorphophobia, had nothing to do with money. In psychology, it denoted the state of a person constantly thinking about the shortcomings of his body. At the same time, other people, most often, do not notice these flaws and the whole problem develops from beginning to end in the patient’s head.
Later, this word began to be used more widely, adding explanatory prefixes to it. Financial dysmorphia is a condition when a person is dissatisfied with his financial situation. In fact, he is doing much better than others and has no problems as such. Financial dysmorphia has many symptoms, but three main ones can be considered:
Psychologists are confident that such an obsession with money seriously affects the psychological state and affects the quality of life.
Scientists have not fully studied financial dysmorphia and cannot name the exact reasons for its occurrence. But they tend to believe that the condition is caused by a combination of numerous social and psychological factors. There are several aspects that most likely provoke such an attitude towards money.
One of the first causes is childhood trauma. People who have experienced unpleasant moments related to money at a young age are prone to this form of dysmorphia. Most often, this is a difficult financial situation in the family, which has caused a decrease in the standard of living. Having matured, such a person begins to earn money himself. But he treats them, first of all, as a means of security. He is always worried, even if there is already a substantial amount in his account.
Society's expectations are another reason. Nowadays, many are sure that a normal position in society can only be achieved by being wealthy. The stereotype that a poor person cannot be successful rules the world. Therefore, most of us are under severe social pressure. A person works more and more to achieve certain goals. But there are always people who are richer, and therefore, by modern standards, more successful. Dysmorphia arises from the inability to enjoy what is already there.
Fear of the unknown also plays a role in the emergence of financial dysmorphia. The world around us is unpredictable and even a wealthy person is not immune from the blows of fate. The unknown and uncertainty cause depression. The path of accumulation helps to overcome this fear. Many people believe that the larger the “financial cushion” saved for a “rainy day,” the easier it will be to survive shocks. Often this idea becomes manic.
Psychologists believe that financial dysmorphia is a serious problem that should be dealt with by a specialist. Psychologists treat this disorder by instilling in the person that they need to enjoy life and stop looking into the future with anxiety. It looks simple, but in reality such therapy can take a lot of time.