Quiz: Are You Financially Stressed?

More money, more problems, so they say. But the truth of the matter is that we all work hard for our money, and we want there to be enough of it to pay for the must-haves and the nice-to-haves. And worrying about having it, or not having it, leads to financial stress. That stress can affect not only your bank account, but also your health, personal relationships, and even how you perform on the job. From migraines to arguments with friends or family to work days missed, financial stress is taking a real toll on American workers.

A 2016 PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) survey of 1,600 American workers found that 46% of respondents suffer from financial stress. More than just a rough feeling in the pit of your stomach, financial stress can have serious consequences. In fact, 76% of employees surveyed admit that financial worries have impacted their health, relationships, productivity, and time away from work.

Financial therapist Amanda Clayman believes that stress has a purpose, and that purpose is to get us to pay attention and act. “Stress, in a word, is normal. It can be a totally appropriate warning sign to fix something,” she says. “But stress can also be the problem itself if it impairs your functionality.”

That’s the bad news. The good news? You can deal with financial stress in healthy ways, rather than just letting it grind you down. Clayman suggests performing financial tasks when you’re most relaxed (think Sunday afternoons), and scheduling weekly or monthly check-ins, so that you’re not reviewing accounts only to put out fires.