The Truth About Mental Health & Financial Stress

Navigating Financial Anxiety as a Teenager

Growing up, I’ve always heard people say that “money doesn’t buy happiness.” It’s a comforting thought, but let’s be real: money—or the lack of it—can seriously mess with your mental health. At 17, when you’re on the edge of adulthood, the anxiety around financial security feels like a storm cloud hovering over your future.

It’s weird, isn’t it? How the future can feel both so distant and so immediate? As high schoolers think about college, career, and just life in general, it’s impossible not to feel the weight of financial stress. I see it all around me: the pressure to get scholarships, the fear of student loans, and the constant reminder that the economy is unpredictable. And then there’s the quiet, nagging question in the back of your mind: “What if I can’t make it?”

You are not alone in feeling this way. A lot of us are dealing with the same fears, even if we don’t always talk about them. There’s this unspoken expectation that by the time we’re adults, we’ll have it all figured out—jobs, savings, investments, and all that adult stuff. But the reality is, we’re still just figuring out who we are, let alone how to manage money in a world that’s constantly changing.

Anxiety over financial security is a heavy load to carry. It’s not just about the numbers in a bank account; it’s about the fear of failure, the pressure to succeed, and the uncertainty of the future. These worries can easily spiral into a bigger issue—one that’s closely tied to mental health.

I’ve learned that it’s okay to acknowledge these feelings. Bottling up stress and pretending everything’s fine doesn’t make the anxiety go away. In fact, it often makes it worse. Talking about it—whether it’s with friends, family, or a counselor—can be a huge relief. It’s not about finding all the answers right away, but about understanding that it’s okay to feel uncertain. It’s okay to not have it all figured out at 17.

Taking care of your mental health is just as important as planning for your financial future. That might mean finding balance: taking breaks when you need them, focusing on what you can control, and reminding yourself that it’s okay to make mistakes. Life is about learning, and that includes learning how to manage money and the anxiety that comes with it.

At the end of the day, financial security is important, but it’s not the only thing that matters. Taking care of yourself, being kind to yourself, and finding moments of peace amidst the chaos—these are things that will help you get through the tough times. It’s okay to feel worried about the future, but don’t let that worry consume you. There’s so much more to life than money, and it’s important to remember that, especially when the anxiety feels overwhelming.

So, if you’re feeling the weight of financial stress, know that you’re not alone. It’s a tough journey, but it’s one we don’t have to take by ourselves. Together, we can face these challenges, take care of our mental health, and build a future that isn’t just secure, but fulfilling too.

Take deep breaths,

Arjun Lakireddy