Money on My Mind: Staying Grounded When Life Feels Too Expensive
Life feels expensive right now. Groceries, rent, gas, even a quick coffee with a friend can add up faster than expected. But for many people I work with, it is not just the cost of living that feels heavy. It is the mental load that comes with it.
There is the quiet worry of wondering if you are doing enough. The guilt that shows up when you try to rest while your mind keeps running numbers. The tension between wanting stability and trying to stay afloat in a world that keeps shifting.
I have heard the same tired sentence from many clients lately. “I am just trying to keep my head above water.” It is not because they are not trying hard enough. It is because chronic uncertainty can drain anyone.
Finding Calm in the Chaos
One client shared how stuck and anxious they felt. Their mind raced between deadlines, bills, and worst case scenarios. Sleep was difficult. Focus felt impossible. They told me, “I am just surviving right now.”
Together, we slowed things down. We used simple grounding tools to calm the body before the mind tried to solve everything at once. We explored how much pressure they had been carrying and shifted the focus to what actually mattered to them. Balance, stability, and peace.
A few weeks later, they shared something that stayed with me.
“The stress is still there, but it does not run my day anymore. I feel like myself again.”
Therapy cannot make the world less expensive. It can help you carry the weight differently.
Practical Ways to Stay Grounded When Life Feels Uncertain
Catch your stress triggers early
Notice the first signs of overwhelm. Maybe it is a tight chest before checking your bank app or racing thoughts during your workday. I teach clients how to spot these early signals and respond with grounding strategies that prevent stress from taking over.
Rewire the pressure reflex
When financial or career stress rises, many people either push harder or shut down. In therapy, we practise small, intentional responses that create clarity and steadiness instead of panic.
Make choices based on your values
It is easy to get stuck in “shoulds.” Together, we identify what matters most to you. Stability, connection, creativity, or self care. From there, your decisions can align with your values instead of reacting to fear.
Build micro moments of emotional safety
Even a two to five minute pause can reset your nervous system. A quiet breath, a short grounding exercise, or a focused reflection can help you move into your day with more calm and confidence.
Learn to carry the weight in a new way
Therapy does not erase stress. It teaches you how to hold it without losing your sense of self. This shift is often the most life changing part of the work.
You deserve support
It is okay if you feel stretched thin. The cost of living is high, but your well-being does not have to be the price you pay.
At Acceptance Clinic, I help adults work through financial and career stress, burnout, and anxiety. Together, we focus on finding balance, calm, and confidence again.
If you have been running on empty, you do not have to carry it alone.
Let’s work together so you can feel grounded and like yourself again.
By Savanna
Savanna Smith is a Nurse Psychotherapist at Acceptance Clinic. She blends a strong background in mental health nursing with evidence based therapy. Her approach is warm, down to earth, and focused on compassion, resilience, and real life balance. She supports adults navigating anxiety, burnout, financial stress, and major life transitions.
