What is The Hidden Cost of Neglecting Your Mental Health?

Taking care of mental health can save you far more than you may realize. Let's explore finances for a moment. When you don’t feel your best, we are more likely to make more purchases of material items and services. Furthermore, you may resort to engaging in more hazardous financial behavior and have increased recreational spending on things such as alcohol, nicotine, and marijuana. You must look at the amount of money spent on these distractions. When one excessively splurges, they are able to gain temporary relief, but this is usually accompanied by mental and financial difficulties in the long run. People often look for means of avoiding their feelings, often doing so by augmenting distractions and, thus, reducing the amount of time available to come to terms and sit with our emotions.

This cycle can lead to complete exhaustion and further reinforce this never-ending hunt to fill an eternal void that can never truly be fulfilled by means of material purchases or socialization. That being said, we are able to participate in the joys of life if we do so mindfully and without using these pleasures as an alternative to necessary mental health upkeep. In the event of neglected emotions, judgment is impaired, which may result in poor spending habits, below par performance at work, and deteriorating health. Unprocessed emotions can cloud your judgement.

The negative self-talk and lack of self-esteem can lead to missed opportunities for career advancement. Neglecting mental health can even cost you opportunities that could make a real difference in life. You can miss out on big life changing opportunities if you do not take the time to discover your emotions. Allowing space for your mental needs to be addressed can allow you to grow abundantly. Let go of some of the ‘fear of failure’ or as I call them, valuable lessons learned.

This same logic applies to all facets of life - similar to how leaving the structure and foundation of one's house to crumble can have detrimental results, it is important to maintain the internal and external sides of ourselves. It is time to assess if we have reached a limit and end the act of running away from our feelings. Instead of splurging, invest that money in personal development and growth. Doing so can significantly benefit us both mentally and financially in the long run. Taking proper care of mental health may be far less costly than the cost of a single night out!