Welcome to the Very Well Mind podcast. We've interviewed over 100 authors, experts, entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and others to help you learn strategies to care for your mental health.

This episode is hosted by psychotherapist and bestselling author Amy Morin. Now let's get into the episode.

Okay. You're listening to the Friday fix.

Every Friday, I share a quick mental strength exercise that will help fix the thoughts,

emotions, and actions that drain you of the mental strength you need to be your best.

Today we're talking about the link between your financial health and your mental health.

Most people don't talk about either subject. It's usually considered impolite to ask your friend how much money they earn or to ask your neighbor how much they spent on their new boat.

We also tend to avoid casual conversations about mental health.

You might not ask your friend if they take an antidepressant,

or you might not ask your neighbor if they've ever been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

As a therapist, I obviously talk to my clients about their mental health.

When they first come into my office, I do an assessment

where I ask tons of

questions about their symptoms, their habits, their family history, and we take a deep dive into

their mental health history. Yet, there's one question that always felt a little uncomfortable

to ask. How much money do you earn? For some reason, asking someone that question felt even more intrusive than asking them about their appetite or their sleep habits.

But it's important to consider the role that income, debt, and money play in mental health.

We often think that having more money means that you'll be happier.

Well, most studies show that happiness plateaus around the $75,000 to $85,000

mark. So someone who earns $100,000 won't necessarily become a happier person if they started making $200,000.

Interestingly, though, people who earn more money actually tend to be more anxious. That seems strange, right?

Seems strange because you think, well, what do they have to worry about if they have a lot of money?

...