You're at the grocery store and you do the math in your head again.

You open a bill and feel your chest tightened before you've even read the number.

You lie awake at night running scenarios that never quite resolve.

Not a crisis exactly, but this low, persistent hum of financial anxiety that follows you through

your day colors how you make decisions, how you sleep, and how you show up in daily life.

If that sounds familiar, you're in very large company. There's a new word for what most people

are living right now, stressflation.

And today, we're going to unpack what it is, what it's doing to your brain at the neurological level,

which is more significant than people realize, and three evidence-based tools you can use today

to protect your mental wellness when the economic climate feels completely out of your control.

Hi, I'm Dr. Judy Ho, clinical and forensic neuropsychologist, professor, author, and your host

here on the Savvy Psychologist podcast. This show exists because I believe everyone deserves

access to real psychology, not watered down, not buried in

jargon, just honest science-back insights you can actually use in your everyday life. We'll help

you face life's challenges with an evidence-based approach, a sympathetic ear, and zero judgment.

Today, we're talking about stressflation, what the economy is doing to your brain and what you can do about it.

Stressflation is the term emerging in both public health and psychology circles to describe the

compound effect of financial distress and economic uncertainty on mental health.

It's not just about having tighter budgets. It's about what happens to the mind and body when

financial pressure becomes persistent and seemingly outside of your own control.

The numbers are striking. A 2025 survey by Lifestance Health found that 83% of Americans report today's economic climate

is negatively affecting their mental health driven by inflation, rising costs of living,

...