Welcome to MoneySick.com - your place to find information related to money disorders.

Money Disorders

What is money sickness? Money sickness, or a money disorder, is a significant level of financial stress (potentially clinical) that is caused by successive patterns of bad financial behaviors and decisions. Also known as financial strain, this money disorder may result from real or imagined financial problems.

An 'imagined' money disorder often includes a feeling that there is 'never enough money' to pay bills or purchase something - even though there may be enough money. This type of money disorder can still be serious and is usually marked by high levels of financial stress that excludes the obsessive, destructive behavior found in other money disorders.

Secretive Spending

Signs and symptoms of secretive spending include:

  • Lying about finances
  • Financial omissions
  • Secret credit cards
  • Secret bank accounts
  • Secret assets

Compulsive Spending

Signs and symptoms of compulsive spending include:

  • Out of control spending
  • Accumulation of debt
  • Hiding purchases
  • Spending after resolutions to stop
  • Borrowing money from friends and family
  • Excitement before purchases and shame afterwards
  • Attempting to deal with non-monetary-related past pain or trauma

Addictive Gambling

Addictive gambling can be a money disorder when the gambling continues despite negative consequences. Addictive gambling can be harmful to others (friends and family) in addition to the gambler. When gambling becomes very problematic it can be diagnosed as clinical pathological gambling.

Signs and symptoms of addictive gambling include:

  • Constantly preoccupied with gambling
  • Irritable behavior after attempting to stop gambling
  • Repeated failures to stop gambling
  • A need to gamble with higher amounts of money

Money Disorder Treatment

Behavioral therapy may be necessary to address money disorders. Individuals with money disorders almost always have compulsive behavior. Psychologists have had success in treating money disorders with similar treatments used with OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) patients.

Additionally, individuals with compulsive spending problems can find help in Debtors Anonymous, similar to Alcoholic's Anonymous, a twelve-step program.

Financial Planners may be able to help those that fall more into an 'imagined' money disorder - or those with high levels of financial stress without the destructive, obsessive behavior found in gamblers and others. Financial planners, advisors, and personal accountants may be able to help those experiencing high levels of financial stress find ways to save money, invest, and alleviate other financial-related worries.