Credit Psychology. Workshop - Self-development

“When I applied for a loan for a new laptop, my joy knew no bounds. Just a few minutes - and here he is in my hands, brand new, beautiful and with a huge memory. But when it came time to pay the first installment, the joy diminished, and annoyance grew with each subsequent installment. More and more often I thought about the amount of overpayment and that I was simply “divorced”,”complained Natalya. Similar stories can be heard from friends and colleagues, on the bus or even at the bank, while waiting for the signing of a loan agreement.

This costly financial service has its supporters, advocates and fans. And these are not only banks. The loan also has a faithful friend - inflation, and, like a hated moth devouring a fur coat in an old closet, it eats up the money hidden in a distant drawer, set aside for a big purchase. But, no matter how disgusting the damage from small parasites may seem to us, if one night is not enough to absorb your whole fur coat, it, like inflation, takes time. Experts strongly recommend: if you are not going to buy an apartment, it is better not to take out a loan at all.

Different sides of the same temptation

How can a modern honest citizen resist a well-coordinated team of advertisers, agents, and sales managers? The example of a neighbor encourages even more decisively: "What kind of car did Vanka take for himself", "the neighbors didn't wait for their salary, they took out a loan and flew to Thailand." I don't want to think about the consequences of such decisions. Each has its own internal reasons for pursuing supernovae and expensive toys. Competitors can have different income levels, but as a rule, they make one mistake - they spend more than they get.

Are debts so harmless for our health? Well, just think, today I got what I wanted, and then I paid! But studies of European and American psychologists have proven that the burden of responsibility increases the risk of stroke and hypertension, as well as the occurrence of mental illness. Together with the loan, we acquire enormous stress. Insomnia, uncertainty about the future and one's own strengths, constant tension and "chewing" thoughts about the next payment. And in Russia there have already been suicides committed due to the impossibility of paying off the bank. But the debts were far from millions. How does this happen?

Previously, in order to obtain a loan, it was necessary to collect a lot of documents and certificates, but now you have to almost run away from offices that want to lend. For those who are still in no hurry to go to banks, creditors come to their homes. “Do you have enough to live on? No? We'll fix it! Would you like to get a credit card? " Many have enough prudence and the means to pay off debt on time, but there are those who fall into a trap.

Think and get rich! But first still think

What makes us take a loan:

• we cannot save money, we cannot save;
• we want to have something today and are unable to resist buying;
• it seems to us a huge purchase amount, broken into parts, it becomes almost invisible;
• we want to look successful, rich, correspond to a certain status;
• we compete with friends, colleagues.

In the event that you have already taken out a loan, it is important not to go to one of two extremes. If you do not think about him at all and live on a broad hand, you can sink into debt. If you constantly engage in self-criticism, imagining how you are evicted from home, fired from work and other horrors, it will only get worse. From the very beginning, clearly and meticulously calculate costs, ways of saving and act on the basis of this calculation.

The exercises below will help you if you are just considering taking out a loan or are already struggling to pay off.

Exercise # 1: Abstinence

You will need: a timely pause, a "forgotten wallet", a piece of paper and a pen

Before making a purchase (whether on credit or in cash), stop. Take time out, tell the seller that you don't have your passport or money with you. Walk down the street or have some tea at home. Take a piece of paper and write a detailed answer to the question: "Why should I buy this?" If the arguments are ironclad, move on to the following questions: “Can I afford it now? Can I replace this purchase with something cheaper? Is it possible to avoid a loan and postpone a purchase? How will I feel when I have to give away part of my salary every month? " After a thoughtful answer to these questions, you can return to the store with a clear conscience, unless you change your mind, of course.

Exercise # 2: "Relieve Your Anxiety"

You will need: Your worst thoughts and courage to face them

We are often afraid that negative thoughts will materialize and should be avoided. Maybe it is so. Living in constant doubts and fears has not made anyone happier and healthier. But once you present the worst scenario, you will not spoil your "karma", but prepare and arm yourself. Vague anxiety is heavy in its obscurity. What happens if you get fired from your job and have nothing to pay the contribution with? Will no one lend? Will they take away the purchased item? But you have lived without her for so many years, so you can endure a little more. Do not spare yourself by doing this exercise, and you will realize that credit is an unpleasant, but not the worst burden.

Exercise # 3: "Free yourself from obsessive thoughts"

You will need: a calm atmosphere and a head cluttered with unnecessary thoughts

And again thoughts. They are fresh and pleasant, and sometimes intrusive and even "expired". You need to be able to get rid of the latter. Each of us has our own secret methods of distracting from unpleasant thoughts in stock. Someone starts cleaning, someone watches comedies, reads a book or goes to the gym. The main focus of most methods is to switch attention from thinking to perception or action. And the stronger the enemy, the more powerful the distraction should be. Communicate, try to notice the little things and details of the objects around you, solve puzzles, play outdoor games.

But when you are in the office, the routine workflow does not seem as exciting as calculating the next debt, and it’s not so easy to go play football. Imagine that your head is a room cluttered with unpleasant thoughts that needs to be taken apart. Pull out one thought, one phrase, one word, one letter. Gradually, the room will become empty, filled with light and freshness. Now get to work.

Exercise # 4: "Artistic"

You will need: pen, pencils or paints, several sheets of paper

Do not keep your feelings to yourself, give them a way out. A conversation with an old friend is a good thing, but in our stressful time people are tired of “listening to someone else’s whining,” rarely who can sympathize without complaining in their hearts about the wasted time. Have pity on your friends too. Use "patient" paper to release accumulated emotions.

Focus on your thoughts and sensations in your body and try to portray what is going on inside you. What shapes, colors, lines do you see? We take all this out from the inside and put it on a white sheet. Let these sensations leave your body with the movement of your brush or pencil. If one sheet is not enough, "oh, how many!" Has accumulated, take the next one, as long as it takes to feel freedom and lightness.

When you feel better, start crafting a positive resource. Remember all the most valuable and kind, the most beloved that is in your life. And place this on your new drawing. Memorize this image and keep it ready.

We all make mistakes. It can be difficult to resist the many temptations that come our way, and sometimes come straight into the house. The main thing is to learn from these mistakes, draw the right conclusions and try not to repeat them.

Statistics

Scientists from the Northwestern University of the United States found a direct relationship between loans and health status in young people. Interest-bearing financial liabilities lead to heart problems.

Scientists have conducted a study of more than eight thousand men aged 24 to 32 years. As a result, they found out that many men who had large debts to banks have serious problems with the cardiovascular system.

Young people with large loans suffered a 1.3% increase in diastolic blood pressure. High blood pressure increases the risk of hypertension by 17% and stroke by 15%. Credit also has a negative impact on mental health: those who are mired in debt suffer from depression, they have problems with communications.

Unfortunately, the study does not specify why the dependence of health status on the amount of debt is peculiar only to young people, and not to girls and middle-aged people.

Professor John Geathergood from the UK found that loan holders were 15% more likely to suffer from mental disorders. Debtors most often suffer from feelings of hopelessness, insomnia, inability to make any decisions, and problems with self-esteem.

One in five borrowers has difficulty concentrating, anxiety and depression.

EXPERT OPINION

On the one hand, credit gives freedom, it allows you to "buy time", on the other hand, it creates dependence. Taking a loan, you become controllable, now you are required to be responsible and timely payment. There is always a risk of losing your job and income and not paying the next installment. However, many people, unsure of the future, still agree to a loan and suffer from it themselves, which leads to nervous breakdowns. Most often these are people who are impulsive and do not want to deny themselves anything. And the statement “I can afford it” can turn our life into a performance, where expensive outfits and the latest models of technology are demonstrated. And then you can easily become addicted to loans. To prevent this from happening, you need to understand that it is much easier to get a loan than to repay it.

Inna Yudina,

psychologist, consultant