Source: Pexels
The stock market seems like it’s going through a free fall. Along with the rising costs of living, these financial upheavals are indeed a blow to our mental health as much as our wallets.
The psychological effects of market crashes and declines in wealth are a serious matter. For example, research saw staggering increases in depression rates during the 2008 financial crisis (1).
Given what we know, we should use this awareness to manage frayed emotions during times of financial uncertainty. Only then can we further prevent costly mistakes that bog us down physically, emotionally, and financially.
Source: Pexels
The S&P 500 fell 3.88%, marking its lowest level since March 2021 and bringing its losses from its January record to more than 21% (2). They call this a bear market, an occurrence when the value of a stock market index, such as the S&P 500 stock index, drops at least 20%.
Watching your hard-earned money fall in value feels awful. Nobody likes to see their portfolio plummet 20% or more. More so, the media is filled with fear-mongering headlines that continue to impair our mental health.
While it’s okay to feel sad, angry, frustrated, and scared, it’s important to know that every investor is likely to face multiple bear markets during their lifetimes. The market is also a leading indicator, which means it usually falls before it eventually goes up again.
Yet, it’s still vital that we develop some mental tools that help us ride through the rough waves of this bear market.
Source: Pexels
We now understand what a bear market is, as well as its inevitability. So, let’s put things into context and explore actions to preserve your wellbeing while we ride this market flux out.
It’s tempting to feed your brain hits of dopamine with scary headlines during a bear market. And a surefire way of keeping yourself in the tracks of anxiety is to compulsively check the charts.
We recommend turning notifications off and staying updated only when absolutely necessary. There’s no point feeding your brain constant noise when you’re better off learning something beneficial or spending time with loved ones.
Source: Pexels
The chart above shows that there have been many bear markets in the past. But when you zoom out and look at the big picture, the market trendline still goes upward. Investors who look at long-term growth, rather than get-rich-quick schemes, are more likely to be rewarded.
This is also why market timing doesn’t work. And research has shown you don’t need to time markets to have successful investments with good long-term returns (3). Instead, you need to give your investments time for them to grow.
Loss aversion is a psychological concept stating that our response to losses is stronger than the response to corresponding gains. Applying this to human financial behavior, a study in the Journal of Risk and Uncertainty found that losing money impacts our psyche more than when we gain an equivalent amount.
That’s why we are quick to make impulsive decisions, such as selling our stocks, during market upheavals. But instead of checking out in times of market-induced anxiety, resist the urge to “do something” by reminding yourself of your long-term goals.
Stress and worry are inevitable when we see our savings fall by 50% or 60%. Rather than suppressing those emotions, acknowledge that they will come up. Then, find healthy ways to manage them before they fester into burnout.
This begins with taking time out for yourself. Whether it’s walking, cooking, or reading - do something that nourishes you so that you can better cope with financial adversity. It’s generally hard to go wrong by exercising, sleeping, and eating well too.
We often seek additional information online to see if there is a better strategy, but the problem is that sources online are often generic and unreliable. And if you ask ten people about the economy, you’re likely to receive more than 10 different answers.
You don’t have to navigate a bear market its decision paralysis alone. Whether it’s a financial advisor or mental health professional, revisiting your investment strategy and money psychology can go a long way. These people can bring you sound clarity because their advice is tailored to your unique situation.
We get it, watching your money go downhill during a bear market is not fun. It’s normal to feel regretful and want to make changes. But the reality is that we live in uncertain times.
In fact, when are things ever certain? Hence, we need to maintain a clear mind and a keen eye. Always remember that you have a better chance of riding out these money woes when your mental health and overall wellbeing are accommodated for.
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