How Trauma Affects Your Ability to Earn Money (And What You Can Do About It)

Money isn’t just about numbers in your bank account or the paycheck you receive every two weeks. For many, money is tied to emotions, self-worth, and deeper patterns of behavior. If you've struggled with financial instability, unfulfilling work, or chronic anxiety around money, you may not realize that past trauma could be a significant factor.

Trauma, whether it’s from childhood experiences, relationship struggles, or major life events, can directly influence how you relate to money, work, and success. Let’s explore how unresolved trauma can impact your financial life and offer some strategies to help you break free from these patterns.

1. Trauma and the Fear of Success

Trauma can create deep-seated fears that sabotage your ability to earn and succeed. Often, individuals who have experienced trauma—especially emotional or financial insecurity—develop an unconscious fear of success. This might sound surprising, but trauma can make individuals feel that reaching certain financial or career milestones will lead to negative consequences, such as rejection, judgment, or abandonment.

For example, someone raised in a chaotic or unpredictable household may subconsciously equate financial stability with vulnerability or loss. This fear of success often manifests in self-sabotage, procrastination, or limiting behaviors that prevent clients from reaching their full potential.

What to do about it: Recognize these fears for what they are: the echoes of past trauma. Acknowledge them without judgment and begin to challenge them by setting small, manageable career or financial goals. Slowly build your confidence in achieving success while reminding yourself that stability doesn’t have to mean loss or chaos.

2. Money and Self-Worth: Feeling Undeserving

Many trauma survivors struggle with low self-worth or feelings of inadequacy. These beliefs can directly influence how they view their right to earn or accumulate wealth. For someone who was made to feel unworthy or unimportant due to their traumatic experiences, it can be difficult to imagine themselves as deserving of financial abundance.

This belief often shows up as an internalized belief of "I’m not worthy of this," especially when things start to go well financially. This feeling of undeservingness can lead to behaviors like undercharging for services, accepting jobs that don't pay well, or even sabotaging opportunities out of fear of being "found out."

What to do about it: Start by challenging these limiting beliefs. Work on building a positive relationship with yourself and your worthiness. If you're a business owner or freelancer, start by adjusting your rates to reflect your value. If you're in the workforce, advocate for fair compensation and celebrate the progress you make, no matter how small.

3. Emotional Dysregulation and Financial Decisions

Trauma often leads to emotional dysregulation—where individuals have a hard time managing their emotions or impulse control. When it comes to finances, emotional dysregulation can cause people to make impulsive, reactive decisions. Whether it’s overspending when feeling stressed or avoiding financial planning because it feels overwhelming, these emotional responses can lead to financial instability.

For example, trauma survivors may engage in "retail therapy" or make big purchases to soothe emotional distress, only to regret it later. Alternatively, some might procrastinate or avoid managing their finances altogether, out of fear or overwhelm.

What to do about it: Develop emotional regulation strategies, like mindfulness, journaling, or therapy, to help you manage your emotions when making financial decisions. Try to take a pause and reflect before making significant purchases or financial decisions. Establishing a clear financial plan and creating boundaries around spending can help regain control.

4. The Connection Between Chronic Stress and Financial Health

The effects of trauma often result in chronic stress, which can have lasting implications on one's ability to earn money. Chronic stress impairs cognitive function, memory, and concentration—skills that are critical for managing work tasks, pursuing career opportunities, and handling the demands of everyday life.

In a work context, high stress can lead to burnout, diminished productivity, or even a reluctance to pursue new opportunities. This is especially true for individuals who’ve experienced trauma, as their bodies may be in a heightened state of alertness, making it harder to focus or be present in work settings.

What to do about it: Focus on stress management practices that work for you, such as exercise, therapy, or relaxation techniques. By managing your stress, you can improve your focus and energy, which will ultimately help you perform better at work and make more informed financial decisions.

5. Breaking the Cycle of Financial Trauma

Trauma doesn't just affect the individual—it's often passed down through generations. If you were raised in a household where money was scarce or associated with conflict, these financial beliefs and behaviors can affect how you manage your own money. You may find yourself repeating unhealthy financial cycles, even if you're consciously aware of them.

This cycle of financial trauma often includes avoiding budgeting, overspending, or experiencing anxiety whenever you think about money. It’s important to recognize these patterns so you can break the cycle.

What to do about it: Work on healing your relationship with money. This can include learning about healthy financial habits, creating a budget that makes sense for your needs, and reframing your money mindset. A financial therapist or coach, in addition to traditional therapy, can help guide you in this process.

Conclusion: You Can Reclaim Your Financial Power

Trauma can create barriers that impact your ability to earn, manage, and grow money. But recognizing the link between your past experiences and your financial behaviors is the first step toward healing and change. With the right tools, you can rebuild your financial confidence, challenge limiting beliefs, and break free from old patterns that no longer serve you.

By addressing trauma, developing healthier financial habits, and fostering a positive relationship with your finances, you can create lasting abundance and peace in your financial life.

If you’re ready to take the next step in healing your relationship with money, reach out for a consultation. Together, we’ll work to uncover and address the deeper emotional barriers preventing you from thriving financially and personally.

Call to Action:

If you’re struggling with how past trauma is affecting your ability to earn money or navigate your finances, I’m here to help. Reach out for a consultation, and let’s work together to break the cycle and build a path toward financial empowerment and well-being.

Why Somatic Therapy Works: Exploring the Mind-Body Connection

Somatic therapy is a holistic approach to healing that integrates the body and mind. Unlike traditional talk therapy, which primarily focuses on verbal communication and mental processes, somatic therapy takes a more dynamic approach by addressing physical sensations and bodily experiences as a means of healing emotional wounds. Over the past several years, somatic therapy has gained recognition for its ability to bring about profound transformations, especially for those who feel stuck in patterns of stress, trauma, or chronic pain. But why exactly does it work? Let’s explore the science and philosophy behind somatic therapy.

1. **The Body Holds Trauma**

One of the central principles of somatic therapy is the idea that the body stores emotional and psychological trauma. When a person experiences trauma, whether from a past abusive relationship, a difficult childhood, or a life-altering event, the emotional and psychological stress can become "trapped" in the body. These stored memories may not always be consciously accessible, but they are often expressed through physical symptoms such as chronic pain, tension, fatigue, or even illness.

Somatic therapy works by helping individuals reconnect with their bodies, encouraging them to become more aware of how emotions manifest physically. By focusing on bodily sensations—tightness in the chest, knots in the stomach, or an unexplainable ache—somatic therapists help clients process these trapped emotions, allowing the body to release its tension and begin to heal. This process can help alleviate the physical symptoms of stress and trauma, allowing a person to experience both emotional and physical relief.

2. **Mind-Body Connection**

The mind and body are intricately connected. The brain and nervous system continuously communicate with the body, influencing our physical responses, thoughts, and emotions. When a person experiences stress or trauma, the nervous system becomes dysregulated, leading to an imbalance that can manifest in both physical and emotional symptoms.

Somatic therapy focuses on restoring balance to the nervous system. Therapists guide clients through specific techniques—like deep breathing, gentle movement, and mindfulness—that help regulate the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary body functions like heart rate and digestion. As clients learn to activate the parasympathetic nervous system (the “rest and digest” mode), they begin to experience a sense of calm and emotional stability.

By strengthening the mind-body connection, somatic therapy fosters resilience and allows individuals to navigate life's challenges more effectively. This therapeutic process helps people become more attuned to their physical sensations, empowering them to recognize early signs of stress and develop coping strategies.

3. **The Release of Stored Emotions**

In many cases, people suppress painful emotions because they don't know how to deal with them or are too overwhelmed to face them head-on. These unprocessed emotions can remain in the body, creating tension and discomfort. Through somatic therapy, individuals are encouraged to access and release these emotions in a safe, controlled environment.

By encouraging a person to focus on bodily sensations—such as the sensation of tension, heat, or tingling—somatic therapists help clients explore how these sensations are connected to their emotional experiences. Clients may also engage in movements or sounds that allow them to express emotions physically. This process helps the individual release pent-up emotions that may have been contributing to feelings of anxiety, depression, or emotional numbness. The release of these emotions can bring a sense of relief and restore a sense of emotional balance.

4. **Healing Through Movement**

One of the key elements of somatic therapy is movement. Our bodies are constantly in motion, whether we are aware of it or not. When we are stuck emotionally, it often shows up as physical tension or a sense of being “frozen” in place. Somatic therapists use guided movement practices to help clients explore and release these emotional blockages.

These movements might range from gentle stretches to more expressive movements, such as shaking or even dancing. The idea is to allow the body to move freely in a way that feels natural and restorative, helping it release stored tension and trauma. By engaging in physical movement, individuals can reconnect with their body's natural rhythms, which promotes healing and helps regulate the nervous system.

Movement in somatic therapy can also be empowering. It gives individuals agency over their own healing process and helps them regain control over their bodies. This sense of control is often especially important for those who have experienced trauma or abuse, as it can help them rebuild a sense of safety and self-trust.

5. **Improved Self-Awareness**

Somatic therapy encourages individuals to cultivate mindfulness and self-awareness. By focusing on body sensations and emotions, clients can develop a deeper understanding of themselves, including how past experiences have shaped their emotional and physical well-being.

This increased self-awareness helps individuals recognize patterns of behavior and thought that may be hindering their healing process. For example, someone who tends to avoid confrontation may notice physical signs of tension in their body whenever they need to speak up. Somatic therapy allows clients to explore these patterns and work through them, ultimately fostering a healthier relationship with their body and emotions.

6. **A Holistic Approach to Healing**

Perhaps one of the most significant reasons somatic therapy works is its holistic nature. Unlike approaches that focus solely on the mind or the body, somatic therapy acknowledges the interconnectedness of both. By healing both the body and the mind simultaneously, somatic therapy fosters a more comprehensive and long-lasting transformation.

This holistic approach is particularly beneficial for individuals who feel disconnected from their bodies, have experienced trauma, or struggle with chronic health issues that may have emotional or psychological roots. Through somatic therapy, people can find relief from both the emotional and physical effects of stress, anxiety, and trauma, creating a sense of wholeness and balance.

Conclusion

Somatic therapy works because it addresses the root causes of emotional and physical distress, allowing the body and mind to work in tandem to promote healing. By integrating the body’s wisdom and fostering a deeper awareness of sensations, emotions, and movement, somatic therapy helps individuals overcome trauma, reduce stress, and improve their overall well-being.

Whether you’re dealing with past trauma, chronic pain, or simply want to improve your emotional health, somatic therapy offers a powerful and transformative approach to healing. It’s a reminder that healing is not just a mental exercise—it’s a process that involves our whole being. Through somatic therapy, you can reawaken your connection to your body, free yourself from old patterns, and step into a more balanced, mindful, and empowered life.