It is commonly known that unpaid credit card debt can cause consumers to feel stressed and worried about their finances.

Now a study published in the American Journal of Health Promotion found proof that unpaid credit card debt is also linked to psychological and health risks, such as bouts of depression and a higher body mass index (BMI). It mgiht sound far feteched, but such health risks could actually lead to an increased risk of chronic disease.

The link between the health risks caused by unpaid credit card debt may be found in different areas of the human psyche.

It is really important to recognise that unpaid debt, whether it’s a large amount of debt or not, creates uncertainty for the person who owes the debt. This uncertainty of not knowing when and if the unpaid credit card debt can be paid off, how much the interest repayments will be, and how the repayments will be made can cause adverse psychological reactions.

A lot of people become very frustrated if part of their salary goes straight into the credit card repayment andf they never keep any money for themselves. The feeling of frustration becomes even worse when the unpaid credit card debt is quite large and the consumer feels like they’re not making any progress. In the worst case scenario, the reaction is like a child that wants immediate satisfaction – the consumer gets fed up with paying off their credit card debt and never having any money. They get so frustrated that they want to buy something to reward themselves and as a result accumulate even more debt through interest free purchases or the use of their credit card.

A lot of people associate huge amounts of credit card debt with feeling ashamed. The amount of unpaid credit card debt signifies to their own failures to them. This could range from a failure to provide for owns family, or failure to control spending habits, to failing in keeping up with the earnings of family and friends. Once other people start becoming involved in managing someone’s credit card debt, the feelings of shame and guilt are usually amplified.

Large amounts of debt go far beyond the financial realm, they also create an effect on us physically, emotionally and psychologically.

Learning about the psychological aspects of debt can be scary for many people – but it really is a prerequisite for solving your credit card debt problem. When you recognise that paying off your credit card debt is easier than you initially thougt, you’ll be able to free yourself from it forever.