There are few things more exhausting than worrying about money. It’s the kind of stress that follows you everywhere—into your relationships, your sleep, your workday, and even your health. For many Black women, financial pressure isn’t just about paying bills. It’s about caring for family, showing up for everyone else, and carrying responsibilities that often go unseen.
That’s why a conversation between Teyana Taylor and Sherri Shepherd struck a chord. Rather than focusing on celebrity lifestyles, the two spoke candidly about something deeply relatable: the emotional weight of financial pressure. At one point, they noted that “it’s expensive to be poor,” while Taylor acknowledged another difficult reality: even therapy can feel financially out of reach for many people. Their discussion reflected what many mental health professionals have long recognized—money worries don’t just affect your finances. They can affect your overall well-being.
What stood out wasn’t just what was said—it was how familiar it sounded.
For many Black women navigating layered responsibilities, financial stress is not an occasional inconvenience. It is an ongoing mental load.
Mental health experts say that burden has real consequences.
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According to the American Psychological Association, money consistently ranks among the top sources of stress in the United States. The National Alliance on Mental Illness also notes that financial strain and mental health are closely linked, often reinforcing one another in a cycle that can be difficult to break.
When stress becomes chronic, the body doesn’t treat it like a passing concern. It repeatedly activates the stress response system, releasing hormones like cortisol that are meant to help in short bursts but can become harmful when sustained over time.
That can show up as:
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Everyone experiences financial stress differently, but many Black women navigate money concerns alongside additional responsibilities that can make those pressures feel even heavier.
Licensed psychologist Dr. Angela Neal-Barnett, one of the nation’s leading experts on anxiety among Black women, has described what she calls the “golden child” phenomenon. Speaking with O, The Oprah Magazine, she explained:
“Many grew up as the golden child, so their family looks to them to take care of everything. Even in childhood and adolescence, many Black women were placed in a caregiving role. Once they get into the workforce, especially if they have the ‘fancy’ job like attorney or doctor, it’s expected that they will step up.”
For many women, financial decisions aren’t limited to paying their own rent or mortgage. They may also involve helping aging parents, supporting children or grandchildren, contributing to extended family, or becoming the person everyone turns to during a financial emergency.
Research also shows that longstanding racial wealth disparities leave many Black families with fewer financial cushions when unexpected expenses arise. When there is less room for error, every surprise bill, medical expense, or job disruption can carry a heavier emotional weight.
Some researchers describe these cumulative experiences as a form of financial trauma.
A fact sheet from Georgetown University’s Center on Gender Justice & Opportunity defines financial trauma as the cumulative harm done to a person’s ability to build wealth and their relationship with money, particularly within systems that have historically disadvantaged Black women.
Other research suggests those financial burdens can have ripple effects beyond a person’s bank account. Reports from the Urban Institute document the structural barriers that continue to limit wealth-building opportunities for many Black women, while research highlighted by Forbes found that ongoing financial strain can affect mental health, self-esteem, productivity, and even career advancement.
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When financial stress becomes chronic, the body often responds as though it’s facing an ongoing threat.
Stress hormones such as cortisol are designed to help us respond to short-term challenges. But when financial uncertainty lingers for weeks, months, or even years, that stress response can remain activated far longer than it’s meant to.
A 2024 review published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health found that financial hardship and psychological distress have a reciprocal relationship. In other words, financial strain can worsen anxiety, depression, and emotional well-being, while mental health challenges can also make it harder to manage finances, creating a cycle that’s difficult to break.
The result can include:
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Financial stress doesn’t just affect how we feel. It can often change how we behave.
Some people stop opening their banking apps. Others avoid checking the mail, delay paying bills, or put off difficult financial conversations because they’re afraid of what they’ll find.
Financial therapist Collin Davidson describes this pattern as a cycle of stress, shame, and avoidance, where anxiety about money leads people to avoid the very financial tasks that could help them regain a sense of control.
Licensed therapist Melanie Preston summed it up this way:
“Money problems don’t just hurt wallets, they slowly bruise emotional health, strain relationships and steal joy.”
Recognizing these patterns isn’t about assigning blame. It’s about understanding that financial stress is as much an emotional experience as it is a mathematical one.
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No one can budget their way out of every financial challenge. But experts say there are ways to reduce the mental burden while working through financial challenges.
Experts recommend:
During the interview, Shepherd and Taylor acknowledged that therapy itself can feel financially inaccessible for many people.
If traditional therapy isn’t within reach, experts recommend exploring employee assistance programs, community mental health clinics, nonprofit organizations, or therapists who offer sliding-scale fees.
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Financial stress is often treated like a private struggle or a personal shortcoming. But in reality, it’s a public health issue that affects millions of Americans—and for many Black women, the emotional burden can be compounded by caregiving expectations, economic inequities, and the pressure for us Black women to always appear strong.
Conversations like the one between Teyana Taylor and Sherri Shepherd help shine a light on something that’s often left unsaid: worrying about money doesn’t just affect your bank account. It can affect your sleep, your relationships, your confidence, your physical health, and your peace of mind.
Financial challenges may not disappear overnight, but carrying them alone shouldn’t be part of the cost. Recognizing that money affects mental health isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s the first step toward protecting both your financial future and your well-being.
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