Money Happens: Tips for dealing with student loan debt when it affects your mental health

NEW YORK — Between her college and master's degrees, Justene Bologna accumulated over $200,000 in debt. It has affected not only her finances but also her mental health.

“I have severe stress and anxiety," said Bologna, 30.

While student loan debt is at the root of Bologna's worries, it's not her only financial constraint. After she gave birth to twins a few years ago, she also accumulated medical debt. Her debt has impacted how much money she has in the day-to-day, impacting her ability to afford groceries and other basic needs. But it also is affecting her relationships.

“Sometimes people underestimate the way that these big financial stresses impact all of the aspects of our lives,” said Helen Colby, a professor at Indiana University.

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EDITORS’ NOTE: The Money Happens series explores challenges and anxieties around money and offers helpful tips for dealing with them. Each episode features a case of an individual experiencing a challenging financial problem, whether it’s student loan or credit card debt, and an expert who can help provide strategies for working through these issues. You can listen to all of the episodes here.