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There’s a growing buzz around peniaphobia — the intense fear of falling into poverty — especially among young people who feel squeezed by rising costs, unstable jobs, and crushing debt. This anxiety isn’t just “being worried about money”; it’s a pervasive fear that economic instability could upend your life and future, even if your paycheck seems okay right now. Young adults today face sky-high rent, student loans, and a job market where stability feels like a myth, which makes the idea of financial collapse feel terrifying.

Social media doesn’t help either — constantly seeing curated lives of wealth and “success” can make your own struggles feel like failure, adding emotional pressure on top of the economic stress. The result? Many experience chronic stress, burnout, sleepless nights, and even depression tied directly to this fear of never reaching financial security. Talking openly about money fears, building financial literacy, and seeking support for anxiety around money can help break the mental loop that peniaphobia creates.

Read More: Why 'Peniaphobia' Is Exploding Among Young People (MSN)

College isn’t just about classes and grades — your friends really matter for your mental health and overall success, too. According to Forbes, students who build solid social connections are more likely to feel supported, less lonely, and better able to handle stress and academic pressure. Strong friendships create a sense of belonging and emotional support that can boost confidence, resilience, and even academic performance, especially during tough times like midterms or moving away from home.

This matches research showing that social support can reduce stress and improve well-being by helping students manage challenges together instead of alone. Loneliness and isolation, on the other hand, are linked with poorer mental health outcomes and make the college experience much harder. Ultimately, investing in real, supportive friendships isn’t just fun — it’s a powerful part of staying mentally healthy and thriving in college life.

Read More: Why Friends Are Critical To College Student Mental Health And Success (Forbes)

Peniaphobia is the intense, irrational fear of poverty or becoming poor. It manifests as chronic anxiety about finances, leading to compulsive checking of accounts, hoarding, stress, and avoidance behaviors, often triggered by past financial insecurity or economic instability.

Know someone struggling with peniaphobia? Treatments can focus on managing anxiety and changing negative thought patterns through therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exposure Therapy, often combined with relaxation techniques and sometimes anti-anxiety medication to help individuals reframe their relationship with finances and build resilience, rather than just avoiding the fear. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers recently hosted a Mental Health Awareness Night at Rocket Arena, turning a basketball game into a space for real conversation about emotional well-being. Before tip-off, Northeast Ohio student athletes sat in on a fireside chat with Cleveland Clinic psychologists to talk about stress, performance pressure, anxiety, and how to support each other.

Players and teens stressed that feelings aren’t embarrassing and that asking for help is actually a strength, not a weakness. Fans at the game could also participate in activities like signing a gratitude wall to show support and break stigma around mental health. The Cavs’ event shows that mental wellness isn’t just a locker-room talk — it’s something our communities, schools, and teams can champion together.

Read More: Cleveland Cavaliers Hold Mental Health Awareness Night (Spectrum News 1)

MYTH: Therapy is only for people with serious mental illness

FACT: Therapy can be beneficial for anyone, not just those with mental illness. While therapy is an essential tool for treating conditions such as depression and anxiety, many people find that it is also useful for navigating the daily stressors of life, including work and relationships.

Therapy can be compared in some ways to the gym – if you exercise and lift weights frequently, your muscles will strengthen. With mental health, therapy helps the brain remold and shape new pathways and ideas – a powerful phenomenon known as neuronal plasticity that explains our mind’s ability to evolve continuously and increases the brain’s capacity to adapt and grow.

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