Two million in UK lose sex drive because of debt problems.

One in five of those asked said that their financial problems affected their relationship with their partner said that their sex life was suffering too. Of these, the majority were women who made up two thirds of the people who said that debt and other financial worries were ruining their sex life.

Also, nearly 40% of individuals with money problems spent less time with their partner, and half said that they argued more often, and lost their temper more easily. A quarter said that they spent less quality time with their children because of money worries.

As well as relationships being affected by financial problems, an estimated 3.8 million people in the UK have had to take time off work because of health problems directly associated with stress caused by their personal finances. Dubbing the condition “money sickness syndrome”, Axa researchers referred to a state whereby the stress associated with poor understanding and control over personal finances made people either physically, or psychologically ill. Symptoms included headaches or palpitations, mood swings, irritability, and even poor judgement.

Most worry that they can’t make ends meet or make the monthly repayments and bills. Others are concerned that they aren’t saving enough for their retirement. The best advice is for people to take control over their finances and come up with some plan of action. This helps reduce the burden of debt, and at the same time eases the symptoms associated with money sickness syndrome.

Axa say that there are millions of people in the UK who are stressed by debt problems and other financial worries, and that their health and their relationships are suffering because of it. The answer, they say, is for individuals to seek advice and educate themselves, so that they can take better control of their finances.