Why would anyone on the FIRE path suffer from financial stress? If anything, it allows you to not worry about money.
The article shows a connection between financial stress and more pain, I'm wondering if the opposite has proven true for you. Does your ibuprofen sit on the shelf collecting dust?
I think Eric's point was that this (less financial stress) isn't just for people who have hit FIRE, but people who are on the path, because presumably if you're on track to FIRE, you don't have many money struggles.
Well, I see quite a few people posting on this forum, presumably on the path to FIRE, who are still worried about losing their job or finding out their SO secretly spent down the 'stache or the fate of aging spendthrift parents they can't afford to support, but okay.
I am on the path to FI and have noticed a number of stress-related symptoms diminish as I approach my goal. My sleep disorder seems to be completely under control. It's been awhile since I had a migraine. I rarely suffer with allergies/asthma anymore, and when I do it's easily managed.
My ibuprofen does not gather dust on the shelf though, and occasionally I have to use Aleve for a week or so to manage various aches and pains. This week has been particularly rough (was tempted to ask my Dr. for a few Tramadol to get me through) so the article caught my attention.
I get regular checkups and recommended screenings, I eat a healthy diet and my BMI is well within normal, I exercise and get my 10000 steps in almost every day, my doctors (MD and DC) say there is no physical cause so stress is the only explanation.
The study describes how pain increases with stress, but they apparently did not study what happens when financial stress is resolved. Does the pain diminish, or have pain receptors been permanently reset to hyper-vigilance? I'm hoping that when leave my job behind in 3 years I will leave the pain behind as well, is that a pipe dream? I'm wondering if any of the folks here who are already FI can share their experience.
