Mental Health Support Resources for Taxpayers This Tax Season
Guess what? It is tax season – that period of the year when many Americans prepare to endure more stress, anxiety, and sleepless nights as they struggle to meet a due date, the tax deadline. Everyone understands that filing taxes impacts one’s psychological state, even though taxes are one of the principles of citizenship.
The good news is that mental health services are designed to help people overcome the stress of tax-related situations. This article will discuss how tax season impacts mental health, where to seek help, and how to stay focused.
Why Tax Season Can Be Stressful
Taxes can be very stressful for many people. Everyone gets confused or at least worried about forms, calculations, and tedious tasks such as tax accounting, which can be bogged down by even the most talented and organized people. On top of that, there is often the concern of an error leading to an audit or penalties, which puts pressure on most taxpayers.
Signs of Tax-related Stress
Stress can manifest in various ways, including:
Insomnia
Having difficulty concentrating or being more easily stunned.
Difficulty to focus on problems.
The feeling of being overwhelmed or regular day-to-day physical pains such as headaches or muscular tension
Feeling concerned about your financial state or tax return regularly
Fear or avoidance when thinking about taxes
When you start experiencing these signs, it becomes apparent that you may need to take some time to deal with your mental health.
Mental Health Support Resources for Taxpayers
Luckily, you don’t have to do tax season stress alone. There are so many resources to help with your mental health and well-being now. Here are some of the most accessible and helpful options:
Free Tax Assistance Programs
One of the best ways to reduce stress is to find someone to do your taxes for you. The IRS, of course, offers free tax preparation programs: VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) and TCE (Tax Counseling for the Elderly).
These services provide staff to help file your taxes in the correct department. This is a fundamental principle: nobody wants to tackle problems if possible, and when you are sure that a genius manages your taxes, then you are, in fact, essentially freeing your mind technically.
Online Therapy Platforms
For those interested in a more rigid format regarding their mental health, online platforms such as BetterHelp or Talkspace might suffice. These services allow you to schedule face-to-face, online, streaming video, or chat-based appointments with licensed professionals to discuss your stressors and ideas for addressing them.
Employee Assistance Programs (EAPS)
Check if your company organizes an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) if employed. Employer-sponsored EAP typically includes access to low—or no-cost mental health care advising, financial services, stress relief, etc. They are confidential and a great way to get additional support without adding costs to these programs.
Stress Management Apps
Sometimes, even a tiny amount of awareness can create a huge impact. Currently, apps such as Calm, Headspace, and Insight Timer are available for download. These apps offer guided meditation, breathing, and relaxation exercises to help you calm down and avoid stress and anxiety. And when you’re running out of mental supplies after a taxing, high-stress session, these tools are a rapid mental pick-me-up.
Practical Tips for Managing Tax Season Stress
Start Early: Delay results in panic, and procrastination is greatly discouraged. As much as possible, start collecting your papers and managing your money immediately to prevent stress during the deadline.
Break It Down: Do not attempt to do your taxes simultaneously. Plan your easy day with smaller, more doable sub-tasks, such as compiling receipts on one day and filing them on another.
Take Breaks: If you feel that your frustrations are getting the best of you or are simply losing focus, you should take a break from your work. A simple stretch using your lower limbs and a few minutes of deep breathing can help you regain focus.
Nourish Your Brain: Stress can sometimes lead to reaching for unhealthy comfort foods, and that’s okay. However, try to balance those moments by focusing on improving your nutrition moving forward. Aim to nourish your body and mind with healthier, brain-boosting foods like walnuts, salmon, and plenty of water, which can help reduce stress and enhance focus.
Set Realistic Expectations: Don’t stress if your tax return is unprepared. If you make a mistake, you can always file an amendment to correct your wrongdoings. Do not over-criticize yourself.
Ask for Help: Whether it is a tax consultant, a friend, or a hotline, if you have a problem or feel overwhelmed, do not be afraid to seek help.
Conclusion
It’s possible to have a healthy relationship with taxes and not have them trigger many psychological issues. With the help of the above resources and learning how to mitigate stress, you can look forward to this time of the year the right way.
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