Poverty-brain: Every moment is spent evaluating the cost or benefit of someting, indirect or not; Focusing on recreational activities that might be monetized at some point, or only reading something that might teach you something useful.
Your shit box beater breaks down, you can't afford to repair it, so now you're having a mental breakdown because if you don't get to work, you can't pay the rent, you'll end up homeless again. Full on panic attacks from things going wrong.
The long-term trauma. I'm no longer broke and no longer homeless but I can't shake the instinct to eat as much as I can whenever free food is available, even though these days I know where my next meal is coming from. Same with a lot of other behaviors that were helpful when I was destitute but harmful now I'm not.
Definitely this. When things break it makes me feel like I'm going to have a full blown panic attack, even though I'm now able to fix it. Same with wasting food. It makes me feel like I'm going to cry if I have to throw leftovers away. I'm also psychotic about saving money now. I spend money as if I was still living paycheck to paycheck even though I'm not and then save the rest of it.
10 Comments
neidu3@sh.itjust.works · 14 pts · 1y
Poverty-brain: Every moment is spent evaluating the cost or benefit of someting, indirect or not; Focusing on recreational activities that might be monetized at some point, or only reading something that might teach you something useful.
Libb@piefed.social · 13 pts · 1y
Stress? The cost of which can be dramatic.
Madzielle@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 5 pts · 1y
Yeah.
Your shit box beater breaks down, you can't afford to repair it, so now you're having a mental breakdown because if you don't get to work, you can't pay the rent, you'll end up homeless again. Full on panic attacks from things going wrong.
Nemo@slrpnk.net · 11 pts · 1y
The long-term trauma. I'm no longer broke and no longer homeless but I can't shake the instinct to eat as much as I can whenever free food is available, even though these days I know where my next meal is coming from. Same with a lot of other behaviors that were helpful when I was destitute but harmful now I'm not.
FairycorePhoebe@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 1y
Definitely this. When things break it makes me feel like I'm going to have a full blown panic attack, even though I'm now able to fix it. Same with wasting food. It makes me feel like I'm going to cry if I have to throw leftovers away. I'm also psychotic about saving money now. I spend money as if I was still living paycheck to paycheck even though I'm not and then save the rest of it.
trinsec@piefed.social · 10 pts · 1y
I always get reminded of Vimes' Boots Theory.
j4k3@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 1y
Banking. Access to digital marketplaces is a major barrier that prevents escaping the poverty cycle.
Sunshine@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 1y
f to everyone in North Macedonia struggling with this issue 🇲🇰
immutable@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 1y
How much poverty can wreck your health.
Shitty cheap food, stress, hard physical labor.
Poor health ain’t cheap either so it just widens the trap
Asidonhopo@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1y
Entering into, or staying in relationships or friendships you wouldn't have otherwise, at a chance to improve your life somewhat