Does being broke drive you crazy?

It is so weird how money can make people go mad. Financial insecurity has been the number one cause of my stress, and I think many people are in the same boat. Everywhere I go I am hearing about everyone's concern for the economy and what a sting this recession is giving them. People spread the anxiety like a virus. It seems like once you hear somebody talking about how bad things are, you automatically feel terrible. I know I do. I begin to think about my own situation. Not only am I feeling bad for that person, but I am feeling afraid for myself. Being a recent high school graduate, I kind of feel like the inspirational words "You can be anything you want to be" and "If you can think it and dream it, you can do it" or "America is the land of opportunity" have all been lies. Since kindergarten, I have been assured that I will be all right if I just do well in school. But I feel so unsure! One moment I feel on top of the world, and the next I feel like...dying.

Its just weird, I guess. The psychological games that our superficial needs can play. Like, when I look at it all from a distance I feel like laughing. I feel like I am over analyzing things. Like all my worries are the result of my unreasonable wants, and if I could just let go of those wants, I could be at ease. I swear money makes people crazy!

This site brings a lot of discussion about poverty, scholarships, and wealth. In each of the discussions, you can hear of people who feel on top of the world and people who feel helpless against their problems. I have felt both ways. I have communicated under the influence of both emotions. This is also evident in my choice of reading material. One day I will be reading a "get rich" book and the next I will be reading something about finding peace of mind through letting go of superficial desire. Anyway, I just find it interesting that our state of mind is so flexible.