When 38-year-old Daphne Mallory was a young girl, she and her family lived a comfortable life in Liberia. In the early 1980’s however, Mallory’s family became very concerned about the possibility of civil war and sent her to live in England.
Mallory wouldn’t see her family again for more than 6 years, but they were finally able to reunite in the United States and try to rebuild their lives.
“We had to leave everything behind,†says Mallory.  “When we came to the U.S. we put down roots in New England, but it was tough. We lived just two houses down from a brothel on a street with a lot of drug activity,†recalls Mallory.
She began to notice in her early teens that the experience left her with a deep fear of losing things.
“I would hold onto things I thought would be valuable one day in case I needed to sell them— in case I needed quick cash. I think because of my upbringing, I was always planning for things to go wrong —a real fear of scarcity.â€
Mallory felt strange about this behavior and she began doing research on hoarding. It wasn’t until she reached law school, however, that she realized she had a real problem.
“I was living in so much clutter that I wasn’t able to produce, work, or be creative,†she says. “In law school, we began to talk about billable hours. I realized that if you’re spending 2 to 3 hours trying to find a piece of paper, it would affect your ability to earn a living,†she adds.
Her traumatic escape from Liberia and the poverty she experienced in the U.S. were the perfect storm of events to create for Mallory what psychologists call a money disorder.
“A money disorder is a diagnosable mental health condition,†says Brad Klontz, a financial psychologist and certified financial planner. A history of trauma is a risk factor for developing a money disorder. “Poverty can be a very traumatizing experience. When there is trauma there is emotional upset, and some of these dysfunctional financial behaviors can provide temporary relief. For example, when you hoard, there is some sense of emotional security that comes with it. And when you’re gambling, there is a rush of endorphins or a high. For a lot of my clients, their money disorder can be traced back to some early family dysfunction or a history of trauma,†says Klontz.
Read more about her story on the next page …
Money disorders such as chronic gambling, hoarding and impulse control disorders like compulsive spending, can be found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , which is used by mental health professionals to make a diagnosis. Â Sally Palaian, a licensed psychologist and author of the book Spent: Break the Buying Obsession and Discover Your True Worth, says money disorders have been recognized as a mental health issue for just 15
years — making them a relatively new area of study. While there isn’t much in the way of data as far as how many people have them, study after study has shown for years that money is closely linked with stress.  In addition, the American Psychiatric Association says roughly 2% to 6% of the population has clinically significant hoarding behavior.While Mallory knows she has a hoarding problem, she has chosen to deal with it on her own and not seek professional help. “I’m approaching my hoarding like I would approach professional development,†she says. “I’ve studied it, I’ve put into practice what I’ve learned, and I think I have it under control,†she adds.
Mallory’s not alone. Research has shown that Blacks seek out mental health services at a much lower rate that Whites. A study of the American Psychological Association (APA) called “Race Differences in the Receipt of Mental Health Services Among Young Adults,†found that young adult Blacks, especially those with higher levels of education, are significantly less likely to seek mental health services than their white counterparts.
“Past research has indicated people with higher education levels are more likely to seek out and receive mental health services. While that may be true for whites, it appears the opposite is true for young adult blacks,†said study author Clifford L. Broman, PhD, of Michigan State University in an APA release.
Stigma, lack of knowledge, trust and cultural understanding were key barriers to using mental health services, according to previous research with focus groups of blacks, Broman said. Researchers also point out that low income Blacks have less access to mental health services in their communities.
apper amp_ad_1 ampforwp-incontent-custom-banner ampforwp-incontent-ad3">Experts say, when it comes to money disorders, not getting the help you need comes at quite a cost. Mallory says her fear of spending kept her from hiring a strategic consultant for her public-speaking business. Consequently, she lost out on book deal and a $300,000 advance.
“Money disorders need to be diagnosed and treated by a licensed mental health professional,†says Klontz.
If you or someone you know thinks they may have a money disorder do the following:
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Know the signs of a money disorder. Experts say people with money disorders have extreme difficulty controlling their behavior, mostly due to the positive reinforcement that accompanies the act. “There’s a chemical release in the brain that gives pleasure when engaged in the activity. You go through withdrawal and then you feel guilt when the activity ends. This then leads to another cycle of misbehavior,†says Klontz.
Know what’s not a money disorder. Occasionally spending too much or being in debt does not automatically mean you have a money disorder. It is important to distinguish a true disorder from lack of discipline or from a circumstance beyond your control.
Get professional help. If you suspect you might have a money disorder, seek a formal diagnosis from a licensed professional who can offer help if you need it. Look for a therapist with a specialty in addictions. You can contact the Financial Therapy Association for a list of financial therapists in your area.  In addition, certified life planners are certified financial planners who have either studied the psychology of money or incorporate psychologists and therapists into their financial practice. You can find a list of certified life planners at the Kinder Institute of Life Planning website,
Consider joining a support group. If you can’t afford therapy, a support group is your next best option. Among the most well-known groups are Debtors Anonymous and Shopaholics Anonymous. These groups have phone meetings, which allow participants to call in from anywhere.
Don’t expect a quick-fix or “cure.†When it comes to disordered money behaviors, the trigger is always present. Managing a money disorder is very different from managing an addiction like alcoholism. The alcoholic can choose to avoid alcohol. However, a person with a money disorder cannot avoid money. You can, however, learn to manage the disorder.
Tell someone about depression or suicidal thoughts. Facing financial difficulty can sometimes make you feel depressed or cause you to think about suicide. If this happens, tell someone close to you and seek professional help immediately. Â Â The people around you want to help.