Is it me or is it the economy?

Have you ever looked at a grocery receipt and felt your chest tighten? You're not alone. Roughly half of Americans say they struggle to afford rent or a mortgage. Food prices keep climbing. Household debt just hit a record $18.8 trillion.

Financial therapist Lindsay Bryan-Podvin says the affordability crisis isn't your fault — but that doesn't mean you're powerless. She joins Robyn Vincent on The Metro to talk about debt, shame, and what actually helps when the numbers stop working.

Bryan-Podvin is based in Ann Arbor. She founded Mind Money Balance and is the author of "The Financial Anxiety Solution."

"The Metro" covers local and regional news and current affairs, arts and cultural events and topics, with a commitment to airing perspectives and uncovering stories underreported by mainstream media in Detroit.