Overcoming financial fear — and the fear of crypto

Khaleej Times

10-04-2025

It's impossible for me to talk about how I began investing in crypto without first talking about how I overcame my fear of dealing with money. That fear has been with me my entire life, deeply ingrained from childhood. That's when my parents, who loved each other, also fought bitterly about money.
There were days when my father would come home enraged because my mother had overspent. 'Overdrawn' is a word embedded in my psyche. At the same time, my mum had a mischievous side — she would take me out shopping, and the mood was always one of secrecy, as if we were getting away with something. The message was clear: money was a source of conflict, a problem, something to fear. When the topic was on the table, danger was afoot.
My parents ultimately found a way to resolve their financial struggles — separating for a year in their 50s, seeking counselling, reading Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus, and, finally, getting separate bank accounts. They got back together, and I had never seen them happier. But that programming — money is a problem, money is bad, money is something to be scared of — remained deeply embedded.
No matter what I did with my money, I carried an irrational fear about it. I was scared to check my bank accounts. I felt guilty about spending. Receiving money filled me with anxiety because I was convinced I'd mess it up. I felt like I had to hold onto it, but I had no idea what to do with it. Even routine financial tasks — meeting with a financial adviser, opening investment accounts — felt like pulling teeth. That fear led me to make poor financial decisions, not because I was reckless, although I was sometimes, but because I was frozen.
I failed to see money for what it actually was. Energy. A tool. An exchange.
Looking back, I can see that society reinforced my fear. The world is set up to keep us scared — watch the news with fresh eyes and it's all you'll see. Even though I had made bold and smart financial moves — buying and selling properties in Canada, the US and Malaysia, adding to a retirement fund since I was 25 — I never felt good about any of it. I had financial advisers, tried managing my own investments, but nothing ever felt right. And as I got older, as my friends started talking about retirement, the anxiety only grew.
Things reached a breaking point in 2023, when I decided enough was enough. I decided that no matter what, I have enough, and I would work on changing my mindset to having more than enough. It was the most important breakthrough of my life.
I joined an investment community to learn about managing my own money. I joined another to learn about cryptocurrency. I decided I would diversify and take full ownership of my finances. Part of the reason I had been so afraid was that I had trusted my money to the same financial advisers so many others have relied on — only to realise they were never truly acting in my best interest. There was no transparency about fees, no matter how many questions I asked. (And I asked.) The bottom line? No one would ever care about my money as much as I did.
Everything has improved since then. I finally trust myself. I now understand that no one will care about my financial future more than me.
In crypto, fear is a huge factor. The Fear and Greed Index recently hit one of its lowest points ever. Fear drives bad decisions — whether it's panic selling, staying out of the market, or simply not taking action at all. But overcoming financial fear isn't just about crypto or investments. It's about shifting your mindset entirely.
Crypto forced me to face those fears head-on. It required me to step into an unfamiliar world, learn a completely new system, and take responsibility in a way I never had before. It's still forcing me to do all that. It's also led to more confidence in all aspects of my financial life.
If there's one lesson I've learned, it's this: Fear is not a good reason to stay in a place or a space you don't like. The opportunities in crypto are massive. The possibilities are endless — good, bad, and everything in between. Take the time to learn, take responsibility for your own financial future, and above all, learn to trust yourself.
Because no one else is going to do it for you.