Most people only start asking "Why is my credit score going down?" after seeing a sudden drop that feels unfair. You haven’t maxed out your cards, you’ve paid everything (or so you thought), and yet your score dips lower than expected. But what if the issue isn’t just about missed payments or credit utilization? What if your credit score is reacting to patterns in your financial behavior and emotional decision-making that algorithms are quietly tracking? Welcome to the deeper side of credit scoring—where modern credit systems measure more than just numbers. ⚠️ Financial Anxiety and Emotional Spending: A Credit Risk Signal? According to FICO and Experian , your credit score is based largely on your payment history, credit usage, account mix, and inquiries. But increasingly, it’s becoming a reflection of your financial personality . When you feel stressed about money, you might unconsciously make short-term decisions like: Closing old credit cards “just to simplif...