As an entrepreneur, you have a high chance of struggling with mental health issues.
Do 72% of entrepreneurs suffer from mental health issues?
According to a study at UC Berkeley, 72% of entrepreneurs in a sample group self-reported mental health concerns.
Being an entrepreneur is hard. In fact, it’s really hard. You may be riding a financial roller coaster or stretched so thin doing all the things in your business that you aren’t making any of your needs a priority.
That’s when anxiety and depression can take hold. This becomes a vicious cycle, and you can spiral out of control.
But no one really talks about it, and entrepreneurs suffer in silence. And even if you’re making great money, you may have set your business model up in such a way that it’s a self-imposed torture device where you work with people you don’t like and you do things you hate.
Do successful people have mental illness?
Many entrepreneurs I know feel different in some way, even if they’re successful. I know I always have.
So it doesn’t even feel like there’s another alternative other than being an entrepreneur because you may not fit into the “normal” box. This can make you feel trapped and add to your mental strain.
Burnout, mental exhaustion, too much stress, not taking days off, and heavy workloads can take their toll on your psyche. But most entrepreneurs pretend everything is okay.
Mental health issues are so stigmatized that people would rather suffer in silence than be judged by their peers, and they don’t want their clients to think less of them or think they aren’t competent.
Let’s take a look at the common challenges entrepreneurs face alone as they wear most of the hats in their business:
Social media management
Online community management
Online reputation management
Website designer and manager
Lead generation
Content marketing
Copywriting
Graphic design
Product development
Tech and all the applications
Sales
Fulfillment of services
Admin
Creating backend business systems
Accounting
Ongoing skill development
All of these things are typically done with a “I’m successful” smile on our faces. Meanwhile, we’re doing them in isolation, feeling like an imposter and telling ourselves that we suck.
And all day long, we wrestle with uncertainty, fear of failure, fear of judgment, and tons of stress.
And if you’re caught up in the manifesting trend, you’re double screwed because now you’re trying to be positive all the time too, which compounds any anxiety or depression.
And God forbid if you start to get bored with your business. That’s when you’re inclined to scrap everything you’ve done until that point and start fresh.
That’s a lot to go through. I’m not sure I’d want anyone I care about to experience any of this, but I also LOVE being an entrepreneur.
I can’t imagine a life without being in charge of my schedule and without the ability to be as creative as I want to be. And honestly, I don’t have an option. As a person who’s part of the neurodivergent tribe, my mind and nervous system won’t have it any other way.
But I’d trade the anxiety and uncertainty for sure. Because even if you’re rolling around in bed naked on a pile of money, as an entrepreneur and business owner, you understand that things can shift and change quickly in the marketplace and the economy.
So if you’re experiencing any mental health issues as an entrepreneur, you’re having a normal response to an extenuating set of unusual circumstances.
There’s nothing wrong with you, but it’s helpful to get the right support at the right time. That may be medication for a time, working with a qualified and competent therapist, or getting involved with a support group.
It doesn’t matter how you’re helped, but what matters most is that you’re taking care of yourself and you know you’re normal.
Amunet
P.S. If it makes sense for us to connect and you'd like support with anxiety and panic attacks that are hindering your business success, click here to learn how I can help.
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