Entreprenurial Mental Health (Part 1)

Part 1

I will start this article with a brief disclaimer. I am not a doctor or any other kind of medical practitioner or therapist. My experience on this topic is personal. I am a complex trauma survivor who has completed two and a half years of Somatic Experiencing Therapy. (Check out the book “The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma” by Sean Pratt and Bessel A. Van Der Kolk for more information.) I also have 30+ years of corporate experience where I have worked for companies that genuinely cared about their employees and established all kinds of mental health awareness programs, which I will admit that I took for granted at first. I have also worked for companies that used intimidation, misinformation, manipulation and stress to “motivate” their employees, which in my case led to a complete nervous breakdown at one point.

Last year the big corporation laid me off, allowing me to realize my dreams of being an entrepreneur. I quickly realized that I no longer had the support systems that my corporate coworkers were providing for me. Being in business for yourself and by yourself can feel very isolating. It is a lonely endeavor. Entrepreneurs tend to face levels of stress that would put most people in a padded room. It is imperative that you understand this and learn to manage your mental health issues by yourself and for yourself.? The key concept to realize here is that the solopreneur has 99% of what is going on with their business exists in their own head and nowhere else.? This also means that your stressed feelings, panic and sense of being overwhelmed are also all in your head and nowhere else.

?The skill that all successful entrepreneurs should develop here is Emotional Intelligence (EI).? EI is not ignoring your feelings or suppressing them.? In fact, it is quite the opposite. Emotional intelligence is about recognizing your feelings, when they happen, and then taking a brief moment, called the "cooling off period," to consider that emotion and why that emotion showed up at this specific moment in time.? Even a 10 second cooling off period will help ensure that your outward reaction and response will be more focused on what is best for your business less on how you feel or what other people will think.? The unintended benefit of this is that in a stressful situation, if you take a few seconds to calmly consider each response, then you will appear levelheaded and calm.? You may not feel calm at this point but less excited and less panicky are good goals to strive for here.? This takes practice.? You gain EI through experience.? Nobody masters EI skills quickly.

Another key point is that some of your reactions to stress are completely unconscious. The Basal Ganglia or “reptilian brain” sits between our nervous system and the higher-level thinking and reasoning parts of the brain. Among other things, this “reptilian brain” controls emotional and fight/flight/freeze responses. Threats, including stressful situations, are processed and reacted to by the "reptilian brain", before any information is passed along to the parts of the brain you use for thinking and reasoning. What this means is that you will have stress responses, you literally cannot think about or mentally process what is happening.? This can be confusing and lead to more stress.

Here are some tips to help you manage stress and prioritize your mental health:

Establish a routine: Creating a daily schedule can help you stay organized and focused. This can include setting aside specific time for work, exercise, relaxation, and self-care. Letting the chaos of “I have a million things to do and can’t decide which one to do first” can be overwhelming.

Take breaks: It's important to take breaks throughout the day to rest and recharge. This can help prevent burnout and improve overall productivity. Even little things like standing up and stretching, during a conference call, will help.

Stay active: Regular exercise can help reduce stress, improve mood, and boost energy levels. Find an activity that you enjoy and make it a priority in your daily routine. I personally chose yoga because it brings exercise and mindfulness together.

Practice mindfulness: Techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, and mindfulness can help reduce stress and promote relaxation. Taking a few minutes each day to practice these techniques can have a positive impact on your mental health.

Connect with others: Even if you work alone, it's important to stay connected with friends, family, and other entrepreneurs. Join networking groups, attend events, or participate in online communities to stay socially connected. Sharing your experiences with other entrepreneurs can be extremely helpful. More importantly, this is your best tool against feeling isolated and alone in your business.

Let go of the stigma around mental health. ?We had a family member, several decades ago, who was hospitalized for schizophrenia. My family felt shame and embarrassed about this, as if admitting there was a significant mental health issue was some kind of secret failure for the entire family. The situation was simply not talked about, and my family wouldn’t admit publicly that there was any kind of problem. Doing nothing and saying nothing is absolutely the worst possible thing you can do when it comes to mental health issues.

Seek support: Don't be afraid to reach out for help if you're feeling overwhelmed or stressed. Consider talking to a therapist or counselor, joining a support group, or seeking guidance from a mentor. Give yourself permission to talk about mental health and stress with your colleagues. You may be surprised to find that bringing up the topic of mental health will allow others to let their guard down to talk about it as well.

Prioritize self-care: Make time for activities that bring you joy and relaxation, such as reading, listening to music, or spending time in nature. Taking care of yourself is essential for maintaining good mental health. Too many of us see this as optional and irrationally put off stress relief activities when we are feeling stressed. “I will go for a hike with the dogs after I finish the big proposal,” does not work. Take a break, decompress and you will find yourself better equipped to finish that proposal.

Remember that it's okay to ask for help and prioritize your well-being as an entrepreneur. By taking steps to manage stress and prioritize your mental health, you can improve your overall well-being and success in business. The bottom line is that you are not only managing stress for yourself. You are also creating a support system and a culture of mental health awareness in your company and for your employees, which is critical for the success of any business.