"It's not that serious, so stop overreacting.”
"Just relax."
"Get over it."
"Calm down."
Not only is that easier said than done even when you're not dealing with anxiety and/or depression, but saying that to someone who is dealing with anxiety and/or depression can sometimes push them deeper into the emotional state they are trying to claw their way out of. You’re only reminding them, with your casual comment, how big of a challenge it is for them to do those - what may seem like simple - things. Making those statements can be like pouring salt into a wound, aggravating the situation even more.
One of the main reasons I had to recently remove myself from working so much inside my business - and the many, many roles and job titles I played inside my business - was because it was starting to take a mental toll. I was the receptionist, lead literary consultant handling all discovery calls, customer service, HR, the account executive, project manager, etc. Besides all of that affecting me mentally, it was time I stopped simply calling myself the CEO of my company and truly start acting like and being the CEO. I've worn almost every hat inside my business that I possibly could so that I know my business inside and out in order to diagnose and prescribe a prescription (solution) for my patients' (clients) pain points (problems).
I turned my business phone over to my assistant so that I'm no longer overwhelmed with unscheduled calls and text outside of my paid clients and company team members (and outside of business hours and business workdays). Not only do I have to protect my time and my mind, but I have to protect my money, my worth, and my value as well. In my profession, people pay to speak and communicate with me, and ask questions, aka pick my brain. So in order to show (not simply know) my worth and increase the value of my time and knowledge, limiting my accessibility became a must.
Any business owner, whether dealing with mental health or physical issues, has to realize when it's time to step up by stepping out of the business (to a degree). Not abandoning your business, but replacing yourself in some of your roles with able, qualified team members. Not quitting the business, but promoting yourself to a true CEO. This is also known as hiring yourself (by hiring others) out of the jobs within your company.
So, what is one of the signs that it's time to hire yourself out of the positions within your company and promote yourself to a true CEO, or when you may be experiencing mental burnout? For me, it was when spilled milk on a marble countertop started to look like spilled red wine on white carpet.
Take care of business, but more importantly, take care of yourself.
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