Like much of the world, I lament the untimely death of actor/comedian Robin Williams. His death by suicide highlights the role of depression in our lives. Certainly, as a practicing clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist, I frequently treat clinical depression in my patients. Business owners and entrepreneurs are not immune. In fact, they may be more vulnerable in some ways given the rate of startup business failure. After all, if you lose a job that's bad enough. If you lose the dream business you sought to create, that is quite a psychological blow to anyone. Business owners' self-esteem can be more intertwined with the degree of business success. Estimates are that $60,000 is lost to depression related costs per 100 employees.
What are some of the causes of depression? Experts note multiple causes to include genetic vulnerability, stressful life events, medications, medical problems, neuronal transmission, faulty mood regulation by the brain, and one's view of the world. The last two should sound familiar to readers of Success and Mindset posts. The influence of the brain on how we think and feel as well as how our thoughts (mindset) influence the brain is reciprocal. In depression, three brain systems are involved:
1. Hippocampus. This area of the brain is involved in memory and emotional processing. Neuroimaging studies have shown how the hippocampus is reduced in size in depressed individuals, possibly secondary to stressful life events resulting in reduced neuronal connections.
2. Amygdala. This structure is in the limbic system processing memory and emotional reactions. This is where, in conjunction with the hippocampus, we relive stressful and fearful events. The joint influence of the amygdala and hippocampus is where the colloquial phrase "once bitten, twice shy" arises.
3. Thalamus. This structure manages sensory input to and from the brain and serves as a relay station for many areas of the brain. Some research relates this area to manic depression as it links sensory input to pleasant and unpleasant feelings.
Our view of the world (mindset) further influences whether we react to events in a negative, self-blaming view versus a more growth/adaptive/positive view. These views in turn influence various brain structures to our benefit or not.
So, how might the business owner deal with the multiple challenges to avoid a depressive episode? I would recommend six actions/strategies:
1. Make time for your loved ones. It reduces the psychological over reliance on the business as a source of emotional gratification.
2. Maintain social relationships. This is exactly what depressed individuals do not do and is one of the greatest risk factors for clinical depression.
3. Ask for help. This sometimes is difficult for business owners and entrepreneurs, who are used to being in charge and value their independence. There is much help available.
4. Get proper exercise and watch your diet.
5. Build an identify apart from your company. You are more than your company or business. Get involved in some other activity which you value, it reduces your risk for depression.
6. Reframe failure and loss. As I frequently discuss, how you explain setbacks has to do with your mindset. The idea is for you to identify, challenge, and avoid overgeneralizing statements about setbacks to include "I'm a failure", "I'm no good at business", "This always happens to me", among others. For more information, go to www.successandmindset.com and read in particular the post on S.U.E. Your Way to Success.
There is much hope for business owners and entrepreneurs to avoid debilitating depression and enjoy your life both business and personal. Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Results.