May is Mental Health Awareness Month.  As an entrepreneur speaking to entrepreneurs, I can almost guarantee you read that and thought about the people in your life who might need help. Taking care of people is what you do.  As an entrepreneur, you are driven, resilient, and strong.  It’s why people look at you and see the person they can depend on.  But it’s the same reason many entrepreneurs are lonely and find themselves struggling without the support of others.  Today, I want to talk to you about checking on the strongest person in your life, YOU.  

I often tell people to check on their strong friends because their strong friends will suffer in silence.  They will keep pushing through until they can’t anymore.  But pushing through isn’t the strongest thing you can do.  The toughest thing you can do is to ask for help.  It takes a lot of work to ask for help. But you are worth it.  Today, I want you to consider the signs that you might need to ask for help. 

Signs You Need Help

I often speak to audiences about the signs they should look for in the people they love.  It was only recently that I realized that I needed to specify that one of those people should be yourself.  So, today, instead of looking at the signs below and wondering whether your spouse, child, or employee is struggling with their mental health, I want to ask you to look for YOU.

Are you sleeping too little or too much?

Changes in your sleep patterns can be an early sign that you need to start paying attention to your mental health.  Depression and anxiety can cause you to sleep too little or too much.  How are you sleeping right now?

Have you lost interest in things you used to love?

Have you always loved fishing, running, reading, or going for a hike but suddenly find yourself with no passion for your favorite activity? If you can’t work up the passion for your favorite pastime, it may be time to evaluate your mental health.

Are you happier, sadder, or angrier than normal?

People often think that depression looks like being sad, but changes in your mood can be an indicator that you need help. Speaking with a therapist is a good first step toward understanding how your moods have changed and what this means for your mental health.

Are you using drugs or alcohol more than normal?

When you feel anxious, sad, or tired it is easy to turn to drugs or alcohol for a mood change.  When you find yourself doing this more than normal, there is a good chance you need to talk to a professional about your mental health. 

Are your words a sign that you need help?

Do you find yourself thinking that you are a burden to others or that no one cares?  Depression lies to us and makes us think things that are not true.  Pay attention to the things you say to yourself and others.  If you find yourself speaking to yourself this way, please reach out for help.  

Are you feeling hopeless?

Hopelessness is one of the biggest indicators that it’s time for help.  Please call a mental health professional or 988 if you feel like it is simply never going to get better. 

You are an entrepreneur. You are strong, resilient, and driven, but it doesn’t mean you have to be a superhero. It doesn’t mean you are invincible.  Your mental health matters.  It matters to you and to those who depend on you.  Please don’t suffer alone.  If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, please call 988.

Final Thoughts

As the owner of ASMM Digital Marketing and the Founder of Burgers & Bands for Suicide Prevention, I am in a unique position to see how many people struggle. Many people I speak to think of depression and anxiety as something that affects teenagers.  But the truth is we are all at risk.  Mental illness does not discriminate and even the strongest among us struggle.  The good news is that you are not alone.  I seldom speak with an entrepreneur who doesn’t understand the struggle. If you need help, reach out to someone you love and let them know you need help.  It’s not easy.  I understand that more than most, but it’s important and you are worth it.