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are there any entrepreneurs here? small biz owners?

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greern81

I am a small business owner and I have PSTD. Therapy once a week. I have found that the more I challenge myself to grow my career and business, the more my PTSD take's a hold of my life. I've always been one to use work as a distraction for my problems and it seems to be a solid coping mechanism. However, I'm finding that the more I push my business forward, and challenge myself to grow, the more my PTSD stuff bothers me. I'll become delusional and kind of in my head. It really impacts my ability to maintain productivity. This is a major issue. I do not drink or smoke weed but I'm being treated for ADHD. I feel like ADHD treatment has given me the ability to settle down and organize my life in a way that makes it possible to work with a therapist. When I wasn't treating my ADHD I was opposed to therapy, and I was chasing whatever adrenaline rush I could find, using work to do it. My business has grown by leaps and bounds since ADHD treatment! But my PTSD seems to be growing at the same rate as my business. Can anyone relate to this? I feel isolated because i dont have staff, so my interactions are just with my customers. I feel like the only way out of this is to grow, but as I grow, my anxiety/tension is consistently at a mid to high range and when you add trauma triggers to that mix, it becomes unbearable some days and I cannot function.

Can anyone share what they've done to continue pushing forward? I'm in a business group but its expensive and its not exactly an emotional support group. I dont want to bother my peers in business, and come off as an emotional vampire, by sharing my mental health issues.
 
Well, I am a small business owner but I come from the supporter side. Are you familar with the stress cup article on this forum?
Speaking of own experiences, growth means an increase of responsibility which in turn brings more stress. I can imagine that getting lost in a work you like only works as coping mechanism until a certain point, until the expectations exceed the performance that is possible within the scope of your Cup.
I myself notice how increasing stress has a negative influence on my experience.
But at this point again, I'm coming from the supporter side, hopefully others here can tell you more.
I wish you the best.

Let me add this, pushing forwards might not always be the best idear. Sometimes you need to work on the foundations first. This is especially true when it comes to business topics. I know that is easier said than done :/
 
I was previously Self employed, then went back to being employed. And this year, started a new employed job, but also set/setting up a business and also working self employed on a project on top of that. And recently gave up some volunteer stuff to concentrate on the new start ups. So, I understand the push to immerse in work and the feelings it all brings. But, also, I think there are many cross overs with other things here.

it is lonely and isolating starting up a business. any of your friends self employed or business owners? Last time round for me, a group of us would meet up for pretend office parties, just to get some socialisation in.
in terms of trauma, when you say your ptsd is growing, can you be more specific? Lots of people on here, business owners or otherwise might be able to relate and support.maybe tackling the triggers of ptsd might help?
 
I am a small business owner and I have PSTD. Therapy once a week. I have found that the more I challenge myself to grow my career and business, the more my PTSD take's a hold of my life. I've always been one to use work as a distraction for my problems and it seems to be a solid coping mechanism. However, I'm finding that the more I push my business forward, and challenge myself to grow, the more my PTSD stuff bothers me. I'll become delusional and kind of in my head. It really impacts my ability to maintain productivity. This is a major issue. I do not drink or smoke weed but I'm being treated for ADHD. I feel like ADHD treatment has given me the ability to settle down and organize my life in a way that makes it possible to work with a therapist. When I wasn't treating my ADHD I was opposed to therapy, and I was chasing whatever adrenaline rush I could find, using work to do it. My business has grown by leaps and bounds since ADHD treatment! But my PTSD seems to be growing at the same rate as my business. Can anyone relate to this? I feel isolated because i dont have staff, so my interactions are just with my customers. I feel like the only way out of this is to grow, but as I grow, my anxiety/tension is consistently at a mid to high range and when you add trauma triggers to that mix, it becomes unbearable some days and I cannot function.

Can anyone share what they've done to continue pushing forward? I'm in a business group but its expensive and its not exactly an emotional support group. I dont want to bother my peers in business, and come off as an emotional vampire, by sharing my mental health issues.
Yes, it can be challenging at times. But, great to work for myself.
 
hello from a fellow business owner. i'm 3.5 years into a start-up agricultural llc.

I have found that the more I challenge myself to grow my career and business, the more my PTSD take's a hold of my life. I've always been one to use work as a distraction for my problems and it seems to be a solid coping mechanism. However, I'm finding that the more I push my business forward, and challenge myself to grow, the more my PTSD stuff bothers me.

i have found this pattern holds for all of my efforts, whether academic, hobby, employee or entrepreneurial. i believe the part which keeps biting my behind is ". . .using work as a distraction for my problems. . ." the effort to deny those problems allows them to swell to volcanic proportions. sooner or later, i go boom and i turn into a psychotic space cadet while the pressure escalates.

pushing forwards might not always be the best idear. Sometimes you need to work on the foundations first. This is especially true when it comes to business topics. I know that is easier said than done :/

i have found this to be very true in my own case. it is far more productive and efficient to take a break to attend a support group meeting than it is to attempt to clean up the verbal vomit i just spewed all over one of my most valuable clients. prevention is worth waaaaaay more than a pound of cure.
 
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