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Imagine the pressures associated with orchestrating a business deal worth tens-of-billions of dollars. Few of us can even comprehend numbers that high.
And what of the teams of people tied to the success of such a major business acquisition — the venture capital firms, individual investors, and potentially thousands of employees. With so much on the line, how does anyone possibly deal with all that responsibility and stress on their shoulders?
The answer is — most of the time we just don’t know. That’s because what’s truly behind the face of confidence and conviction worn by entrepreneurs, the high-powered, and the elite often goes unnoticed, uncovered, unaddressed. Not that we have direct insights into how each and every business leader may fare under such circumstances, but for those of us in the mental health field, generally speaking, we do know that extremely successful businesspeople often suffer from anxiety and depression — silently and alone.
In fact, the very traits that bring them great success — creativity and open mindedness, a willingness to take risks, being extroverted — have proven to be characteristics commonly found in those with anxiety, depression, and addictions.
Yet at the same time, wealthy and successful leaders are notorious for denying or minimizing the signs of clinical mental health problems. “Work first; mental health later” is often the fallback attitude. That’s because talking about mental health issues or seeking help is problematic for “winners.” Acknowledging that we are not at our best mental health can feel like admitting failure or defeat. And not unlike so many people throughout society, successful leaders also may be uneducated regarding the symptoms of clinical depression, anxiety, or substance use disorders and won’t seek treatment until others notice or it becomes too severe.
Exacerbating the problem is the belief that the richer and more successful you are, the happier you become. Evidence shows most often it’s the opposite. Money does not protect us from suffering from depression and other mental health disorders.
Anxiety can manifest as panic attacks and an inescapable sense of impending doom coupled with racing and unwanted thoughts, nausea, heavy sweating, trembling, and a rapid heartbeat. With depression comes an array of other physical and mental symptoms such as trouble sleeping, over-eating or under-eating, a lack of interest in activities, risk-taking behavior, and, at its worst, suicidal ideations. Well beyond just general feelings of sadness and self-doubt, clinical depression can be quite debilitating and often doesn’t just “go away” without professional intervention.
So, what’s at the core of the need to invest in mental health? There are a whole host of things to consider that may bear down on the wealthy and highly successful leaders. First is the undercurrent that money equals love, power, security, control, self-worth, self-love, freedom, and self-esteem. There also is the reality that with wealth comes the belief that if they fail everyone does, including family. And that fear of failure is a veritable house of cards.
It’s also worth noting that success and work often become highly addictive over time. And you tend to become more isolated as you make more money, which minimizes social connections and the value they can bring to your life.
Research shows that quality experiences with others and having more time to do things we truly love drive happiness in ways that material possessions simply cannot. But you have to get there — and sometimes you have to have a guide show you the way. Guides can come in many forms, be it through holistic self-help steps in managing stress and anxiety, or in the form of professional advanced evidence-based treatment approaches tailored to suit your individual needs.
There’s a saying that goes: mental health is wealth. It’s time that high-ranking business executives and entrepreneurs who only see wealth as performance in dollars and cents, gain a better sense that they will perform better — as will their companies and employees — if their mental health is in check.
Dr. Antonello Bonci is the executive chair and founder of GIA Miami. Before moving to GIA Miami, he served for nearly a decade at the National Institute of Health (NIH) as scientific director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Between 1999 and 2010, he was professor-in-residence in the Department of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and held the Howard J. Weinberg Endowed Chair in Addiction Research while also serving as associate director for Extramural Affairs at the Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center.
During the past five years, Dr. Bonci and his collaborators worldwide have successfully pioneered the translation of non-invasive brain stimulation such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), from the preclinical stage to the clinic, to treat cocaine use disorders and other types of addiction.
