Hey everyone. Happy Holiday’s. I was curious to hear any stories about small business owners that have depression on here.

I am a small business owner that has an online service business primarily helping other small local business owners in their cities get more traffic and customers. I also have depression and it’s not due to any situation, it’s just there.

For those of you that don’t have depression, I explain it other like a migraine, severe headache, or even a very bad upset stomach from eating something bad. You can either wait for it to pass (leaving you useless for a day or even days) or you can push through and try your hardest to make it work. (and just deal)

My depression can actually wipe me out. But because I have clients, I just push through to keep them successful.

I was just curious if there are any other small business owners here that that have depression, anxiety, or other mental illnesses? I know for me, it makes normal everyday business situations, that much harder. But I love what I do so I just push through.

Would love to hear any of your stories or how it impacts you. Thanks and I’m wishing you all good success as we get closer to the end of the year. May next year be even better :)

  • Sufficient_Morning35@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I own a small business teaching metalwork and welding. I used to fabricate. I am Hsp, suffer from depression periodically, probably a combination of burnout and exhaustion. I have a low level depression that’s nearly constant. Just injured a shoulder so I have been working with a rotator cuff injury since August. I’m in a hcol area. I get taxed horrifically. The business is low volume, we are not really making money. I started it because I enjoy making art. I have not made much art in years.

    My short term memory is shot from stress and overwork. My hearing is badly damaged despite very consistent use of hearing protection.

    I’m trying to get my business to grow, bring some people on. But at the same time, I know it’s partly stubbornness. I could probably just move back I to fabrication. To generate the volume of business I need.

    Therapy does nothing for me. Got some other social pressures to deal with.

    It’s rough. I’m not sure really how or why I persist. I think I just wanted to avoid working for other people as, being Hsp, I find some things kind of difficult to deal with.

    I have backed myself into a corner. I have some prospects that seem promising, but every day is the same. I earn something and retain, maybe 10-20% of it. I dunno. It’s not going well. If I were more willing to just do what other people do, I think my life would be easier.

    • musicfanatic85@alien.topOPBEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      I’m really sorry to hear this and about your shoulder. How old are you if you don’t mind me asking?

      I also have memory issues and I’m in my 30’s but it’s due to brain fog I think. You persist because you know it will get better. You have to stick to it. I am in search engine optimization so I get businesses more traffic. Sometimes my clients expect the world unrealistically and instead of it making me feel less than, I just know that it’s how people are. I’m great at what I do and they are just made to get frustrated.

      What does HSP feel like? Can you describe it? I know of it but not sure what it actually would feel like.

      You have to stick it out. Business is really hard in general. I’m kind of a psychopath with learning business stuff in general, so you have to step back and figure out what seems broken. If it’s not going well in terms of numbers, what could be done to fix it.

      You have to have the market, the offer, and talking people into it.

      If what you offer is great, and there’s a market, it’s the talking people into it. If you’re great at talking to people, and your offer is great, but the market is low, you have to move to where the market is.

      The market could be social media, google, or local communities. I’m good with design since I build websites but awful with metalworking. I wouldn’t know where to began. But that’s all visual and I’m sure yours looks amazing. If you’re not on social, I would start there. Post all your stuff, and then hit up local communities or only groups. If you do it in person great. If you always teach virtually, even better.

      Sorry but when I see people not sure about something business, I get all fired up and try to help. haha. Thank you so much for sharing though, I appreciate it very much. Definitely tell me more about HSP. I’d like to hear about it.