Are You Stuck in Your Amygdala Brain?
As an entrepreneur, chronic stress can become your norm. Here’s why this is a problem. When stress takes over, your prefrontal cortex—the part of your brain responsible for strategic thinking, planning, and creativity—shuts down. Meanwhile, your amygdala goes into overdrive, putting you in survival mode. This hijacks your ability to think clearly, make decisions, and feel excited about the future—all tremendously important characteristics of a leader.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. 81% of entrepreneurs in a recent study indicated they were stressed, with 30% expressing extreme stress. A Mental Health Research Canada study indicated that 69% of Canadians have experienced symptoms of burnout, and one in four experienced burnout ‘most of the time’ or ‘always’. What does this mean? If you’re experiencing burnout, you might experience some of these physical, emotional, and behavioural symptoms:
Physical Signs
- Chronic fatigue, feeling drained all the time
- Frequent headaches or muscle pain
- Weakened immune system (getting sick often)
- Changes in sleep (insomnia or oversleeping)
- Changes in appetite (eating too much or too little)
Emotional Signs
- Feeling detached, numb, or unmotivated
- Increased irritability or frustration
- Feeling overwhelmed or helpless
- Loss of joy or satisfaction in work or life
- Increased feelings of self-doubt or failure
Behavioural Signs
- Withdrawing from responsibilities or social interactions
- Procrastination and decreased productivity
- Using food, alcohol, or other substances to cope
- Struggling to concentrate or make decisions
- Missing deadlines or making more mistakes than usual
In your day-to-day, when your amygdala goes into overdrive, it might look like assuming a conversation with a client will go poorly before you’ve had it, and avoiding work to prepare for it as a result. Or, in that same meeting, you might find that you are jumping to conclusions or reacting poorly.
Here’s the good news: Once you understand your stress response, you can reset your brain and regain control. As an entrepreneur, your ability to think clearly and make decisions is one of your most important assets. It’s time we start viewing therapy as the tool for growth that it truly is.
If you’re thinking, I am surrounded by a community of mentors who support me—do I really need a therapist? It’s not therapy or mentorship—it’s both. Learn more about the “Differences between mentorship vs therapy“, from a conversation we had with A100.
Last year, the City of Calgary funded Collectively Tangled to make mental health accessible and a priority for entrepreneurs in the Innovate Calgary community. The work reduced barriers to accessing care and reduced the stigma of seeking mental health support. As a result, 41% of the entrepreneurs who engaged in therapy did so for the very first time.
As a part of the Calgary Tech community, you can book a free virtual consultation with a therapist who understands the stressors of an entrepreneurial life. The consultation provides an opportunity to discuss your individual needs, explore how therapy can help, and determine if it’s right for you.
Don’t let chronic stress hijack your brain—learn to reset and regain control. Collectively Tangled provides therapy for entrepreneurs. We believe a business is only as healthy as its leaders.
Jenn MacDonald is a Partner at Collectively Tangled.
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