Mental Health Disorders have a negative impact on all aspects of life, including your professional life. In fact, for many people, mental health and career success go hand in hand. This relationship is especially true for CEOs, VPs, and other people who hold senior leadership positions in their companies. The pressures and challenges facing C-suite executives lead to a unique connection between work and mental health.
Those with C-suite careers face specific risk factors that make certain Mental Health Illnesses and Disorders more prevalent. Moreover, C-suite executives might experience different symptoms and experiences than others who have the same Mental Health Disorders. It’s important for business leaders to seek professional psychological interventions that address their needs and experiences. Learn more about the Mental Health Disorders that can exist in the world of C-suite executives.
Depressive Disorders
Depressive Disorders are among the most common Mental Health Conditions that affect adults in the United States. Anyone can develop Depression, but the daily challenges C-suite executives face puts them at a unique risk.
Business leaders balance great ambition with formidable obstacles. The pressures of your position can amplify feelings of anxiety, failure, or self-criticism. Moreover, senior business leaders often feel like they must be perfect in their careers. They may feel that peers will see their mistakes, pace, or even requests for support as flaws. This fear of admitting to imperfection can lead to self-isolation and other negative habits that exacerbate Depressive Disorders, including Clinical Depression and its various symptoms.
Addiction Disorders
Many Addiction Disorders start as maladaptive coping habits that individuals might use to try to ease their struggles with depression, stress, extreme expectations, and other difficult experiences.
C-suite executives have no shortage of stressors that, combined with a reluctance to seek professional help, cause them to turn to addictive behaviors. It’s also important to note that C-suite executives often have power and money that provides them with access to a bigger playground and makes certain addictions—such as drugs, alcohol, or gambling—more readily accessible.
In fact, Drug Addiction and Alcohol Addiction are two of the most common Addiction Disorders among senior business leaders. Many substance abuse issues start as small coping habits that can be easily disregarded, which can make spotting an Addiction Disorder more challenging. Having a drink to wind down at the end of the day doesn’t necessarily indicate an issue. When that drink becomes a compulsive behavior and serves as a coping mechanism, which can grow into a dangerous Addiction Disorder.
Bipolar Disorder
Another common Mental Health Disorder that can be highly prevalent among C-suite executives is Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar Disorder results in extreme mood swings between manic episodes and depressive periods. Manic episodes can cause an individual to feel elated, hyper active, restless, erratic, grandiose, unpredictable, excessively energized, and motivated. Depressive periods, on the other hand, can lead to apathy, lethargy, sadness, isolation, listlessness, lack of appetite, or hopelessness.
At first glance, some aspects of Bipolar Disorder can appear to be beneficial for business leaders. For some individuals, manic episodes can lead to times of high productivity and success at work. Feelings of joy and elation can also create an infectious positivity that improves morale across the workplace. However, manic periods are only temporary, which means any positive byproducts of Bipolar Disorder will eventually create negative consequences for you, your team members, or those closely associated with you. It’s important to work with a Licensed Clinical Psychologist to balance these episodes and mood swings in order to establish a more adaptive, functional, and healthy lifestyle.
Personality Disorders
Personality Disorders refer to a range of Mental Health Disorders that create rigid, unhealthy behaviors and thought patterns. People with Personality Disorders tend to struggle with relating to others and practicing empathy in certain situations—both of which can be serious barriers when pursuing C-suite careers.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder is one of the most common types of Personality Disorders found among CEOs and other senior business leaders. Individuals with Narcissistic Personality Disorder often exhibit extreme arrogance, grandiosity, and an air of self-importance. However, Narcissistic Personality Disorder also possesses low self-esteem, lack of sense of self, low self-confidence, insecurities, and a desperate desire for respect, admiration, and special treatment.
Individuals with Narcissistic Personality Disorder often have power fantasies about their own success and inflate their achievements. This mentality can lead to a professional drive that helps them succeed in their career paths. However, the lack of empathy and ability to manipulate others can lead to disastrous consequences for professional leaders who have Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
The Dangers of Not Seeking Help
C-suite executives face many challenges in their careers, but none are as destructive as untreated Mental Health Disorders. Without professional help from a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, your Mental Health Disorder can create significant consequences at work and beyond.
The challenges of a Mental Health Disorder put a strain on relationships and hinder your ability to maintain your health and responsibilities in your personal life. Mental Health Disorders can also lead to physical ailments and serious medical issues such as cardiovascular disease, strokes, high blood pressure, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, exhaustion, addiction issues, tension headaches, body aches, and digestive issues.
For C-suite executives, though, some of the biggest consequences of Mental Health Disorders affect work performance, career growth, and professional reputations. Hard-working, charismatic, and driven business leaders can become listless, unmotivated, and difficult to deal with as a result of Mental Health Disorders. That’s why it’s important to seek professional help to treat Mental Health Disorders and maintain your success at work and beyond.
The Benefits of Performance, Executive, and Life Coaching
There are several ways for C-suite executives to find professional help for their experiences with Mental Health Disorders. In many scenarios, coaching services are the key to improving performance, resilience, and overall well-being. With one-on-one coaching, you benefit from a unique relationship with a knowledgeable expert who can help you create and accomplish personal or professional goals. Accomplishing these goals leads to greater fulfillment, adaptive coping skills, mental health, satisfaction, and happiness throughout every aspect of your life, both personally and professionally.
Set Yourself Up for Success With Blair Wellness Group
Dr. Blair is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who provides evidence-based therapies and expert life coaching in Irvine, Newport Beach, Orange County, and its surrounding areas. When you work with Dr. Blair and the team at Blair Wellness Group, you benefit from a comprehensive knowledge base, concierge-style services, and treatment plans tailored to your specific needs. Reach greater levels of success and satisfaction in your career when you work with Blair Wellness Group today.
