How Understanding My Mental Health in Crisis Shaped My Leadership

Like everyone, my mental health journey has been one of learning and growth. I learned the warning signs of when I’m not at my best and also learned healthy tools and skills for those times to help me cope and grow.

As a kid, I suffered from what I now know were panic attacks. As I made my way through my executive career, those anxious attacks faded—but it wasn’t like my stress did. As is the case for most of us, I became an adult, married, had kids, a mortgage, and elderly parents to be concerned for—while building a career and starting a company. The challenges were exponentially more complicated than the algebra tests that gave me panic attacks as a kid.

My coping skills, however, were just as bad. Overeating, a drink (or two) at night, lack of exercise, meditation, or mindfulness. Just go, go, go.

Over time, as I found my “why” in the intersection of technology and healthcare, especially mental health care, I had to consider how I was going to manage my own stress. I had to figure it out, especially because I was leading teams of people. I needed to be a leader they could trust to handle stress in healthy ways and look for ways to help them with theirs.

When I started Ripple Health Group with my two co-founders, we had just begun when the world stopped because of the pandemic. We had barely spent time in the office together, and like many business leaders, I had to figure out how to manage remote work and team-building despite none of us sharing physical space.

I was concerned about my team members and how they were facing this unprecedented global pandemic. That pandemic for many across the globe also triggered mental health crises. I was panicking—and none of us had a playbook.

As with nearly every hardship, there was a silver lining. I learned a lot about good stress and bad stress. I didn’t always get the balance right, as I, too, felt real worry, both professional and personal, during that time. However, I did learn some lessons that I use to this day.

Recognize the Early Signs of Burnout

Everything was turned upside down during the pandemic. Kitchen tables because desks and childcare became an even bigger nightmare than it already was. But in times of crisis, remember to “pause.” Take inventory.

Using language from my book, check your mental health battery. Look for disturbed sleep patterns, excessive fatigue, anxiousness, or extreme procrastination. Recognizing you are out of sorts is a first step.

Setting Boundaries

Work-life balance was not even a “thing” when I started on Wall Street years ago. I used to travel twenty-five days a month. I did not know how to set limits. I had to look at that when the abrupt stop of travel during the pandemic gave me time to do things I had not done in a while—such as sit down to dinner most nights.

When we consider our mental health, especially in crisis, it is important to set boundaries. To delegate where we can. And to recognize the boundaries of others.

The Importance of Self-Care

Neglecting personal well-being in favor of work is unsustainable. Make time for activities that recharge you, such as exercise, hobbies (movie marathons count!), or spending time with loved ones. Self-care is not selfish; it’s essential for long-term productivity.

When I noticed that late-in-the-evening eating or even a nightly scotch was messing up my sleep, I had to choose that self-care was more important than comfort eating junk food. I started morning meditation—for me, simply alone time in green space to start the day.

Ask for Help Early

Many of us, especially executives, resist seeking help because we must “tough it out” or appear infallible. When feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to reach out to colleagues, mentors, or mental health professionals. Seeking support shows strength, not weakness. In my own parlance, I always tried to “power through.” I now see that is often the worst approach.

As a business leader, I know the next crisis is around the corner because that’s the nature of this global economy and community. Mental health crises are now increasingly discussed, which is great because that’s important to finding solutions. I’m grateful I can look to my past experiences to know how best to handle the bumps along the road.