LEADERSHIP AND DEPRESSION: NAVIGATING THE PRESSURES AND CHALLENGES OF INCREASED RESPONSIBILITIES.
AUTHORS
1. Aisha Abdullahi Bubah:
Counseling Psychologist
and President, YALI RLC Alumni Chapter of Nigeria. Email: abdallahayshah@gmail.com
2. Onaoluwa Abimbola Ajayi:
Medical Laboratory Scentist, President, Health for All Advocate and YALI RLC Fellow. Email: onaabimbola@gmail.com
He was almost in tears. “I feel down... Everything is looking good and I know I am on track for achieving most of my outlined goals ... But, I feel the pressure of multiple expectations ... The stakes seem higher when one is in the public eye and well known as a leader. One careless step and everything can come crashing down – I am afraid”. He wailed.
If you have ever felt like my dear friend above, who poured his heart out on one of those days when ordinarily he should have been very excited – know this – YOU ARE NOT ALONE! In fact, history records that many great leaders suffered episodes of depression at periods when it seemed their elastic limit was reached. But hold on, the good news is these episodes of depression, triggered by defeats, victories and stress can be resolved and should not become a hindrance that prevents you from performing at your best.
Depression is defined as a common and serious ailment that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. It is a mood disorder characterised by low mood, a feeling of sadness and a general loss of interest in things. Symptoms have to be ruled out as not due to vitamin deficiencies, thyroid dysfunction or a tumour and last at least two weeks before a diagnosis of depression can be made. At least one in six persons will experience depression at one point or the other in their lives.
So, what does Depression have to do with Leadership?
Leadership exposes us to the environmental factors that can play a role as depression risk factors. According to the American Psychiatric Association, continuous exposure to violence, neglect, abuse or poverty may make some people vulnerable to depression.
Sounds like the menu leaders are served daily via the many challenges of communities we seek to bring positive change to, right? We often come across poverty, abuse and violence in the course of doing our social work.
Moreover, leadership comes with pressure and increased responsibilities. This pressure can increase the symptoms of pre-existing depression or trigger the start of an episode. There are two schools of thought. Some argue that high achieving individuals are predisposed to depression while others say it is the pressure of high level responsibility that brings on depression. However, the reality is some people are able to cope without self-harm, while some others break when challenging times come. Which category will you choose?
Also, a common response is to think “You have to be strong”, “You can’t show your weaknesses to your followers” … But that is not the best response. Having such a mindset only increases the pressure on the leader.
Know this: Depression is not a character flaw or a management ability quotient. It can be a natural response to increased responsibilities. So, if you are struggling with depression, you do not have to feel ashamed about it. In fact, talking to someone who can help shows that you are strong and have good willpower and emotional intelligence.
How common is Depression among Leaders?
Up to 50% incidence rates have been reported among American entrepreneurs and CEOs (Freeman et al., 2015). That is a significant number ... 1 in 2 as against the 1 in 5 of the general populace. According to a report by World Economic Forum (WEF, 2015), Abraham Lincoln had a family history of depression and was reported to be “The most depressed person they had ever seen” by his friends. Martin Luther King Jnr. Suffered from depression as a teen and attempted suicide. Before his assassination, his staff recommended he sought psychiatric help, which he declined. JK Rowling, the author of the popular book series, Harry Potter, has been very vocal about her challenges with mental health related issues. Mahatma Gandhi is reported to have had suicidal attempts in his adolescence and depressive episodes in his adulthood.
In a popular article written by Nassir Ghaemi, in which he explored a concept he termed the law of inverse sanity, he postulated that when matters are going smoothly in the affairs of a state, mentally healthy people function well as leaders. However, when the affairs of the state are in a phase of crisis, mentally abnormal people make better leaders. He went further to explain his idea and how it relates with some famous world leaders.
Leadership comes with significant changes that stems from the responsibilities attached to the role. These changes can be behavioural, physical appearance, social, relationship dynamics, etc. These changes influence an individual’s self-view, world view and other view. When these changes are not followed by a positive support system that provides an enabling environment to thrive well in the leadership role, it may result in negative emotions which depending on many other factors, can lead to depression or depressive feelings.
How to Navigate the Maze
Depression is not a life sentence. It can be managed, with the right interventions. However, there is no one size that fits all, hence , a combination of techniques proves to be helpful.
♳Acknowledge that you are human and can need help: Leaders may feel like superpowers and try to avoid showing vulnerability, However, acknowledging a need for help is essential to a quick recovery.
♴Cultivate the mind and plant seeds of hope and positivity daily: Affirmation and positively reinforcing thoughts can nudge and influence the mind onto recovery.
Keep a gratitude journal. Itemise the little steps on your leadership and personal journey that you are grateful for.
♵Filter social media and other media: Ensure that you avoid toxic content especially during vulnerable periods.
♶Maintain an active lifestyle: It is proven that the body releases chemicals called endorphins after exercise which triggers positive feelings in the body.
♷Engage in fun activities: Do the activities that give you joy. Remember those fun things you did when you didn’t have the weight of leadership on you? Find time in your busy schedule to do them. This will serve as a stress buster for you.
♸Manage your fears: There is a reason why you are in a leadership position (you possess the skills). Anticipatory fear can hinder progress, which can bring about overwhelming feelings of anxiety and failure. Take charge of your activities, plan well, set achievable goals, manage your time well and watch how your fears become insignificant in the face of your accomplishments.
♹Maintain a healthy diet: Like the popular saying goes “You are what you eat”. A healthy diet helps boost your immune system, reduce risks of falling ill and also the risks of being overweight.
♼Build positive relationships: Surround yourself with positive people, who are always there to listen to you and be supportive.
♻Seek help: If you find yourself getting overwhelmed by feelings of sadness or anxiety, speak to a professional. This doesn’t mean you must seek a diagnosis, it could be just having someone to talk to and learning coping skills.
“Remember in the depth and even the agony of despondency, that very shortly you are to feel well again”- Abraham Lincoln
References
Abimbola O (2017): From Depression to Hope. Sparrowsongs Publishing; Amazon/Createspace. Accessed October 26, 2019.
https://www.amazon.com/Depression-Hope-personal-clinical-depression/dp/1546408355
Freeman M, Johnson S, Staudenmaeir P, Zisser M (2015): Are Entrepreneurs “Touched with Fire”. Pre-publication manuscript. Downloaded October 28, 2019. http://www.michaelfreemanmd.com/Research.html
Hays S (2019): Are Entrepreneurs touched with Fire? Medium Transcript of a Podcast interview of Dr Michael Freeman. Published August 6, 2019, accessed October 26, 2019.
https://medium.com/invisible-illness/episode-1-are-entrepreneurs-touched-with-fire-2372e8a82c22
Ramachandran S and Winkler R: Beyond the Confetti(2019): The Dark Side of Startup success. Wall Street Journal (July, 2019). Accessed October 26, 2019.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/beyond-the-confetti-the-dark-side-of-startup-success--11562923804
https://mbird.com/2011/08/and-a-depressive-shall-lead-them-the-inverse-law-of-sanity/
