The Two Approaches that Help Entrepreneurs Beat Anxiety (and Yes, You Need Both)

Anxiety can manifest in many ways for entrepreneurs. Perhaps you find yourself constantly worrying about finances, second-guessing your decisions, or struggling to control racing thoughts. Maybe you experience physical symptoms like muscle tension, digestive issues, or a racing heart. These are all common signs that anxiety might be impacting your well-being.

When anxiety hits, there are a couple of frameworks I teach all my entrepreneurs so they can beat it. The first is managing the body-based symptoms that are distressing. Using breathing exercises, meditation, exercise, and getting proper rest and nutrition are key here. You should have both in-the-moment tools as well as routines that support your physiology on a regular basis.

The second framework is something known as cognitive reframing. Filtering your thoughts through the lenses of both accuracy and helpfulness is key - if you’re having a thought and it’s not both accurate and helpful, it’s time to change the thought.

I teach these frameworks in sequence, because it’s very hard to change your thoughts when your body feels out of control. Many entrepreneurs wish they could ignore their bodies, but when you treat your body with respect, it really serves you and your business, so tend to your breath and body, and your mind will be more capable of accurate, helpful thoughts - and more poised to help you problem-solve.

Good therapy and coaching should help you understand your anxiety, develop coping strategies, and build the mental resilience you need to master your anxiety as an entrepreneur. As a therapist and executive advisor, I help you identify the root causes of your anxiety, whether it's related to specific stressors in your business, past experiences, or underlying thought patterns, and then I teach you the tools you need to get through it. Therapy can also help you develop long-term strategies for building resilience and managing stress, so you can face challenges with greater confidence and clarity.