4 Ways Of Thinking That Could Lead To A Nervous Breakdown

"Nervous Breakdown" - now that's a term you don't hear much of now a days, but over the last year 2 friends had to stop working because their anxiety - stress overtook them. 

Now the underlying lesson is that all the money and all the properties you accumulate are of little benefit if you don't have your health.

You've heard me say it before:

"Your true wealth is what you're left with when you take away all your money."

While the right level of stress mobilises you and pushes you forward, what causes some of us to get overwhelmed by it?

Inc.com published a partial list of beliefs that, if undetected, will eventually catch up with you and create a nearly inescapable nervous breakdown.

1. Everything I do must be perfect

Perfectionism ranks high among anxiety-inducing beliefs. 

It typically takes root in childhood, where we learn its value--to buffer us from the criticism of others.

We think, "If I'm perfect, no one can judge me."

We hide our limitations behind the guise of a perfect life, perfect family, perfect home, hoping that no one will notice how flawed we really are.

In an attempt to allay our anxiety, we size everyone up--especially those we're most threatened by--and compare ourselves to their mould.

It's a competition you can never win because you'll never be perfect. 

2. If people really knew me, they'd hate me--and probably want nothing to do with me

A close cousin to perfectionism is inauthenticity.

At pivotal points in your life you learned that certain behaviors were acceptable and others were not--and if you want to get along in this world you better only show the acceptable parts.

For some of us, the bucket looks like this--accommodating, agreeable, meek.

For others, the bucket is this--blunt, caustic, edgy.

You have your own acceptable bucket.

Whatever it contains is the face you show to the world.

The unacceptable parts of your personality are the ones you hide from everyone, and probably yourself.

But when you remain disconnected from certain aspects of your personality, you cannot be fully yourself, fully alive.

This self-denial leads to an untenable level of disconnection, a breakdown of your identity, and eventual stress.

3. Talking about emotions are only for the weak

When you don't feel safe to be who you really are, you compartmentalize your identity into acceptable "buckets."

Emotional Intelligence is important for understanding ourselves, working well with others, and managing our relationships.

Yet avoiding emotions remains one of the last remaining bulwarks of the sharky, start-up life. 

Most entrepreneurs I encounter hate to talk about their feelings.

They would rather harbor their emotions, deal with them personally--or avoid them all together--then move onto the next big idea.

Here's the thing: Emotions are the way you release your stress.

If you're not talking about them, chances are the stress you're under doesn't have a chance to metabolize in your body and work its way out.

Chronically not talking about emotions will only exacerbate the stress you feel.

4. If I fail, I'll die. So I'll kill myself NOT to fail

On the road to success, we idolize failures as necessary setbacks.

But I wonder if this is just lip service--we know we're supposed to be OK with failure.

I think if we're really honest, we'd admit that we hate it.

Most of us abhor failure and fight like hell to avoid it.

So, in order NOT to fail, we neglect our health, grow distant from family and friends, feign our own wellbeing so we don't have to talk about it, and plod on to the next task that ensures our eventual "success."

If you don't swiftly course correct, this fear of failure will doom you to workaholic lifestyle that might lead to success, but at what cost?

In summary 

Anxiety is a powerful drug for investors, business people and entrepreneurs.

In the right doses, it can mobilize you into action and make you relentless in the pursuit of your goals.

The perfect combination of neurochemicals can keep you in the sweet spot of creative activity without all the burnout.

But when how you think about your work becomes too rigid--veering into an unhealthy belief system dominated by dictates like "must" and "have to"--it's only a matter of time before you experience the debilitating effects of stress and anxiety.

About Michael Yardney Michael is the founder of Metropole Property Strategists who help their clients grow, protect and pass on their wealth through independent, unbiased property advice and advocacy. He's once again been voted Australia's leading property investment adviser and one of Australia's 50 most influential Thought Leaders. His opinions are regularly featured in the media.