Ady, you’re a superstar! Thanks so much for sharing.
As someone who has faced mental health challenges, I can really relate to your story. I once had a manager who completely shattered my confidence and belief in my abilities. I experienced a lot of executive dysfunction (it’s nice to have a name for it) and didn’t know how to navigate through it.
Four things really helped me. First, talking to friends and trusted ex-colleagues was key. These were people who knew me well, both personally and professionally. Walking was also a huge help, and I did a lot of it (though my poor dog might not agree). A good friend suggested meditation, which, as a man approaching 50, was a bit of a surprise, but it turned out to be really beneficial. I’ve been practicing it for two years now and still enjoy it. Lastly, I discovered the High Performance Podcast. It might seem odd to listen to people talk about performance when dealing with anxiety and depression, but the stories of struggle and resilience from sports stars and CEOs really resonated with me. Hearing how they hit rock bottom and climbed back up was inspiring. The episodes became a part of my walks and still are today.
It’s a long journey, and that knot in your stomach might never be far away, but at least we now know how to manage it.