What I Learned About Mental Health After Suffering a Panic Attack

Starting a business taught me many things: to make tough decisions, to solve problems without a manual, to get back up after every fall. But it also led me to hit rock bottom, to live with insomnia, anxiety, paralyzing fear, and emotional silence. This is not talked about; it's hard to dare to recognize the symptoms and ask for help.

I remember one particular day. It was late at night, already ready to sleep, my heart was racing, I felt a tightness in my chest, and a kind of tingling all over my body. I ended up at the emergency room of the hospital at 12 a.m., without a clear diagnosis, and returned home four hours later with a pill for gastritis. Days later, I learned that what had happened to me was a panic attack.

I had crossed the line of burnout, and I didn’t even see it coming.

The Emotional Cost of Entrepreneurship
Starting a business is often sold as a synonym for freedom, growth, and purpose. And yes, all of that can be true. But what is not visible in LinkedIn posts or networking talks are the sleepless nights, the guilt for not being “more productive,” the Sundays with a racing mind, or the identity crises that make you doubt if you are really cut out for this.

Imposter syndrome visited me often. I felt defeated, that I wasn’t doing things right, that I was wasting time, that I had failed, and that I lacked external recognition. 

The fear of failure arose every day, with questions like: Am I doing everything I can do? How much longer should I endure? Should I stop now or keep trying? Am I going to disappoint the team, my family, myself? That constant pressure had been weakening my motivation until it left me exhausted.

What Changed Everything: Asking for Help

The turning point came when I was emotionally down. The story of the panic attack was starting to unfold again, but this time I realized in time that I couldn't handle this pressure alone, so I asked for help. I set my pride aside and started looking for business coaching, began psychological therapy, and talked to trusted colleagues.

Today, I know that taking care of my mental health is not a weakness. It is a strategy. It is a long-term vision. There is no successful business if its leader is broken inside.

Entrepreneurship With Well-Being Is Also Possible

Today, I continue to venture. I keep dreaming big, making complex decisions, navigating the uncertain. But I do it with other resources. I no longer believe the story that to be successful I have to sacrifice myself completely.

Is my business better? Not entirely, I still have a lot to do. But most importantly: I am better.

If you are reading this and feel at your limit, exhausted, lost, or simply disconnected, I want to tell you something: You are not alone. You are not broken. And there is nothing to prove to anyone.

Entrepreneurship with mental health is not only possible, it is necessary. And it can also be profoundly beautiful when done with authenticity, humanity, and connection.

Take a breath. Embrace yourself every night. Because your well-being is the best asset you have.