Can entrepreneurship make you more depressed?
In recognition of mental health awareness week (14th – 20th May 2018), I had the opportunity to catch up with Latoya Lovell (courtesy of Black British bloggers and fpcomms) in this short interview, Latoya and I discussed her experience of depression and entrepreneurship. Latoya is a successful entrepreneur that does it all! Read on to see what we spoke about over drinks at Christopher’s Bar.
K: Would you be able to tell us what it is that you do on a day to day basis?
L: It’s more what I don’t do! When it all comes down to it I write. It’s what makes me feel good, it’s what keeps me going, writing. I write a lot, especially at the moment. I developed a project called break up Bootcamp. It was inspired by a breakup I went through last year, but I hadn’t completed the project as I wasn’t ready to let go, but I felt to really do it justice I had to get to that point.
I’ve spoken to a couple of people who have had someone close to them commit suicide and it made me remember why I started all this; to stop people from getting to the point that I got to, where you can’t reach out for help because you feel so low. So I recorded this morning, tears and all. So in a nutshell filming and writing are my thing.
K: Have you always been entrepreneurial?
L: It developed over a period of time, being a black woman in the UK they tell you to go to college, go to university and that you’ll get a job but it’s not that simple. So for me, it became a matter of creating my own lane. It’s not easy, but you have to learn to keep going despite it all so here I am.
K: As you may notice becoming an entrepreneur is almost like the new wave do you think the message of grinding and fake it ’til you make it is damaging to mental health?
L: Yes, I think the problem is that a lot of people think that you need to work work work and even for myself I’ll be honest I’ve been like that. I’ve realised only recently just how detrimental it can be to your mental health. You have physical health in which there is such a loud message everywhere to maintain it but you also have mental health and in order to be a whole and healthy human being you must maintain both. I’ve only started doing it recently, but I ensure that I give myself 2 days off a week, you need breaks. Social media gives people a showreel of the best moments, so grinding to keep an image will only run you down to the ground.
K: How did having depression impact your day to day life as an entrepreneur?
L: All the time! I shut down, I won’t answer my phone, delays in answering emails, I start to feel insecure and when you’re an entrepreneur and you start doing that you’ll block your own blessings. A part of overcoming this is knowing when to say no, and being protective of your space. An easy way to fall into depression is by living your life for others, you end up doing things that don’t sit right in your spirit and that’s the quickest way to harming yourself in the long run.
I’ve always been a pleaser and wanted people to like me. It’s ok if not everyone likes you, what is important is those that do. The most important thing is noticing triggers and cues, then it is much easier to come out of the hole before you get in too deep. I don’t feel like I have anything to prove anymore, I’m just me. I’m very honest with people.
K: Do you think there’s a stigma attached to mental health and being an entrepreneur?
L: No doubt. It is almost as if you cannot show any sort of emotion and must be a go-getter at all times. There was a time when I opened up to someone and about my grandmother passing away and I was described as being erratic and unstable. My grandmother had passed away! It was then I realised it’s not you Latoya that is doing anything wrong, but maybe you need to distance yourself from people like that.
So for me yes you are going to have the stigma’s, yes you will have the stares, but this issue goes beyond me and is bigger than me so I will continue to try to break that stigma by openly discussing this issue.
K: Would you say that you’re completely free from depression or is it something that creeps in from time to time?
L: Depression will always be there, everyone experiences it at some point in their lives this could be due to a chemical imbalance or your mindset. I don’t think I will ever be completely free from it but I can certainly learn how to manage it.
K: Do you have any techniques or methods you use to ensure that you don’t fall into a deep depression again?
L: I started to try and be grateful for a lot more things. So I write down on a chalkboard what it is that I am grateful for. That visual aid serves as a constant reminder on those days when things do not seem so great.
K: Anything new and exciting that you’re working on we should know about?
L: My book is coming out next year (The citirun). I’m currently recording my breakup Bootcamp series it’s not ready yet but look out for it. I’m also in the process of planning a women’s empowerment event. It’ll be a chance for women to get together and be empowered with a focus on mental health. There will be talks, workshops, a chance to network and of course prosecco. The date of this event is 1st July, 11-4 pm.
Follow Latoya on social media to stay updated on what she’s up to and for further details on the upcoming women’s empowerment event.
My interview with Latoya was great fun, we sipped on cocktails, whilst munching on truffle nachos. As soon as Latoya came into the room there was an added warmth. Latoya did not seem like someone who was suffering from; surviving depression as she described earlier in the interview. I believe that the choice of these words to describe her mental state is very powerful. There will always be days that seem darker than the rest. Keep moving forward and have a support system. Seek help when needed, you’ll always come through on the other side.
Latoya can be found on the following platforms:
Website: www.latoyalovell.com
Twiter: @latoyalovl
Instagram: @latoyalovl
Let me know in the comments below what your views are on entrepreneurship and mental health.
Until next time,
Koko
xo
