Taking a Closer Look at the Mental Health Stigma of Wall Street

Working in finance can come with great reward, but what's the cost? The work is sometimes grueling, but you have a nice paycheck. You get into your office before the sun rises and leave well after it sets. Your job is perhaps the most important thing in your life.  

Working in a fast-paced industry like finance can give you some pretty high highs. Unfortunately, along with that comes very low lows. Examining the stigmas that surround mental health in the financial world is a conversation that has just begun in recent years. If you feel as if you are struggling to keep up, you are not alone. Keep reading to learn more. 

Examining Burnout on Wall Street

Wall Street and the financial industry as a whole hold high standards for employees and expect them to be met perfectly. Working long hours of overtime is not the exception to the rule, it is the rule. This attitude toward an improper work-life balance sets a precedent for sacrificing much of your own time for the good of your company. 

This is what creates such a huge percentage of burnout in the finance industry. It is the norm for new hires to work at a company for three years, five at max, because it is simply unsustainable to perform that way for any longer than that. 

Burnout does not just penetrate your professional life, it also works its way into your personal life. Increased feelings of anxiety and/or depression are incredibly common when facing burnout. You may not only feel a lack of interest in your work, but in your personal life. Things you once enjoyed may become unappealing or uninspiring. This attitude is what makes it so important to nip burnout in the bud and set yourself up for success professionally. 

Finance: A Male-Dominated Industry

We have all heard locker room talk. In a male-dominated industry like the field of finance, it may feel as if every conversation is male-centric. Working in finance as a woman can feel like you are entering the ultimate boys club–but not necessarily in a good way. Due to the hinted underpinnings of machismo, this forces everyone to up the ante and stick with the status quo. This includes putting on a strong facade and never admitting defeat. 

Of course, men can fall victim to the struggles of mental health as well. However, when the standard is to ignore your feelings and work yourself past the point of exhaustion, admitting you feel less than stellar can be viewed as a sign of defeat. I challenge you to examine these thoughts and feelings by breaking the cycle. Once one person stands their ground, it opens the door for others to follow suit. 

Alleviating Mental Health Struggles While Keeping Up at Work

If you truly love your job in the financial sector, then it is imperative to maintain your mental health. Setting boundaries between your personal and professional life is the first step that you can take toward alleviating burnout and other mental health struggles. Taking breaks throughout the workday can be beneficial. Even if you can only step away from your computer for a handful of minutes at a time, taking a short break is worth it. 

While the conversation is far from over, the door has been opened to discussing the mental health struggles of finance industry workers. Remember, experiencing anxiety, burnout, depression, or any number of mental health conditions does not make you weak, it makes you human. If you are looking to discuss your concerns with a trained professional, I encourage you to reach out to my office today to learn more about work-stress therapy.