The Secret Demons of Start-Ups

Forming a successful start-up, from inception to media-saturated IPO, seems like it would put any entrepreneur on top of the world. But for many, it only brings stress and depression. That’s the takeaway of an interesting WSJ piece that looks at the dark side of startup life. 

While many jobs can be stress-inducing, the piece notes, “Entrepreneurs were 50% more likely to report having a lifetime mental-health condition and reported significantly higher rates of depression, attention-deficit disorder, substance abuse and bipolar disorder than a control group.” For many, it seems the same personality traits that drive creativity and passionate ideas also can lead to an emotional roller coaster ride.