Mental Health in Advertising

Small win today - I started the conversation about taking a leave of absence.

Realized that I’m stuck in trauma response and at danger of torching everything good in my life.

I know better than to do that (again)… more

I feel so tired, burnt out, under appreciated and underpaid lately. I have no motivation these days and life seems like a pain to get through each day. Anyone else feel like this or have felt like thi… more

Best meds for insomniacs like me? I’ve been taking Seroquel but it makes me incredibly bloated and groggy every morning when I get up. It’s like impossible to get out of bed. I’ve tried almost everyth… more

Does anyone else get depressed in the evening time? I have therapy and am prescribed meds. But somehow, even with my boyfriend, dog, etc. I get sad at night. Any advice?

Its my first time working at an agency. Are they usually this fragmented and disorganized. I can't keep up and it's giving me a lot of anxiety.

I’ve have no motivation to work aside from the pure capitalist need for money…

5 years in college. 2.5 years in a master’s degree. More than 25 years of experience. And today I am trying to figure out what the hell I am going to do, because all those skills and knowledge seem so… more

I’m trying to be a better person, but I find it hard to care about other people’s problems when no one seems to care about my own. I mean I know how to perform caring but deep down I don’t. How do I f… more

When the weekends come, I feel guilty for wanting to relax. I am not making as much money as I did two years ago ( after a series of shortcomings I took a job with an agency that I like, but the pay i… more

Work life balance??? Struggling to find that

Has anyone found an online ED support program that’s sliding scale? Working with a therapist hasn’t been enough but a full outpatient or inpatient program is too expensive.

I legitimately think I’m losing it

I am an artist now at a “take the money and run”🏃‍♂️ kinda place after getting burnt out by big shops and realizing I’m truly just an artistic soul. Grateful for $$$ but feel like a loser for not pus… more

I think my job is making me feel depressed. Not sure what should I do

I think I’m depressed because deep down I know I don’t the stamina to do this. I keep fooling myself thinking that I need to work at a better agency, only to realize that a better agencies one needs t… more

I’ve been fired twice (2017 and 2021) and I always have the lingering feeling that it can happen again so I jump jobs before anyone gets the wiser. It’s not healthy and can impact me professionally. A… more

Who would you expect to be the acknowledged expert on mental health in the advertising field? I’m looking for a podcast interview subject.

This is a really weird day. It’s the four year anniversary of my cousin’s death. It’s the one year anniversary of my mom getting breast cancer and also finding out an old friend died of a drug overdos… more

Have you ever taken a leave of absence for your mental health? Exploring my options (don’t want to just quit) and very overwhelmed by the logistics.

I work at a very small agency in nyc (no HR person, just an onl… more

Looking for an escape route. I think I always knew I don’t belong into this business. Although I am doing well - work wise, my mental health is hitting the rock bottom. I feel empty. What are a good b… more

The anniversary of a parent’s passing was last week and my aunt chose the day of to drop the bomb that she has the same terminal disease. Up until now I thought it only hit the males (I’m a woman). I … more

I need help. I'm dealing with multiple losses in the same week and having a hard time... I took some time off from work but I have no motivation to do anything. I don't want to go back to work… more

I want out of the industry altogether. I would rather be a homemaker than work in this industry. Seems like no matter where I go the boundaries with clients are getting worse. Anyone have experience j… more

I had some serious health issues and i just came back to work after 2 months of sick leave and i’m highly insecure about my place in my team. Lot of things have changed, they changed my scope of work,… more

How hard is this for you? For me working in advertising is incredibly hard. I’ve been an Art Director for long time and despite of experience, my job has never become any easier. Every time I tackle a… more

I recently resigned from my position because I got an offer for a new role at another company that was just too good to let pass by. I’ve been in my current role for well over 7 years, and for the las… more

Idk where to post this but I desperately struggle with wanting to move up the ladder and then doubting my abilities to actually take the lead necessary to move up. I wish you didn’t need to rise up th… more

After many years in this business I haven’t been promoted beyond my current title of Senior Art Director. I recently was hired by an agency I respect, but most of my colleagues are considerably young… more

Has anyone ever disclosed their neurodivergence to their boss or company? Good/bad idea?

I recently quit a really toxic workplace, where I was the only foreigner and got a bit bullied for that. Sometimes my language would be made fun off or I would be told that I speak in unclear sentences, or … more

My mental health has suffered tremendously over the past month. I have a therapist that I probably should see more of but I’m jobless and need to save. I am an aspiring entrepreneur with an inspiring … more

For those of you who take Xanax or other benzodiazepines for anxiety, how quickly does your medication wear off? I take a small 0.5mg dose around 8:30AM and find it’s already mostly worn off by noon. … more

I’m so over companies blatantly lying about having work/life balance. Started a new job that promised no weekends and everyone out the door by 6. Figured that was definitely an embellishment, but I’ve… more

I found out that my bosses that put me on PIP did not involve HR in the document. Is this legal? The feedback was extremely vague too, for example, lacks proactivity, gives unclear answers and so on. … more

I have severe (diagnosed) social anxiety. The pandemic has certainly not helped it. I’ve been casually looking for a new role but I always stop myself because the idea of interviewing is terrifying. I… more

My main residence is in Florida but I work every other week in New York. I’m looking to join a kickboxing class but has to be a franchise so I can go while I’m in NY. Recommendations? Thank you.

Not to be dramatic, but does anyone else feel like they had a good quarantine but are having a miserable time re-engaging with the world?

Anyone have a good psychiatrist in nyc?

Just curious what everyone's thoughts are about us having a, not weekly, not bi-weekly, but daily recurring meeting for everyone at the firm at 8am for an hour?

Anyone else just flat out hate their job, but haven’t found another place to work yet?? How are you coping? Cause my mental health due to things going on in my personal life is already a lot to handle… more