In 2011, I began writing and posting blogs for my clients and future clients. Sometime during the first two years, my brother, “Unco Dan,” told me that he felt my best blogs were the ones where I got more personal. Well, he would like this one, I’m sure.

In the Doescher Advisors Executive Health Checkup, the third category is Emotional Health. When I perform a self-assessment or even ask my partner, Barbara, what area she believes needs some work, we agree it’s Emotional Health. I’ve been a chronic worrier most of my adult life. A more popular word today is “anxiety.” Actually, during Covid I self-diagnosed myself with cognitive distortions.

I was telling one of my old Plante Moran partners about it and shared that I even worry about clients’ problems. To which he said, “That’s why they love you so much.” Well, this may be good for business, but it’s not so good for my personal emotional health.

For all of the other five categories in the Executive Health Checkup, I have others who are helping me — like mentors or my physical trainer. But I didn’t have anyone helping me with my excessive worrying. As often happens in my life, several dots were in the process of connecting. Since Barbara and I had relocated to the Flint area, we didn’t have a good therapist to recommend to our clients. With the help of our longtime counselor, who’s now a professor of family counseling at Liberty University, we’ve identified a solution: Sycamore Counseling in Livonia. In fact, we’ve already referred several clients.

One day it dawned on me that maybe I should engage someone to help me with my cognitive distortions — worry, anxiety, or whatever. I was assigned to Zhela, and I asked Barbara to join our sessions. Those of you who are married realize that your partner is usually the person most impacted by your issues.

I’m really glad I took the step to seek help. Zhela has diagnosed me with ANTS, which is automatic negative thoughts syndrome. She has helped me understand my condition with advice, articles, and podcasts, and she’s also provided me with three anxiety-release exercises.

It’s a little too early to declare victory, but just being able to define the problem and having someone to talk to has been helpful.

All of this is to say that, if you’re suffering in some way, especially post-Covid, I would strongly encourage you to seek professional help. As always, I would be honored to speak with you and share more details about my situation.

p.s. Maybe when you perform an Executive Health Checkup self-assessment, you score low in another category, like financial health. In that case, please reach out to a wealth management financial advisor to help you establish a plan to recover.