Two Reasons Christian Professionals Experience Stress, Anxiety, and Depression

Top Two Reasons Christian Professionals Experience Stress, Anxiety, and Depression

Introduction

In this video, I talked about the top two reasons why Christian professionals often find themselves grappling with stress, anxiety, and depression. Let me start by saying that the “anxiety and depression” I discuss here are not to be confused with clinical conditions but rather general states of emotional distress. Clinical states, should be referred to a qualified health clinician, and I am not one. I am, however, a bishop in the church, as well as a 20+ years IT professional, including some management responsibilities.

Definition of Professional

Reason 1: Professional Demands

Christian professionals often face immense pressure due to their professional demands. Typically, these individuals rely on a single primary source of income. Trying to balance work, church responsibilities, and family commitments is often overwhelming leaving little to no time for side businesses or hobbies that might otherwise alleviate some of this stress.

Strategies to Manage Stress:

1. Automate or Outsource Tasks: One effective strategy to manage this stress is by automating or outsourcing tasks. This approach can free up valuable time and mental energy. Hire a house cleaner, a lawn cutter, a task planner, etc..

2. Leverage Technology: Utilizing AI and platforms like Upwork can significantly enhance efficiency both in professional and church settings. These tools can handle various tasks, allowing Christian professionals to focus on more critical areas of their lives. Utilize these services to build or scale some type of business, usually online, to make side money while you are sleep.

Reason 2: Christian Values in the Workplace

Another significant source of stress for Christian professionals is the challenge of upholding Christian values in the workplace. Practicing servant leadership in environments that may not share the same values can lead to conflicts. This discord between one's faith and workplace expectations is a constant source of tension, frustration, and anxiety. I was talking to another Christian professional the other day and they mentioned how the anxiety they were experiencing was so intense, that it reached psychosomatic levels, where they had to constantly go to the restroom, because they could feel it in their gut.

Personal Experiences: From my own personal experience in management roles, navigating these waters can be particularly challenging. (Can we say there’s “sharks”). Maintaining integrity and practicing Christian principles in a secular workplace requires so much resilience and wisdom. I have worked in places where my “Jesus” style of leadership was unappreciated, if not frowned upon. It was all about looking good to the C-Suite folks, the bottom line, and making stats and numbers for the quarter look amazing. While those are important, people are also important and I believe we should build them up. The better (and happier) the people are, the better the overall company can be.

Conclusion and Recommendations

While the demands on Christian professionals are considerable, there are ways to mitigate the associated stress and anxiety. Starting leveraged businesses can provide additional income streams and reduce financial pressure. I think it's crucial for Christians to have a presence in the marketplace, as business owners, to be able to provide fair treatment, fair pay, and work-life balance for their workers. By doing so, they can also foster environments where their values are respected and upheld. If the secular marketplace cant provide that, then I think it’s up to us to do so.