Business anxiety

[Getmeoutofhere]

Hello. I am finding it really difficult to function atm. I have had anxiety like this for 2 years. My husband and i own our own automotive workshop, which I wanted to sell 9 years ago. So doing something I don't want to has been a stress. Then his mental health and health problems added to that. 2 years ago I hit a wall as one of our employees was thinking of leaving, and I lost all thought and function. I rely on him alot and panicked, but a week later with mods and some belt tightening he stayed. Have had a few really good years and in a better position then ever, then last year things slowed down and it flared up again, the panic of going back to juggling everything, but all came good. No it's happening again and this time it feels worse. I can't bring myself to do my work and I just don't want to be here. It's been almost a week but this is the 3rd day like this. I just want the panic to go away. I can handle things without the panic. I don't know what I want from this but I am trapped. BTW the business is on the market and has been for 2.5 years. Good business just no one has the cash. Thanks for reading if you made it this far.

[Fiatlux]

Hi,

I’m in a similar situation with running a business with my husband and now our son also works with us.

I have wanted to give it up and sell 5 years ago too, but convinced to continue for our son who thought that he was up to running it one day.

At the end of 2020 we were in negotiations to sell up and get out and it was worth a bit more than, again our son was terribly disappointed and convinced us to keep going even though he would have had a secure position under the new management. 

It was anxiety inducing to say the least. Although it’s a good business, like you mentioned nobody has the money except for a much larger international company looking for a good investment opportunity. We were exhausted in 2020 and now 4 years on, we are busy but our hearts are not in it. We keep it in the hope that our son will get serious about taking the business over entirely.

I work from home now as I can and don’t have the energy to go to the office 5 days a week.

I wish you all the very best. Does anyone who works for you interested in taking over? 

[Getmeoutofhere]

Thank you for your reply. No, unfortunately no one here has the capacity to take over either. We have 2 years and 4 months left on our lease but I truly don't think I can last that long. I like to be at the business so I can keep an eye on things, not that I can really do anything to help. It's the ups and downs that get to me, no money lots of money, no work lots of work, it balances out but I just don't want to be on this roller coaster anymore. 

I hope you can find you way out soon too.