Small Business & Mental Health: An Honest Personal Reflection

I hesitated for a long time before sharing this. Opening up about mental health and the realities behind a small business feels a little scary — there’s a certain vulnerability in putting honest words into the world. But sometimes being open is the only way to move forward, to connect, and to remind ourselves that we’re never as alone as we think. So, with a deep breath… here it is.…

Small Business, Big Feelings - Finding Balance, Connection, and Hope

Running a small business can be one of the most fulfilling things you’ll ever do — and one of the hardest. It’s creative, rewarding, and full of purpose, but it also comes with long hours, self-doubt, and a sense of isolation that can creep in quietly when you least expect it.

For me, Twelve Silver Trees isn’t just a business. It’s been a lifeline.

I’ve lived with depression and mental health difficulties for most of my adult life. Some days are perfect, some days are manageable, others feel like wading through fog, knee deep in mud. But my business, discovering new designs and talking to customers at markets — gives me something that’s hard to put into words. It gives me focus, connection, and a sense of belonging and purpose.

When my mental health dips, my instinct is to retreat — to hide away and fall silent. But working has always been my way back. There’s something grounding about the rhythm, about taking an idea from imagination to reality or finding the perfect piece for a client.

Jewellery, whether designing or sourcing, might sound like a small thing, but for me, it’s a kind of quiet therapy. Each piece is an act of focus and patience — a small moment of order in the chaos, which helps me steady my thoughts when everything else feels uncertain and frightening.

The Loneliness of Working Alone

What people don’t often see is that working for yourself can be incredibly isolating. Most days it’s just me, the dog, and the radio. I spend more time with polishing cloths than people!

That’s why markets and events are so important to me — not just for sales, but for connection. I genuinely love meeting customers, chatting with fellow makers, and seeing familiar faces who stop by just to say hello. Those conversations might seem fleeting, but they mean the world. They’re reminders that I’m part of something bigger — a community full of warmth, humour, and kindness.

When you work alone, those little moments of connection keep you going. They’re the reason I pack the car, set up in all weathers, and show up week after week.

Perhaps this is also why I’m so drawn to the symbolism behind jewellery. Every symbol holds its own gentle meaning — a language you wear rather than speak. Flowers become reminders of hope and new beginnings; bees speak of community, resilience, and looking out for one another; moons and stars offer guidance on darker days; and animals embody loyalty, protection, or the comfort of not feeling alone. These little symbols allow expression, saying how we feel without words — a quiet, subtle way of being honest with ourselves and with the world without shouting it out. 

The Balance We Never Quite Master

The truth is, running a small business doesn’t leave much free time. There’s always another email to answer, a design to finish, a market to prep for. Days off are rare, and switching off completely feels almost impossible.

I often find myself caught between needing rest and fearing I’ll lose momentum if I slow down. It’s a hard balance to find, especially when your business is also your passion — and your stability.

One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that people often assume being your own boss means endless flexibility. It really doesn’t. If I worked behind a checkout or in an office, no one would question why I couldn’t chat or help at a moment’s notice — but for some reason, it  gets treated differently. Running a business still means planning, deadlines, and real responsibilities. It may not look like a nine-to-five, but it’s every bit as demanding. And that expectation of being “always available” adds its own pressure. So when I finally do grab a few spare moments, I’m often hit with guilt for not being there or not helping, even though I know I can’t do everything.

But I’m learning that slowing down isn’t failure. Sometimes it’s the only way to keep going.

Why Community Matters

What’s helped me most is realising that I’m not alone — not in business, and not in how I feel. So many small business owners I meet quietly share similar struggles,the long hours, the financial worry, the self-doubt, the loneliness. And yet, there’s this beautiful resilience among us — a shared understanding that we keep showing up, creating, and trying again.

That sense of community, of shared humanity, makes such a difference. It’s in the friendly wave from a fellow stallholder, the customer who comes back year after year, or the kind comment on social media that lands just when you need it most.

 

A Little Reminder

If you’re reading this and running your own small business, please remember — you’re doing something extraordinary. You’re building something from nothing, and that’s not easy. Take care of yourself along the way. The world needs what you create, but it also needs you — rested, hopeful, and still capable of joy.

And to those who support small businesses: thank you. Your encouragement, your purchases, and even your conversations mean more than you could ever imagine. You’re not just keeping a business afloat — you’re helping someone stay connected, creative, and, quite possibly, a little bit healed.

Because behind every small business is a person. And sometimes, that small business is what helps that person stay standing.