Stressed, Not Depressed: Why Work Keeps My Motor Running

April is Stress Awareness Month, and everywhere you turn, you’re reminded to slow down, breathe, unplug, and do nothing. But what if doing nothing doesn’t work for you? What if, instead of slowing down, it’s the doing, the action, the purpose, the hustle, that keeps you from slipping into something far more dangerous than stress? For me, that something is depression. And for people like me, stress isn’t the enemy, it’s the fuel.

Stress is often painted as the villain, something we must eradicate. But not all stress is bad. There’s something called eustress—a positive, productive kind of stress that motivates, energizes, and gives us a reason to keep moving. That’s the kind of stress I live with, and in many ways, it has saved me. Work gives me structure, challenge, purpose, and growth. It’s not just my job, it’s my therapy.

My mother lovingly pleads with me to take time off, to sit still and do nothing. But I’ve had to explain that stillness, for me, can be dangerous. I ask her, “Do you want a Stressed Elga or a Depressed Elga?” Without fail, she always picks the stressed one, and so do I. Because being busy, being driven, keeps my spirit alive.

People often ask me, “What do you do on weekends to relax?” I smile and say, “I work.” Then they rephrase the question: “No, what do you do for a hobby?” Again, I say, “I work.” And it’s true. Work isn’t something I run from, it’s something I run on. It’s what keeps my motor going, especially on the days when it feels like everything else could come to a halt.

Is that unhealthy? Maybe for some. But for others like me, who quietly manage depression behind the scenes, the constant momentum provides meaning, and in that meaning, we find our strength. It’s not about glorifying burnout. It’s about recognizing that different people recharge in different ways, and for some of us, movement is medicine.

So this Stress Awareness Month, let’s expand the conversation. Instead of assuming that all stress is bad, let’s make room for the kind that heals, the kind that empowers, the kind that gives us the will to keep going. For me, being “on” isn’t a burden. It’s a lifeline.

Elga Lejarza

Founder & CEO

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