Balancing Acts and Breaking Points: Managing Stress in the Entertainment Business
Vultures were circling overhead.
I began searching beneath their
dark and feathered rotunda,
seeing if I could possibly save
the animal they were preying upon.
I scoured the ground
and couldn’t find a thing.
I even got on my knees,
and crawled through the brush,
scratching up my legs and hands
on hidden burrs and a cactus—
yet they wouldn’t budge.
I swear that I smelled something rotten
Maybe I was imagining things,
but I hoped to be closing in,
as it was hot and exhausting.
I tried to go on,
but collapsed instead.
As I was lying there,
it became clear to me,
it was I who was decaying.
~Lisa Poff
Vultures indeed. The entertainment business has a way of demanding every sliver of your soul, and then, while you’re down on your knees delivering it, it asks for more. It’s not a nine-to-five. It’s not predictable. It’s a world of auditions, early morning shoots, late-night rewrites, harsh criticism, and the relentless pursuit of the next opportunity.
And yet, when you’re part of it, the thought of leaving feels impossible. Because you love it—the chaos, the storytelling, the surreal moments that occasionally crystallize into pure magic.
But at what cost?
This blog is for you—the performers, the writers, the directors—the lifeblood of the entertainment industry. If you’ve been wondering how to hold on when it feels like the world keeps taking, this is the space for honesty, reflection, and finding balance amidst the madness.
The Weight of the Spotlight
There’s this cultural myth that those who work in entertainment have it all. Glamour. Recognition. Financial security. But how many of those outside the business truly understand the sacrifices? The unpredictability of income. The countless rejections before the rare “yes.” The feeling of being stuck in perpetual audition mode—not just for roles, but for life itself.
Stress isn’t just "part of the gig"—it’s baked into the very foundations of this industry. Can I pay rent next month? Should I accept this job even if my instincts say it's wrong? How can I compete with someone younger, newer, shinier? Will I ever be enough?
Does any of this resonate?
Signs You’re Carrying Too Much
Feeling constantly “on edge” becomes the default. Sleepless nights become normal. Emotional rollercoasters come with the territory. But the human body is neither immune to, nor designed for, continual high-stress states.
You might recognize some of these signs in yourself:
Constant exhaustion: Even after what should have been a restful moment, fatigue lingers.
Mood swings: One second, elation over a project; the next, despair questioning your entire career.
Social withdrawal: Cancelling plans because you don’t feel like explaining why you're drained. Again.
Physical symptoms: Headaches, muscle tension, or unexplained stomach aches—your body’s way of crying out.
Difficulty concentrating: You find it hard to focus on lines, scripts, or tasks that once energized you.
Ignoring these signs doesn't make you tough—it only makes the inevitable crash harder.
Ways to Reclaim Your Center
The entertainment industry might never change, but you can change how you move through it.
1. Redefine Success
This might be the hardest step, but also the most freeing. Success doesn’t always have to look like top billing or a sold-out premiere. For some, it’s creating work they’re proud of. For others, it’s simply having the space to breathe while waiting for the next opportunity. What does your version of success look like when you take away societal expectations? Write it down. Name it. Own it.
2. Build Structure Around Chaos
One of the most disorienting things about the entertainment business is how unpredictable it can feel. Days bleed into nights, weekends don’t always exist, and there’s this constant feeling that “something” important is looming.
Create your own anchors:
Commit to a morning ritual. Whether it’s journaling, a mindful cup of coffee, or a quick stretch.
Block 10–15 minutes between intense tasks or auditions to decompress.
Schedule rest days—even if they fall on a Tuesday instead of a Saturday.
The more you own your time, the less time owns you.
3. Lean on Your People
This is an industry that often feels isolating, where success and failure can feel magnified tenfold under social scrutiny. You may find yourself avoiding even your closest friends. You just don’t want to explain why it feels like you’re failing…again.
You don’t have to carry it all alone. Your people—friends, mentors, that one actor who gets it—can be lifelines. Lean on them. And if you don’t have them yet, seek them out in local industry groups or online communities. You’re not alone, even when it feels that way.
4. Practice "Good Enough”
Perfectionism is the silent killer in this business. The script that could always be better. The audition you’ll replay endlessly in your mind. The delivery of a single line that haunts you.
Here’s a truth many of us must learn the hard way: Good enough is good enough. Not everything needs to be flawless. Some projects, some days, even some performances—they might just get done, and that’s okay.
5. Turn to the Professionals
This is where it can get uncomfortable, but it’s also where real growth can begin. Therapy can help. Having a space to process the unique stresses of working in the entertainment industry can clear emotional clutter you didn’t even know you’d been carrying.
A trained therapist—especially one familiar with this industry—can help you untangle the mental spirals, build resilience, and rediscover joy in what you love. Consider this an open invitation to take that first step.
A Growth Industry—Not Just For Careers, But For You
The entertainment business will always thrive on pressure. Film shoots will always run behind schedule. Auditions will always come with butterflies. Rejections will sting. But here’s the thing—you don’t have to thrive on chaos to succeed.
Instead, you can grow through it:
Redefine success in terms meaningful to you.
Learn to rest without feeling guilty.
Build emotional resilience through therapy, self-awareness, and community.
Repeat after me: It’s okay to slow down. It’s okay to be imperfect. It’s even okay to want to scream into the void of Hollywood Hills now and then.
But when the screaming subsides and the silence returns, the question remains—how are you really doing? And are you ready to ask for help if the answer feels too heavy to bear?
If you’re searching for a space to unpack your stress, work through the emotional demands of this industry, or simply find your center again, therapy might be the support you need. I specialize in helping entertainment professionals like you find balance, clarity, and peace.
Reach out today, so together we can begin your next chapter.
