Outwardly impressive, losing it on the inside? The cognitive distortions of a high achiever

This episode explores the cognitive distortions experienced by high achievers and strategies to manage stress and anxiety without sacrificing performance. Clinical psychologist Dr. Mary Anderson shares insights from her practice in Boston, where she works with successful professionals struggling with chronic stress and perfectionism. She identifies three common cognitive distortions: all-or-nothing thinking, jumping to conclusions, and "should" statements, detailing how these thought patterns undermine confidence and motivation. To combat these distortions, Dr. Anderson recommends cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), emphasizing the importance of recognizing negative thoughts, questioning their validity, and replacing them with more helpful, reality-based alternatives, as illustrated through the case of a client named Tina who overcame her fear of public speaking. Against the backdrop of untangling self-worth from achievements, Dr. Anderson introduces the concept of self-care using the acronym SELF (Sleep, Exercise, Look forward, Fuel) as a science-based approach to well-being. More significantly, the discussion pivots to the importance of striving for excellence over perfection, navigating uncertainty with curiosity, and celebrating wins to sustain both happiness and high achievement, reflecting emerging patterns of post-COVID awareness of work-life balance and the need to combat social media-fueled perfectionism.