High achievers might seem to have it all together. They’re often successful, smart, well-liked, and seem to have the answers for everything. But, if you consider yourself a high achiever or even a perfectionist, you likely already know that it’s not always as glamorous and great as everyone else might think.
In reality, high achievers often struggle with mental health issues like depression. There is constant pressure to perform at a high level, and you might feel like you can never take a wrong turn or misstep anywhere. That kind of pressure puts a lot of weight on your shoulders, and can cause you to struggle on the inside while appearing successful on the outside.
Let’s take a closer look at how depression hides in high achievers, and what you can do to overcome the pressures of success to take control of your mental well-being.
The Problem with Perfectionism
High achievers are also often seen as perfectionists. But, if you have a drive to be perfect, you’re going to feel disappointment and dissatisfaction more often than not. Perfection isn’t attainable. You might achieve great things, but if it’s never good enough for you, it’s going to take a toll on your mental health and keep you in a state of constant sadness.
You might even start to look at yourself as a failure because of your own impossible standards. Self-criticism and a lack of self-compassion can create a vicious cycle within the world of depression, making it difficult to escape. You’ll likely push yourself harder, and be even more disappointed when perfection keeps escaping your grass.
Dealing with Imposter Syndrome
Maybe you don’t necessarily consider yourself a perfectionist, but you don’t feel like you should have the success that you do. This is often referred to as imposter syndrome.
Even if you have external validation and have rightfully earned your success, you might feel like you don’t deserve it or that you’re somehow “fooling” everyone. This internalized stress often leads to depression.
There are a variety of factors that contribute to imposter syndrome, from low self-esteem to a fear of failure. You might also develop a fear that you’ll be found out or someone might expose you for being an imposter, even if you’ve put in the work.
Recognizing the Signs of Depression
If you consider yourself a high achiever, it’s important to be able to recognize the signs of depression before they take over your mental well-being completely. While depression can look different for everyone, you’re likely to experience things like self-sabotaging behaviors. That might include working to the point of burnout, procrastination, or even risky behaviors.
In your personal life, you might start to withdraw from people and things you enjoy, and you might experience more mood swings, irritability, and even anger.
Depression can even impact you physically, causing issues like insomnia and digestive problems.
You’re most likely to notice how critical you are of your everyday actions. High achievers already tend to be perfectionists. But, if you take things one step further by focusing on your flaws and perceived failures, you’re going to all deeper into a state of sadness.
What Can You Do?
The best thing you can do to fight back against hidden depression is to work with a mental health professional. Depression therapy can help you better understand the root of your depression, and potentially why you feel the need to live up to such high expectations. You’ll be able to address underlying issues in a safe space without fear of judgment.
Therapy can also help you with self-care practices you can do on your own time, as well as coping techniques to manage your expectations and mental health. If you’re ready to take that step, contact me to set up an appointment soon.