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Scar tissue formation is a protective response that aids survival but also eventually limits physical mobility/flexibility. What if I told you addiction to achievement progresses in the same way?
Scar Tissue Formation
Part 1: Protection Becomes Restriction
Before I explain, it’s important to understand the process of scar tissue formation.
Scar tissue formation, as we all know, follows an injury; its purpose is to stop blood loss through the formation of a clot primarily made of fibrin, a protein in our bodies. Once an external injury is detected, fibroblasts—cells in connective tissue—immediately migrate to the wound to help close the gap, and myofibroblasts contract to pull the edges of the wound together.
Once an initial scar is formed and maintained for temporary protection, the collagen of the scar is replaced with less elastic collagen. Although this collagen makes the scar stronger, it both heavily decreases flexibility in the scar area and only reaches about 70-80% of normal skin strength—that is, it is never equivalent to the initial/first state of the area where the scar formed.
Scars can also build up excessively when the stimulus driving the response to injury persists and, consequently, “tighten” the skin, further decreasing elasticity.
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Now, let’s briefly shift to achievement addiction.
Addiction to achievement occurs when voluntary, purpose-driven goals shift to compulsive seeking of achievement for validation. This shift is partially due to our biology—when we reach a goal, our brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with motivation and reward. Dopamine after reaching a goal is also typically accompanied by a feeling of being superior or “good enough,” but the duration of this feeling becomes increasingly shorter with the number of dopamine spikes experienced. Hence, the constant chase of the accomplishment dopamine spike in achievement addiction is driven by an emptiness or a void associated with our self-worth that gradually develops and that constantly needs to be refilled. When tolerance is developed, achievements suddenly become “normal” and every goal reached feels less and less rewarding than the initial.
Although this cycle can be seen as partially positive, it limits your life by consuming your mind and damaging personal identity, relationships, and health.
So, how are these two completely different processes related?
Just like scar tissue formation is triggered by physical trauma and missing skin, addiction to achievement develops due to an internal lack of confidence that creates a mental void. Both start as methods to aid wellness and health. However, what starts as a temporary solution becomes permanent and begins to reduce flexibility: collagen’s strength and rigidity are updated in scar formation, just as tolerance leads to achievement taking over and limiting an overachiever's life.
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But the negative effects of these processes don’t stop there; as both progress into more chronic conditions, the abundance and intensity of the detriments increase…
To be continued :)
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