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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…”
- Part 1
Here’s what I mean:
Scar Tissue Formation
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Part 2: Restriction Becomes Depletion
As I discussed in part 1, addiction to achievement develops due to a “self-worth void” similar to the way scar tissue is needed to close an open wound. The rush of fibroblasts to injured sites mirrors a high-achiever’s chase for the next dopamine spike—both temporarily make us feel better. But shortly after the scar forms, it is replaced with stronger collagen that begins to limit movement around the wound. Similarly, in consistently focusing on the next achievement, high-achievers’ lives and attitudes gradually become rigid: the search for the next award consumes time (whether through the effort towards that goal or simply just thinking about the need to achieve), taking away time from rest and relationships. As the scar continues to grow stronger and stronger in scar tissue formation, a high-achiever soon finds himself/herself unable to safely fail or explore because every single decision begins to feel meaningful. And in the case that scar tissue abnormally overgrows in a condition called keloid scarring, addiction to achievement is marked by an inability to stop working or thinking about working, which leads to burnout, exhaustion, and possibly karoshi, death by overwork.
So, ultimately, although both of these conditions have positive aspects, they are both restricting if they persist for too long.
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Let’s observe these symptoms in a real life context:
Leo’s spiral began with a single gold star in third grade, but by college, that star had become a needle. Achievement wasn't a goal; it was his oxygen. Earlier in his life, a 4.0 GPA brought a week of euphoria. By junior year, the high lasted only until he checked the next syllabus. He began treating sleep like a luxury he couldn't afford and friendships like distractions from his “true purpose.”
His world narrowed until it was just a glowing laptop screen and a mountain of energy drink cans. When the Dean’s List came out, he didn't feel pride; he felt a terrifying relief that he hadn’t failed yet. One day, he was forced to experience his biggest fear. Leo sat down for a final exam and realized he couldn’t read the words. His brain, once a high-performance engine, had simply ceased. He stared at the paper for two hours, his hands shaking, finally realizing that in his desperate race to be the best, he had outrun his own humanity.
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If you’re addicted to achievement, this is the inevitable path you are taking. However, it is not too late to change your mindset and approach…
To be continued :)
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