When All The World’s A Stage, Whether You Like It Or Not: The invisible costs of high-visibility professional roles
Living as a misunderstood object of envy
Many of the clients I work with have the kinds of jobs or businesses that others would envy. They have achieved successes that others can only dream of, and have often reached these levels despite many factors working against them, such as misogyny, work-life imbalance, racial bias or lack of access to old boys’ networks.
And while others may look on at their rise up the corporate ladder with suspicion regarding what it took for these individuals to get there, many of these high-performing professionals and business owners are shouldering invisible costs that have piled up over the years, in their pursuit of success.
Gaining visibility, and the pain that comes with it
The truth is, while having a huge social media presence or rapidly growing stock options would be appealing to many, the average person would rather not have the quality of life and mental health concerns that these individuals have to shoulder. And these professionals are usually operating without much sympathy from those who cannot even imagine being in their “lucky”situation.
When influencers are worried about their physical safety, or the safety of their children, they are likely to be met with disbelief, as the benefits seem to outweigh the costs in terms of lifestyle choices and freedom. This of course misses the fact that some forms of freedom are having to be exchanged for others, not to mention the level of verbal abuse that one can be exposed to through various online platforms.
When stress creates invisible damage
As for high-level corporate executives, hormone-dependent health declines are far too common and, unsurprisingly, often linked to significant stress. Emotional, mental and physical strain for these C-suite workers comes as a result of the pressures of the work, as well as the compression of time that these individuals are able to spend with spouses, children, other loved ones or even alone with themselves.
Missing out on the road not taken
There is also the opportunity cost that we all must face whenever we come to a fork in the road of our own life choices. The same timely decision that sets off a domino effect of desired success in one area of life, will also close the door to other equal desires that will no longer be available to us. Even great talent, wisdom and connections cannot make up for the finite nature of our lives and the natural limits on what we can pursue at any given time.
The desire to heal and prevent further pain in the future
Ultimately, the clients I work with who are highly successful by modern, American standards still deal with trauma, anxiety, depression and relationship struggles that affect their day to day lives in any number of ways. They desire to take better care of their mental well-being, invest in more supportive relationships and heal from unprocessed negative emotions, just like anyone else. They are often also working to unlearn self-sabotaging patterns that have endangered their goals in the past, or that currently threaten their goals for the future.
What growth could you achieve in the safety of a professional, supportive space?
Trying to work on your emotional struggles while under the constant spotlight that your career path requires can make emotional growth feel almost impossible. Thankfully, there is much you can do to address your unique needs without airing your dirty laundry out in front of people that you do not trust.
Finding a safe space with a psychotherapist who will value your humanity and be a guide for your healing is one of the most empowering things that someone in your position can do, and a decision that will pay back dividends for years to come.
Decide today that you won’t have to just cope alone with these invisible burdens, and start learning how to gain freedom from the struggles you are experiencing.
Limited spots are available for working with me, so don’t hesitate to reach out to me today.
About the Author
Linda Sanderville, LCSW is a psychotherapist with over fifteen years experience in effective trauma treatment and training and supervision of other mental health professionals. Currently, she provides specialty services to adults seeking recovery from stressful life events and those who desire to optimize their wellness and the health of their relationships.
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Other Services Offered at Satya Counseling and Yoga
At Satya Counseling and Yoga, I want to help create a safe space for my clients to start their healing journey individually or as a couple. To help accommodate you in my Northern Virginia practice (along with other locations nationwide), the services I offer in addition to internal family systems therapy include trauma recovery, anxiety relief, and therapy for depression. I also offer a Transformation Therapy Intensive for those looking to seek accelerated progress toward their identified goals and personal growth and Yoga for Therapy to help increase your mental resilience and enhance your emotional state. For more about my practice check out my FAQs and blog!