Do you feel that stress is constantly lurking nearby ready to steal your peace? Demanding work deadlines, overwhelming bills, managing hectic schedules and complicated relationships – it can feel like stress has become the background noise of modern life. We've become so accustomed to it that maybe a more fitting question is: what doesn't stress you out these days?

High-achieving professionals are the backbone of many industries. They consistently achieve exceptional results, navigate complex challenges, and demonstrate unwavering dedication. However, the relentless pursuit of excellence can take a toll. Pressure, work-life imbalance, and internal struggles, stress unsuccessfully managed can all impede optimal performance and overall well-being. This begs the question:

How can high achievers prioritize their mental health and maintain their peak performance?

Thankfully, innovative therapies like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) offer a powerful tool to navigate these challenges.

The inbox fills, the phone buzzes, and the to-do list mocks you from its ever-growing length. You crave a day off, a moment for yourself, but a nagging inner voice whispers, "What will they think?" The "they" could be your boss, your partner, or even a critical part of yourself. This fear, this constant pressure to meet expectations, is the thief of flexibility, the dream we chase but rarely catch.

Have you ever felt that knot in your stomach before a big presentation, the same one that forms during a difficult conversation? Or maybe it's the butterflies before a first date or the racing heart on a roller coaster ride. We all speak the universal language of stress and anxiety. This emotional rollercoaster isn't a character flaw, it's our nervous system doing its job. But sometimes, this well-intentioned system can overreact, turning minor anxieties into major meltdowns.

In the demanding world of mental health, burnout has become an all too familiar companion for many dedicated mental health professionals. The relentless nature of the work, combined with the impact of sharing emotional burdens, can leave us feeling depleted and helpless. Oftentimes, these feelings are fueled by a scarcity mindset, which limits our growth and keeps us stuck in a negative cycle of discontentment with a bleak outlook.

Whether you’re holding on to a draining job or find yourself convinced that no matter where you work, “this is how it will always be”, I want to be the encouragement that challenges those beliefs.

In a society that glorifies independence and self-reliance, it is easy to think of hyper-independence as a good thing, and even an advantageous trait to have. But the reality is that hyper-independence can actually be a trait we develop from trauma (aka a trauma response).