Exploring the paradox of mental illness amongst some high achievers

Abstract

We have all encountered the “high achiever.” Those individuals driven by an incessant need to achieve, and in so doing, stand out from the rest of us. While not the case for all, there appears that a considerable number of these individuals experience emotional states that typically fall within the spectrum of mental illness. On the surface, it seems counterintuitive for attributes of anxiety, mood disorders, depression, personality disorders, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, or psychotic disorders to be associated with high achieving, but a considerable body of research has shown this is indeed the case. In this paper we investigate this seemingly paradoxical state and explore the relevance of such high achieving in our current rapidly changing environment. We argue that high achievers who process attributes typically associated with the mental illness spectrum, seem ideally placed in a time that recognizes such qualities as essential in a period of innovation and rapid change.