When Success Comes at a Cost: Stress, Substance Use, and the Hidden Strain on High-Achieving Professionals
On paper, you’re doing well.
Your career is stable — maybe even impressive. You’re respected. You perform. You deliver.
And yet, internally, you’re exhausted.
As a therapist in Frisco, Texas, I work with high-achieving professionals who look successful from the outside but feel overwhelmed, burned out, and quietly unraveling underneath. Many are executives, finance professionals, attorneys, dentists, and other high-responsibility leaders who carry enormous pressure — often without a place to safely put it down.
The Reality of Stress Among High Achievers
Chronic workplace stress isn’t rare — it’s becoming normative.
According to the American Institute of Stress, workplace stress is one of the leading sources of stress for adults in the United States, and long-term exposure is associated with increased risk of anxiety, depression, cardiovascular issues, and sleep disruption.
The American Psychological Association has consistently reported that a majority of working adults describe their jobs as a significant source of stress — with high-demand, high-control professions particularly vulnerable to chronic pressure and burnout.
For executives and finance professionals, stress often stems from:
Constant decision-making under uncertainty
Responsibility for employees and outcomes
Performance metrics tied to identity
Financial risk exposure
Long hours and blurred work-life boundaries
Over time, the nervous system doesn’t get a reset. It adapts to survival mode.
And survival mode has consequences.
Certain Professions Carry Higher Risk for Substance Misuse
Research has shown that some high-achieving professions report elevated rates of alcohol and substance misuse compared to the general population.
For example:
Studies of attorneys have found significantly higher rates of problematic drinking compared to other professions.
Dentists and physicians report elevated stress levels, which correlate with increased risk of alcohol misuse.
High-level executives often operate in environments where alcohol is normalized — client dinners, networking events, celebratory culture.
Finance professionals work in high-stakes environments tied to volatility, performance pressure, and long hours, all of which increase burnout risk.
Importantly, this doesn’t mean high achievers are “weak.” It means chronic stress without emotional processing often seeks relief.
Alcohol and substances can become:
A way to transition out of work mode
A sleep aid
A social lubricant
A numbing strategy
A temporary escape from pressure
The problem isn’t the ambition.
The problem is unrelenting stress with no safe outlet.
Why High Performers Often Don’t Reach Out
High achievers are used to solving problems.
You’re likely competent, analytical, and self-reliant. You may tell yourself:
“Other people have it worse.”
“This is just part of success.”
“I should be able to handle this.”
“If I slow down, everything falls apart.”
But internally, you might notice:
Irritability at home
Emotional detachment
Difficulty relaxing
Increased reliance on alcohol
Sleep disruption
Feeling flat, even after accomplishments
Burnout in professionals often doesn’t look like collapse.
It looks like functioning — while depleted.
Therapy for High-Achieving Professionals
Therapy isn’t about taking away your edge. It’s about helping you sustain it without sacrificing your mental health.
In our work together, we might focus on:
Nervous system regulation under chronic stress
Reducing reliance on numbing strategies
Untangling identity from performance
Building healthier stress transitions
Examining perfectionism and internal pressure
Creating sustainable ambition
You don’t have to dismantle your career to feel better.
But you may need space to process the weight of it.
Therapy in Frisco, Texas — and Virtually Across Texas
My private practice is located in Frisco, Texas, where I work with professionals who are navigating high stress, burnout, and relationship strain related to demanding careers.
I also provide virtual therapy throughout Texas, making it accessible for executives, finance professionals, attorneys, dentists, and other high-performing individuals who need flexibility and privacy.
Therapy can be a strategic investment — not just in your mental health, but in the longevity of your leadership, your relationships, and your life outside of work.
If you’re reading this and recognizing yourself — the exhaustion, the pressure, the quiet coping — you don’t have to keep carrying it alone.
If this resonates, let’s talk.