All In The Mind The cognitive distortions of a high achiever
25 snips
Jan 17, 2026 
Dr. Mary Anderson, a clinical psychologist and author of The Happy High Achiever, shares valuable insights into the hidden struggles of high achievers, including burnout and imposter syndrome. She discusses cognitive distortions like all-or-nothing thinking and offers practical CBT strategies to combat self-criticism. Mary emphasizes the importance of separating self-worth from achievements and introduces the SELF self-care model—Sleep, Exercise, Look forward, Fuel—to enhance mental health, urging listeners to celebrate their victories and embrace curiosity.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Three Core Thought Distortions
- High achievers display three recurring cognitive distortions: all-or-nothing thinking, jumping to conclusions, and should statements.
- These distorted thoughts systematically increase anxiety and undermine confidence.
Use CBT To Reframe Thoughts
- When you spot an unhelpful thought, question its truth and poke holes in it using evidence from the situation.
- Replace it with a short, believable, reality-based thought that eases stress and boosts action.
Tina's Presentation Turnaround
- Tina thought "I can't do it" before a work presentation but had past brief successes and praise from colleagues.
- After reframing to "I've done this before" and preparing, she performed well and built evidence for future confidence.
