High Achievement Can Be Precarious

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA -- Many gifted and talented people achieve prominence in business, the arts and sciences and other fields, achieving deserved acclaim for their contributions.

But a recent ABC News story noted that many high level executives, athletes and actors "reach the top only to be detoured by alcoholism or other self-destructive behavior" ["When Really Successful People Crack," by Andrea Canning, May 10, 2007].

The story cites the case of former HBO chief executive Chris Albrecht, forced to step down after public revelations of assault and alcoholism. He is credited for bringing to the small screen such hits as "The Sopranos" and "Sex and the City."

The ABC News piece also quoted Douglas Eby from his article "Actors and Addiction," who speculated that maybe one reason so many talented people self-medicate with drugs and alcohol is to dampen some of the negative aspects of personality traits such as intensity and emotional sensitivity that can also lead to higher levels of personal development and accomplishment.

In the article, Eby also quotes Beverly Hills psychologist Marc F. Kern, Ph.D., who explains, "Altering one's state of consciousness is normal" and that a destructive habit or addiction is "mostly an unconscious strategy to enjoy the feelings it brought on or to help cope with uncomfortable emotions or feelings. It is simply an adaptation that has gone awry."

The majority of gifted and talented people, of course, never become celebrities or newsmakers, but also make significant contributions to the world and become highly accomplished. But many can also face mental health and life challenges related to being exceptional.

Linda Silverman, Ph.D., head of The Gifted Development Center in Denver, has commented that the "journey to discovering that which is finest in oneself is precarious, and those who embark upon this journey sometimes falter and lose their way."

Douglas Eby is author of the Talent Development Resources site, which features hundreds of pages of "Information and inspiration to enhance creative expression and personal development."

http://talentdevelop.com

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