Shame & Success: Why So Many High Performers are Exhausted, Lonely, and Quietly Falling Apart with Garrett Wood

In this episode, I am joined by Garrett Wood, clinical hypnotherapist, executive functioning specialist, and founder of Gnosis Therapy, for a grounded conversation about high performance, shame, and sustainable well-being.Together, we explore why high-achieving, high-masking professionals often struggle with burnout, sleep disruption, and emotional disconnection (even when things look “successful” on the outside). Garrett shares insights from his work with executives and founders, alongside Kyira’s personal reflections on overperformance, identity, and the fear of becoming irrelevant when productivity slows.This episode challenges cultural myths about success and sacrifice, unpacking how early conditioning, shame cycles, and nervous system overload drive the boom-and-bust pattern so many high performers experience. The conversation offers a more humane path forward: emotional awareness, personalized regulation, and environments that support long-term capacity, not just output.In this episode, we discuss:[01:00:36] Why high achievers often chase success to feel worthy or safe.[01:03:14] How adaptive behaviors become maladaptive, and lead to burnout.[01:06:32] The link between chronic stress, sleep issues, and physical health.[01:14:04] Shame cycles that shift between work, relationships, and identity.[01:30:12] Cultural myths about success, sacrifice, and emotional suppression.[01:42:24] What sustainable performance actually requires.More about Garrett:Garrett Wood, NBC-HWC, is a clinical hypnotherapist, executive functioning specialist, and founder of Gnosis Therapy. He works with high-achieving, high-masking executives, founders, and entrepreneurs who want sustainable high performance without trading health, wealth, or relationships. Over 18 years he developed the A3 Framework: Assess, Accommodate, Align, which maps capacity across sensory processing, bio-budgets, subconscious beliefs, attachment patterns, values, and executive functioning. He then applies clinical hypnotherapy, outcome-based coaching, and somatic tools to end the boom and bust cycle of burnout for leaders and support consistent, durable, long-term results.Connect with Garrett:Website: https://www.gnosistherapy.com/aboutInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gnosistherapy/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gnosistherapy/Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/garrett-wood-irvine-ca/1509135Get Connected.★ Subscribe to my YouTube channel★ Sign up for my email list: https://adversityrising.com/email-list★ Listen to my Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2AouludJr7EweOkMIN9s42?si=d8cdfcb925ce4c9c  Take the Next Step.★ Download the FREE handout, "5 Things Shame Resilient People do Every Day" and start making those daily shifts to break that shame cycle that's keeping you stuck in that negative headspace. www.adversityrising.com/become-shame-resilient ★ Book a free 25-minute discovery call to discuss different program options and find the support best fits your needs. https://calendly.com/adversityrising/discovery-call★ Are you a people pleaser? Ruminator? Over-extender? Sign up for the next round of Liberated Living and implement the radical 3 practice — Radical Acceptance, Radical Responsibility & Radical Authorship: https://adversityrising.com/liberated-living### SHOUT-OUTS:★ All video editing done by my wonderful husband, Jordan Wackett. Check him out at @jordanwackett.