Michael Stutts, a self-proclaimed “insecure overachiever,” has lived a journey marked by external success and internal struggle. Despite achieving his dream career as a management consultant and C-suite executive, the pressure and paranoia that accompanied his rapid rise left him mentally and emotionally burned out. His story highlights a crucial and often overlooked issue: the mental toll that high-pressure careers can take and the importance of addressing mental health before it reaches a breaking point.
The Journey to Burnout: A Pattern of Overachievement
Stutts’ career trajectory might seem like a dream come true to many. After studying business at UNC-Chapel Hill—following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather—he entered banking during a difficult economic time post-9/11. He later moved on to a successful MBA program at Northwestern University, where he realized that his creative side outshone his family’s traditional focus on banking. This revelation led him to management consulting with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he spent 10 years climbing the ranks, from intern to managing director and partner.
But as his career progressed, Stutts began to notice the signs of stress and anxiety growing in intensity. His pursuit of professional success, paired with an internal drive for validation, began to take a toll on his mental health. “I was living a frankly miserable life,” he admits. He turned to unhealthy coping mechanisms, including excessive alcohol and partying, to soothe the emotional discomfort. He made decisions that contradicted his values, spiraling further into what he later described as “bad behavior.”
The “Brain Attack”: A Wake-Up Call
Despite his accomplishments, Stutts reached a breaking point—what he refers to as a “brain attack.” As his paranoia grew and his mental health worsened, he decided to step away from his career at BCG and took a position at Bloomin’ Brands, where he led technology efforts. But even this new job couldn’t protect him from his inner turmoil.
It wasn’t until Stutts contemplated suicide that his family intervened, ensuring he sought help. At 39 years old, Stutts checked himself into a psychiatric hospital for 39 days. The experience, while daunting, marked the beginning of his path to healing.
“There’s nothing fascinating about me, which is why it’s so relevant that we talk about mental health,” he says, emphasizing that his story is not unique. The drive to succeed often overshadows the importance of mental health, until it reaches a crisis point. “You can ignore signals about your mental health and have a ‘brain attack.’ And I had a brain attack.”
Finding Hope and Recovery
Stutts’ time in the psychiatric hospital, though difficult, proved to be both a wake-up call and a turning point. He described the experience as “scary, safe, and hopeful.” The fear came from losing control of his life, but the safety was found in the environment of the hospital, where he could distance himself from external pressures. Most importantly, the hope stemmed from the intensive work he began on his mental health.
After his hospitalization, Stutts realized the importance of maintaining his mental health not just for himself, but also for his career and personal life. Now, as the chief brand officer of Dollar Shave Club, based in Durham, North Carolina, Stutts is a passionate advocate for prioritizing mental health in both the workplace and personal life. His message to others is simple but powerful.
Stutts’ Advice on Mental Health: A New Perspective
Stutts’ new book, There’s No Room Service at the Psych Ward: From Boardroom to Breakdown and Back, released in 2023, details his personal journey with mental health, from his rise to the top of the corporate ladder to the crash that led to his breakdown. But beyond just sharing his story, Stutts offers valuable lessons for others who may be struggling in silence.
1. Be Kind to Yourself:
Talk to yourself like you would a friend, especially when facing a difficult time. Stutts emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and avoiding negative self-talk, which can exacerbate feelings of shame and guilt.
2. Challenge Self-Imposed Guilt and Shame:
One of Stutts’ key realizations was that “no one is thinking about you as much as you’re thinking about yourself.” He notes that guilt and shame are often self-imposed, and that people should learn to let go of these emotions in order to move forward.
3. Put Stress Into Perspective:
When overwhelmed by stress or anxiety about an event, Stutts advises imagining yourself on your deathbed looking back on your life. Ask yourself, Is this issue really going to matter in the grand scheme of things? This simple mental exercise can help put problems into perspective and reduce unnecessary stress.
Changing the Conversation Around Mental Health
Stutts’ journey from boardroom to breakdown and back is a stark reminder of the importance of addressing mental health, particularly in high-stakes careers. His story helps to de-stigmatize mental health struggles in the workplace and shows that even the most accomplished individuals can experience mental health crises.
As more people like Stutts speak out about their experiences, there is hope that the conversation around mental health in the workplace will continue to evolve. Stutts’ message is clear: it’s okay to seek help, and mental health should never be neglected, no matter how successful someone may appear on the outside.
For Stutts, the most important lesson is this: You are not alone. Mental health struggles are more common than we realize, and taking proactive steps to care for our minds is just as important as taking care of our bodies.
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