Episode #63
Psychotic Grit: When High Achievement Goes Too Far with Dr. Amy Athey | #63
What happens when your pursuit of excellence turns into an endless need to do more? Dr. Amy Athey joins Erin Coupe to unpack “psychotic grit” and why high performers can push themselves far beyond what actually supports great performance. Dr. Amy Athey is a performance psychologist and executive coach who has spent more than two decades working with elite performers across sport, military, and business. Erin and Amy explore what high performers have in common, why excellence can sometimes turn into perfectionism and compulsive overwork, and how the human stress response can make us fall back on our most rehearsed behaviors when the stakes are high. They also get into recovery, sleep, nervous-system regulation, and the physical foundations that allow leaders and athletes to perform consistently. For anyone who’s ambitious, driven, and always looking for the next thing to optimize, this conversation offers a different way to think about high performance. What you'll take away: - How to recognize when healthy grit has crossed into “psychotic grit” - Why high performers often respond to stress by doing more , even when more is exactly what they don't need - Why recovery and sleep aren't breaks from productivity but foundations of high performance - How perfectionism can make you rigid when the ability to adapt is what the moment actually requires - Simple ways to interrupt stress, reframe difficult moments, and create rituals that support your performance About Dr. Amy Athey: Dr. Amy Athey is a performance psychologist and executive coach who works with elite performers and leaders across sport, military, and business. She is the founder of Athey Performance and the author of Moment Ready . Subscribe to I Can Fit That In for more conversations about intentional leadership, high performance, and creating a more sustainable way to succeed. Connect with Erin Coupe: Instagram: @authenticallyec LinkedIn: Erin Coupe
