Even doctors need help sometimes
By all definitions of success, Peter Attia achieved it in life, at least professionally. He went to Stanford, was a doctor at Johns Hopkins Hospital, consulted for McKinsey & Company, ran his own longevity-focused clinic, and had a book contract. However, things were bubbling up behind the scenes as he dealt with anger and other mental/emotional problems that even risked his marriage.
In early 2020, Attia was fired by his book agent and publisher for not delivering a manuscript, the manuscript for his eventual book, Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity, where he would reveal his idea about medicine and how he overcame his emotional problems.
Over nearly three years, Peter would go to two treatment centers to uncover some deep-seated trauma resulting from his abuse as a kid. He discovered that he likely dealt with depression when he was younger and that his perfectionism and workaholism traits were related to this childhood trauma. Another discovery is that Attia was addicted to anger. In 2020, he made serious progress to improve his emotional health. Some essential steps involve weekly therapy sessions, exercise, and reframing negative thoughts.
Today, Peter is even more successful professionally; his book got rave reviews and is one of the best-selling non-fiction books of the year. More importantly, he is more emotionally stable and likely happier than ever.
Quotes
If you take nothing else from my story, take this: If I can change, you can change. All of this has to begin with the simple belief that real change is possible. That's the most important step. I believed I was the most horrible, incorrigible, miserable son of a bitch that was ever shat into civilization. For as long as I could remember, I believed that I was defective and that my flaws were hard-wired. Unchangeable. Only when I at least entertained the notion that maybe I was not actually a monster was I able to start chipping away at the narrative that had nearly destroyed my life and everyone in my wake. This is the key step. You have to believe you can change--and that you deserve better.
Peter Attia
What I eventually realized, after this long and very painful journey, is that longevity is meaningless if your life sucks. Or if your relationships suck. None of it matters if your wife hates you. None of it matters if you are a shitty father, or if you are consumed by anger or addiction. Your resume doesn't really matter, either, when it comes time for your eulogy. All these need to be addressed if your life is to be worth prolonging--because the most important ingredient in the whole longevity equation is the why. Why do we want to live longer? For what? For whom?
Peter Attia
Related Media
Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity
An operational manual on how to live longer and better. It also contains a personal story about how Peter discovered and unwound his emotional problems.
References
-
Axios Speed Read: Peter Attia's new book on living longer
"Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity," by Peter Attia, M.D., is getting tons of buzz, and has spent 18 weeks on the N.Y. Times bestseller list (no. 2 for hardcover nonfiction in the list for Aug. 13).
Axios
