Hey—if you’re here, there’s a good chance you’re wired like me: high-achieving, ambitious, driven… maybe even a little obsessed with control, productivity, or getting it right every damn time.
Sound familiar?
Then you might be a Type A personality.
And I’m here to tell you—it’s not just your mood or your relationships that pay for it. It can be your vision too. Literally.
I found out the hard way.
But let me start from the beginning.
What Is a Type A Personality?
The term “Type A” was first coined in the 1950s by cardiologists Meyer Friedman and Ray Rosenman. They were looking for traits in patients with higher heart disease risk—and found something deeper:
People who were:
- Time-obsessed
- Goal-driven
- Highly competitive
- Impatient
- Prone to stress and frustration
Sound like someone you know?
Type A people are the go-getters, the fixers, the ones that don’t rest until it’s done (perfectly).
We see inefficiency and we want to correct it. We see time slipping and we try to outrun it.
But here’s the problem:
Your nervous system doesn’t care about your to-do list.
And eventually, it fights back.
How I Found Out the Hard Way
[Insert your personal story here: e.g., the moment you noticed vision issues / high-stress period / ignoring symptoms / diagnosis of CSR]
“I was leading a [$XX million project, negotiating three deals, and hitting the gym hard. Life looked good on paper—but inside, I was unraveling. My vision blurred. I thought I was just tired. But that blur became a spot. That spot became a diagnosis. CSR.”
It was a wake-up call I couldn’t snooze.
What Is CSR—and Why Type A’s Are at Risk
Central Serous Retinopathy (CSR) is a retinal condition where fluid builds up behind the retina, often triggered by high cortisol levels, stress, and overstimulation. It causes:
- Blurred or distorted central vision
- Spots or shadows in sight
- Heightened light sensitivity
It’s often called a stress-related retinal disease.
And guess who’s in the high-risk group?
Yep—Type A personalities.
The same intensity that fuels our success can also fuel physiological breakdown—especially in the nervous system, adrenal glands, and yes, the eyes.
The Moment I Had to Pivot
[Insert your personal turning point here: burnout moment, doctor warning, fear of losing vision, etc.]
“The punchline was this: I was succeeding professionally, but my body was falling apart. That’s when I realized—being Type A wasn’t the problem. How I was managing it was.”
So I Made Some Pivots…
Not to become someone else—but to recalibrate.
1. Control the Controllables—Let Go of the Rest
I stopped micromanaging things that didn’t matter. I let others lead. I said no.
2. Shifted from High-Impact to High-Quality Movement
Less HIIT. More walking, Pilates, and mindful resistance training. My cortisol thanked me.
3. Built Recovery into My Calendar
No more earning rest. I scheduled it like it was a meeting with my future health.
4. Reframed Productivity
Progress over perfection. Rest is productive. Clarity is currency.
5. Started Tracking Symptoms, Mood, and Triggers
Once I had data, I had power. I could reverse patterns before they became problems.
How You Can Pivot Too (Without Losing Your Edge)
This isn’t about “calming down” or becoming a monk.
It’s about turning your intensity into strategy instead of survival mode.
Try this:
- Replace control with clarity
- Replace speed with sustainability
- Replace output with outcome
- Replace chaos with systems
Start with one wellness habit: breathwork, daily walks, journaling.
Then another: hydration, sleep tracking, screen breaks.
Let them stack—one after another.
Final Thoughts: It’s Not About Slowing Down—It’s About Seeing Clearly
I’m still Type A. I still push. I still set goals that stretch me.
But now I do it without breaking myself in the process.
Your ambition doesn’t have to cost you your health.
Your drive doesn’t have to distort your vision.
You don’t have to burn out to prove your worth.
If CSR taught me anything, it’s this:
Clarity—real clarity—starts by looking inward.
And if you’re ready to pivot?
You’re already halfway there.
