I truly believed I thrived under pressure—juggling deadlines, obligations, and expectations without missing a beat, convincing myself the chaos made me sharper. Now I see it differently—I had adapted to chronic stress so deeply that living on the edge felt like the only way to exist. I wore it like armor. I think a lot of us do. Especially in the U.S., where being overwhelmed is often a badge of honor, and burnout is mistaken for ambition.