The High-Functioning Mask: Jonathan Berent on Conquering Performance Anxiety in the Modern Workplace
Source: Jonathan Berent/ Social-Anxiety.com
Anxiety In The Workplace
In the cutthroat corridors of global commerce, there is a silent epidemic. It doesn’t look like failure; in fact, it often looks like a corner office, a seven-figure salary, and a spotless professional reputation. But behind the "Mask of Success" worn by many New York executives lies a paralyzing fear of being "found out"—not for a lack of competence, but for the physiological betrayal of anxiety.
Jonathan Berent, a pioneer in the treatment of performance anxiety with over 50,000 clinical hours since 1978, participated in an interview with The Empire City Wire to discuss the internal "mind game" that high-performers play every day. Based in Great Neck and serving the tri-state area and beyond, Berent’s work has become a lifeline for those who find that "work makes them nervous."
While many point to the "hustle culture" of New York City as a unique catalyst for stress, Berent sees a more universal trend. Whether in the high-rises of Manhattan or the tech hubs of Austin, the drive for success in a complex economy manifests with startling similarity.
"It’s all about an inside mind game of intensity," Berent explains. For the C-suite executives and entrepreneurs he treats, the geography matters less than the internal pressure. The real struggle for these leaders isn't just the work itself, but the fear of being noticeably nervous. This includes observable symptoms like panic attacks, hyper-hidrosis (excessive sweating), or "voice freeze."
One of Berent’s patients, an ovarian cancer survivor named Carol, put the weight of this stigma into perspective: "I'd rather be back in chemotherapy than speak in a group... because when I blush, my flaws are there for everyone to see. With cancer, there's no judgment."
The 21-Day Methodology: Surfing the Surge
Berent’s approach doesn't seek to "cure" adrenaline, but to reframe it. His 21-day program focuses on "surfing"—a four-step process of adrenaline acceptance:
Realistic Expectations: Acknowledge that adrenaline will be present.
Acceptance: Stop fighting the energy; lean into it.
Diaphragmatic Breathing: Utilize one or two deep breaths to center the body.
The Mind’s Eye: Visualize a surfer going with the wave rather than being crushed by it.
"Think of it as ‘CrossFit’ training for the mind," Berent says. It requires breaking the "avoidance loop" that many perfectionists fall into. He notes that while a rigid, critical internal script often drives a professional’s success, in its excessive state, it becomes the primary engine of anxiety.
The Return to Analog
As the professional world stabilized post-COVID, a new challenge emerged: the return to in-person interaction. Berent notes that while digital platforms provided a "safety net" for the anxious, they also enabled avoidance.
"Simply put, those in leadership positions can only hide for so long online," he says. The "invisible barrier" of social anxiety isn't just a hurdle for promotions; it carries long-term psychological costs, including dysthymia (a subset of depression), substance dependence, and challenged self-esteem.
Source: Squarespace/ Unsplash
Mind Surgery for High Performers
To recover from a performance slump, Berent utilizes "Mind State" balancing. By teaching high-profile individuals—from world-renowned physicians to 7-figure salesmen—how to "nurture" their "natural child" with a healthy dose of "adult" thinking, they can resolve the excessive critical scripts that cause physiological tics.
For New Yorkers and professionals globally, the message is clear: the "hustle" is external, but the healing is internal. Mastering the interpersonal "analog" world is more critical now than ever, requiring a shift from mechanical perfectionism to embracing the learning curve of the "process."
Jonathan Berent, L.C.S.W., is the author of "Work Makes Me Nervous" and host of the podcast "Public Speaking Anxiety & Fear of Being Noticeably Nervous."
