Have you ever achieved a goal you thought would bring you unending joy, only to wake up the next day feeling… well, kind of empty? I can totally relate. After years of striving for recognition as a writer, I finally signed with a literary agent—the dream I’d held since I was just 17. It was supposed to feel like reaching the summit of a mountain, but instead, I was met with something unexpected: anxiety, doubt, and a touch of the blues. It turns out that post-achievement depression is a real thing—and I’m definitely not alone in this struggle. Join me as I navigate these perplexing emotions and explore why achieving our dreams can sometimes feel like a letdown. If you’ve ever found yourself asking, “Now what?” after a big accomplishment, this piece is for you! LEARN MORE.
This is all I’ve wanted since I was 17 years old — now what?
In July, I wrote about how I spent $142 a month to land a literary agent. Those who have attempted traditional publishing know it’s a soul-sucking process riddled with rejection — but I wanted it more than anything. After three manuscripts over the course of 15 years, it finally happened.
On September 20th, I got an offer of representation for my memoir.
Since I first started pitching literary agents at 17 years old, signing with one felt like the ultimate milestone; this giant mountain in front of me that would solve all of my problems if I could only reach the top.
I’d been imagining this moment for so long — but the day after I received my offer, I did not feel the anticipated euphoria, validation, or triumph. Instead, I felt the opposite: Anxiety. Doubt. Unpreparedness. Depression.
I am not usually a depressed person, so I did some research
And it turns out I’m not alone. Post-achievement depression (also called post-event sadness or the let-down effect) is a feeling of apathy, emptiness, or exhaustion after accomplishing a long-sought goal.
