The pressures only the super rich have to endure

Isolated

Clinical psychotherapist Paul Hokemeyer, founder of the Drayson Mews clinic in the US, which specializes in treating the super-rich, said the top problem his clients face is chronic isolation.

“They are in the top 1%, where very few people share the reality of their world,” he said. According to Hokemeyer, the super-rich are often confused and lack confidence because they do not know whether others appreciate them or their wealth.

The super-rich are often stereotyped as lucky and happy, but that's not necessarily true, says Amanda Falkson, a psychotherapist at Psychotherapy City in London who works with the wealthy.

According to Falkson, the wealthy face many emotions such as grief, hurt, loss and challenging relationships. In addition, they are pressured about how to spend money and who they can trust.

Sometimes all eyes are on you to see what you do with your money. Some of Falkson’s clients are stressed about how they hope to be remembered, about whether their money is well spent. It could be investing, giving to charity, or giving as a legacy.

Paranoia and distrust

Wealth can make those around the super-rich see them as objects, Hokemeyer notes.

Rich people often have a higher social status, but poor people are often attracted to them. Therefore, many poor people often see rich people as a ladder to lift them up.

According to Hokemeyer, his clients are constantly bombarded with demands. “Relationships are defined more by what they can bring to the other person than by who they are,” he says. In that context, the super-rich have become more suspicious of the motives of those who associate with them.

It is even difficult for rich people to approach the person they love, if that person does not have similar assets and income. Rich people fear being taken advantage of, and their potential partners are easily seen as gold diggers or negatively perceived.

Misguided sense of purpose

There is a difference between self-made millionaires and those who inherit or suddenly come into large sums of money.

People who build wealth through achievement have a strong sense of self-control, Hokemeyer says. They feel responsible and accountable for the trajectory of their lives, and are confident in their ability to make back their money if they lose it.

On the other hand, people who suddenly become rich through inheritance or asset sales have difficulty adjusting to new spending, location, and circumstances. They also lack confidence in handling and maintaining their wealth.

The sudden influx of wealth often leads to existential identity challenges and relationship tensions, Falkson says.

“When you don’t have to work, where do you get your meaning, your purpose? Where do I fit into society now that I’m no longer part of the old world?” she said, a concern of some clients.