3 Lessons I've Learned Helping High Achievers Manage Anxiety

Oct 22, 2025

Most people associate anxiety with inaction, but high-functioning anxiety often drives people to overperform. Discover how this coping mechanism can inadvertently lead to burnout and strained values. Learn about the common pattern that drains energy without awareness and the shift towards practicing 'just enough' to find balance. Tati shares powerful strategies to help reclaim your sense of calm and make self-care a priority in a high-achieving world.

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INSIGHT

Doing More Can Be Avoidance

High-functioning anxiety often shows up as doing more instead of avoiding tasks.
Overpreparing and overworking serve as avoidance driven by fear of failure or appearing incompetent.

INSIGHT

Overdoing Reinforces Anxiety

Overdoing feels protective short-term but reinforces anxiety long-term by teaching constant hustle.
The brain learns it must keep pushing to avoid imagined disasters, trapping you in a cycle.

ANECDOTE

Overpreparing That No One Notices

Overpreparing for meetings can mean spending hours on details no one notices.
This behavior aims to avoid perceived incompetence but drains time and energy instead.

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Most people think anxiety keeps you stuck in inaction — hiding, avoiding, or freezing. But with high-functioning anxiety, it often looks completely different. In this episode, I'm sharing three powerful lessons I've learned from helping hundreds of high-achieving professionals manage their anxiety — lessons that may just change the way you see yourself.

In this episode, you will learn:

The unexpected way anxiety drives high achievers to cope
A common pattern that leaves you drained without realizing it
A powerful shift that can help you finally feel calmer

3-Part High-Functioning Anxiety Series:

Part 1: The Hidden Costs of High-Functioning Anxiety: https://youtu.be/X1rd5sb7hRo

Part 2: The Cycle of High-Functioning Anxiety (and How to Finally Break It): https://youtu.be/PVZhxcSx5hs

Do you have unrealistic expectations?: https://youtu.be/xEkbSU53zJo

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Calmly Coping is a self-improvement podcast for high achievers who struggle with high-functioning anxiety to help you feel more calm, balanced, and confident from within.

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✨ Learn more about the brand new Calm & Ambitious Resource Vault: https://www.calmlycoping.com/vault

💬 Submit a message, question, or suggestion to the podcast: https://calmlycoping.com/message

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Want more?

👩🏽‍💻 Work with me: My mission is to help you decrease your anxiety, declutter your mind, and say hello to a life of calm and balance. Learn more about my coaching, therapy, and course offerings here: https://becalmwithtati.com/work-with-me

👥 Join the Calmly Coping Group: The free supportive community for high-achievers with high-functioning anxiety. Join Today: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CalmlyCoping

📝 Take the Free High-Functioning Anxiety Quiz: http://hfaquiz.com

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My favorite tools:

🧘🏽‍♀️ Mindfulness Meditation App*: https://mindfulnesscom-partner-program.pxf.io/x97kyd

✅ Todoist To-Do List App*: https://get.todoist.io/8e7o0ay8n081

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Say hi on social:

🔗 Website: https://becalmwithtati.com/

📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/tatianaglpc

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatianaglpc/

📌 Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tatianaglpc

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Intro/Outro Music: Rescue Me (Instrumental) by Aussens@iter (c) copyright 2018 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/tobias_weber/57990 Ft: Copperhead

Disclaimer

All content here is for informational purposes only. This content does not replace the professional judgment of your own mental health provider. Please consult a licensed mental health professional for all individual questions and issues.

*Links included in these show notes may be affiliate links. This means that I may earn a small commission for purchases made using these links (at no additional cost to you). All products that I share are products I use, love, and recommend.