372 - 6 Hidden Habits of High-Functioning Anxiety (and How to Heal Them)

Alive & Well – Burnout, Anxiety, Nervous System, Productivity, Time Management, Somatic Tools, Work-Life Balance

You’re functioning. Performing. Keeping it together.

But deep down, your mind is racing. Your shoulders are tense. And you’re one more Slack notification away from snapping.

If you’re looking calm on the outside—but buzzing underneath, it might be high-functioning anxiety—and most women don’t even realize they’re living in it.

Today, we’re pulling back the curtain on high-functioning anxiety from a nervous system perspective.

I’ll walk you through what it really is, how it forms, and the hidden habits that keep you stuck in the loop—plus simple body-based ways to start shifting out.

You’ll learn:
🔹 Why high-functioning anxiety isn’t just “being Type A”
🔹 How your nervous system creates a performance-survival blend
🔹 The physiological reason you can’t just “think your way out of it”
🔹 How to spot (and shift) 6 subtle patterns that keep you dysregulated

Then, I’ll walk you through 6 hidden habits that high-functioning anxious women tend to carry—and the somatic tools that help you release them.

We’ll cover:
✔️ People-pleasing – the fawn response disguised as kindness
✔️ Overthinking – survival mode in a productivity costume
✔️ Perfectionism – when safety gets fused with performance
✔️ Suppressed needs – why you freeze when someone asks what you want
✔️ Hypervigilance – the nervous system on high alert, 24/7
✔️ Procrastination + sprinting – how your system flips from freeze to hustle

Because high-functioning anxiety isn’t your personality—it’s your protection.

And when you learn to regulate your body, you can finally stop white-knuckling your life.

Related Episodes to Explore:

• Previous Episode
• 3 Somatic Practices for Anxiety: Why They Work & How to Do Them
• Healing Anxiety & Burnout: 4 Non-Negotiables for Nervous System Regulation
• The #1 Reason You Haven't Been Able to Heal Your Anxiety
• How to Reduce Anxiety When It's Happening
• 3 Sneaky Habits That Are Making Your Anxiety Worse

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