When Your High Functioning Anxiety Superpower Feels Like an Addiction

Does your drive for success sometimes feel more like a compulsion? In this episode, Dr. Lisa Hartwell explores the fine line between high-functioning anxiety as a professional asset and when it starts to become problematic.

Episode Highlights:

• Why that 3 AM productivity high might not be the superpower you think it is
• The hidden connection between high achievement and anxiety-driven behavior
• How to recognize when your professional drive is crossing into unhealthy territory 
• Practical strategies for maintaining success without burning out

Key Takeaways:

🔸 High functioning anxiety often acts as a double-edged sword: driving success while potentially leading to burnout 🔸 Warning signs include disrupted sleep patterns, difficulty being present in relationships, and constant mental racing 🔸 Success should be redefined to include personal wellbeing, not just professional achievements 🔸 It's possible to harness anxiety productively while maintaining balance in life

Warning Signs to Watch For:

• Sleep disruption
• Inability to "switch off"
• Mental absence during personal interactions
• Constant edge of stress
• Developing unhealthy coping mechanisms

Resources Mentioned:

📚 "Cultivating Professional Success: How to Grow Even When High Functioning Anxiety Drives You to the Edge" by Dr. Lisa Hartwell 🔍 High FunctioningAnxiety Assessment Tool: www.hartwellanxietyassessment.com

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on iTunes. Your feedback helps us reach more people who might benefit from these insights.

Episode Links:

Stop the Insomnia! Here's it is: Sleep Without Overthinking: A Professional’s 3-Step Mini-Guide to Sleep and Success (even) with High Functioning Anxiety. It includes a training video, guided imagery meditation, and easy tracker system to help you eliminate overthinking. It's time to finally enjoy the peaceful slumber you deserve. Let's unlock the secret to stop the mind chatter as soon as your head hits the pillow. Click here to purchase for only $9 introductory price.

Get your copy of Dr. Hartwell's new book, Cultivating Professional Success: Even When High Functioning Anxiety Drives You To The Edge at www.drlisahartwell.com

Enroll in my FREE Hartwell Anxiety Assessment: www.hartwellanxietyassessment.com

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Transcript

When Your High Functioning Anxiety Superpower Feels Like an Addiction

Episode Transcript - Anxiety Ease Podcast with Dr. Lisa Hartwell

Introduction

Aloha, everyone! I'm Dr. Lisa Hartwell, and welcome to Anxiety Ease—the show that reveals a calm mind is an organized mind, and an organized mind is a calm mind. Today, we'll explore the neuroscience behind why some of us keep pushing ourselves professionally, sometimes at the expense of inner peace.

The Double-Edged Sword of High Functioning Anxiety

Picture this: It's 3 AM, and you're wide awake. Your mind is buzzing with a million ideas, tasks, and to-dos. Maybe you have a big project, meeting, or presentation coming up, and you're riding the high of productivity. You feel on par, your brain's on fire—but simultaneously, you can feel that familiar knot in your stomach tightening. Yet you ignore it, because these feelings have become intertwined.

High functioning anxiety is truly a double-edged sword. On one hand, it drives you to excel, pushing you to achieve those high standards you set for yourself. It's like having a superpower. But on the other hand, it feels like you're constantly running on a treadmill that never stops. And that, my friends, starts to feel a lot like addiction.

The Hidden Cost

You might wonder: "How can something that makes me so successful actually be bad for me?" When you're constantly in overdrive, your body and mind are under perpetual stress. It's like revving a car engine to the maximum without ever giving it a break. Eventually, something has to give.

Think of it like a fire: it can keep you warm, light your path, and power your dreams. But if not managed carefully, it will burn you out. That's why it's crucial to recognize when this superpower starts feeling more like chains binding you to an endless cycle of stress and overachievement.

Warning Signs to Watch For

Here are some red flags that your high functioning anxiety might be tipping into unhealthy territory:

·       Persistent sleep problems

·       Difficulty switching off

·       Finding yourself present physically but mentally absent in conversations

·       Feeling constantly on edge

·       Relying on unhealthy coping mechanisms

Finding Balance

It's important to remember:

·       It's okay to say no

·       Taking breaks is essential

·       Balance between work and joy is crucial

·       You're not just a productivity machine—you're a human being who needs rest and rejuvenation

Success isn't just about hitting every target and crossing off every item on your to-do list. True success includes being happy, healthy, and fulfilled. It's about finding ease and calm in the midst of your busy life.

Closing Thoughts

Remember, you have the power to harness your high functioning anxiety in a way that serves you, not the other way around. For more information on this topic, check out my book "Cultivating Professional Success: How to Grow Even When High Functioning Anxiety Drives You to the Edge," available through direct purchase on my website www.drlisahartwell.com or on Amazon.

The Anxiety Ease Podcast is produced by Dr. Lisa Hartwell with music provided by Pixabay. Visit www.drlisahartwell.com for more episodes or to get in touch. Please leave us a review on iTunes, and don't forget to take our anxiety assessment at www.hartwellanxietyanxietyassessment.com