(And It’s Messing With You More Than You Think)
Let’s be real for a moment. We all love that “crushing it” feeling at work. The promotions, the recognition, the confidence boost of knowing you’re a bad-ass at what you do. It’s addictive.
But here’s something most people won’t admit: even the most successful people often battle a dark passenger. These high-performing individuals appear to have their entire life together. Yet, they deal with an uninvited presence riding shotgun.
Anxiety.
Yeah, that’s right. That colleague who always seems to pull off miracles under pressure? The one who makes everything look effortless? There’s a solid chance they’re constantly drowning in self-doubt, over-analysis, and a never-ending stream of worst-case scenarios.
If you’re a high achiever, you probably know exactly what I’m talking about. And if you don’t, well… you’re either lying to yourself or you’re an actual robot (in which case, lucky you).
Why High Achievers Are Anxiety Magnets
Here’s the thing: High achievers aren’t just hard workers. We’re wired differently. We hold ourselves to ridiculous, often unrealistic standards. We obsess over every little mistake. We compare ourselves to literally everyone (yes, even that random person on LinkedIn who just posted their “big career win”).
And worst of all? We never feel like we’re enough.
You get ten compliments and one tiny piece of constructive criticism, and guess which one your brain latches onto? The negative one. The one that confirms your secret fear that you’re not as great as people think you are.
Sound familiar? Thought so.
The Silent Burnout Machine
Here’s where it gets dangerous: Ignoring this anxiety doesn’t make it go away. It just quietly screws you over from the inside.
You push yourself harder to silence it. You take on more work, say yes to more projects, chase more achievements—because if you can just do more, be more, prove more, then maybe, just maybe, you’ll finally feel at peace.
But spoiler alert: That peace never comes.
Instead, what you get is burnout, exhaustion, and a creeping sense of emptiness that no amount of success seems to fill. Because no matter how much you achieve, the goalposts keep moving. You’re never “there” because “there” doesn’t exist.
So, What The Hell Do You Do About It?
Alright, so now that we’ve acknowledged the problem, let’s talk about solutions. And no, the answer isn’t to “just stop worrying” or “be more positive” (because if that worked, you wouldn’t be reading this right now).
Instead, here are some real, practical ways to stop anxiety from running your life like an unpaid, overzealous intern.
1. Call It Out
First things first: Stop pretending your anxiety doesn’t exist.
Seriously. Acting like it’s not there is like ignoring a fire alarm and hoping the flames just go away. Acknowledge it. Give it a name if you have to. Recognizing it is the first step to taking away its power.
2. Stop Believing Every Thought You Have
Your brain is a drama queen. It loves spinning worst-case scenarios like it’s auditioning for an Oscar. But here’s the kicker: Most of your anxious thoughts are total B.S.
Start questioning them. Is this fear based on actual evidence, or is my brain just doing its usual doomsday routine? Nine times out of ten, it’s the latter.
3. Control What You Actually Can (And Let Go of the Rest)
High achievers love control. We want every detail to be perfect. But obsessing over things outside your control is like trying to hold water in your hands—it’s exhausting and pointless.
Instead, focus your energy on what you can control:
- Your effort
- Your preparation
- Your response to challenges
Everything else? Let that sh*t go.
4. Treat Yourself Like You’d Treat a Friend
If a friend came to you and said, “I feel like a failure because I made a tiny mistake in my presentation,” would you respond with, “Yeah, you really do suck”?
Of course not. You’d remind them they’re awesome and that one mistake doesn’t define them.
So why do you talk to yourself like you’re your own worst enemy? Start offering yourself the same kindness you’d give to someone else.
5. Build a Damn Support System
Newsflash: You don’t have to do this alone.
Talk to someone. A friend, a mentor, a therapist—anyone who can remind you that you’re not the only one struggling with this. Keeping it bottled up only makes it worse.
Turning Anxiety Into Your Superpower
Here’s the good news: Anxiety isn’t just a curse—it can be a strength.
That hyper-awareness that makes you overthink everything? It also makes you detail-oriented and prepared.
That fear of failure? It pushes you to work hard and improve.
That tendency to question yourself? It keeps you from becoming an arrogant jerk who thinks they know everything.
The trick isn’t to eliminate anxiety altogether (because that’s never going to happen). The trick is to manage it, reframe it, and use it to your advantage.
High achievers will always feel some level of anxiety—it comes with the territory. But when you stop letting it control you, when you learn to channel it into something productive instead of destructive, that’s when you truly win.
And maybe, just maybe, you can finally achieve that “crushing it” feeling without the internal meltdown.
Now, your turn.
What are your go-to strategies for handling anxiety? Drop them in the comments—I’d love to hear how you deal with this sneaky little monster.
