The Quiet Ways Anxiety Shows Up

Anxiety isn’t always panic attacks. Sometimes anxiety can live quietly disguised in habits and feelings that don’t look like anxiety at all. It's our body’s alarm system to threats–the fight, flight, or freeze response we have.

But when the threats are more in our heads than real, it becomes a false alarm. So when we do things like worry about work, our relationships, our future–anxiety becomes a background noise that lingers. 

...now here comes the:

• Mind: Racing thoughts, the “what if” questions, the overthinking.

• Body: Tense muscles, heart racing, shallow breathing.

• Emotions: Restlessness, irritability.

• Behavior: People-pleasing, perfectionism, avoiding situations, withdrawing.

High Performers Are Prone to Hidden Anxiety

If you’re someone who pushes hard, aims for excellence, or carries responsibility for others, you could be fueling anxiety without realizing it.

You may be:

Overthinking decisions to avoid failure or judgment. Chasing perfection because anything less feels like falling short. Saying yes often to keep peace or maintain approval. Withdrawing or burning yourself out without admitting you’re overwhelmed.

It’s all survival tactics. High performers may sometimes silence their anxiety to keep moving, to keep leading, and to keep showing up.

For me, walking a path less traveled and daring to dream differently, it’s common to run into people who don’t get my vision or doubt my ability to succeed. Moments like that  can make a person question themselves. When your ideas or your worth are misunderstood or dismissed, it creates a quiet tension inside.

Anxiety will pop the internal question of, Am I really enough?

Others disbelief or inability to understand what you're working towards can shake your confidence and fuel the overthinking and perfectionism.

Know this, recognizing what's affecting your anxiety is useful because that awareness gives you the power to rise above it and keep building your momentum.

Fueling Momentum Through Anxiety 

Momentum isn’t just about grinding harder or doing more. Momentum is moving forward with clarity, energy, and peace.

Let's start with awareness. Ask yourself:

• Do I replay conversations or worry about decisions long after they’re made?

• Will anything change by worrying?

• Am I overestimating the likelihood of something bad happening? Is this fear really likely to become a reality?

• What can be controlled in this situation? Focus on what's within your control, because dwelling on uncontrollable events or peoples behaviors only affect you in the worst ways.

• Am I confusing this thought with facts? Because sometimes your thoughts and reality is different, and feelings aren't always accurate reflections of what's happening.

• Is my anxiety affecting my performance, relationships, sleep, etc? 
• Am I constantly planning or controlling to avoid uncertainty?

If you answered yes to the above, your anxiety might be quietly slowing your momentum.

How to Keep Momentum While Living with Anxiety?

1. Have No Shame. Anxiety doesn’t make you weak. Recognize it is a sign of strength and channel it into something greater.

2. Practice Presence. Ground yourself in the moment. Sit in silence, breathe, and pause to quiet your mind. It is absolutely ok to take "do nothing" days. This is how you recharge.

3. Set Boundaries. Say “no.” Protect your damn energy. The people who love you or understand you wont take it personally. 

4. Seek Support. Trusted friends, mentors, or professionals can help.

5. Choose Progress over Perfection. Momentum grows from consistent steps. They don't have to be perfect steps, just move forward.

From me, to you. Your momentum shift for this week...

Anxiety may be part of your story, but it's not your story. You're still the driver, the creator, and the leader of your life. Move forward, not by pushing harder, but by moving smarter and letting your momentum come from self care and intention. 

Peace.

written by Morgan | @MORGANtheCEO