UNDERSTANDING ANXIETY AND PANIC

Anxiety and panic are universal experiences, yet for many—those who are intelligent, driven, and accustomed to excelling in various areas of life—these issues can feel mainly baffling. You’ve built your life around solving problems, overcoming challenges, and maintaining control. But when it comes to anxiety and panic, your usual strategies—rational thinking, productivity, and determination—often fall short.

Anxiety and panic are not just occasional experiences but persistent issues that undermine their ability to enjoy the success they’ve worked so hard to achieve. Anxiety doesn’t care how intelligent or capable you are; it can strike anyone. The panic attacks, the racing thoughts, the overwhelming sense of dread—these feelings seem to defy logic, leaving you feeling powerless in a way you rarely experience in other aspects of your life.

But here’s the good news: You are not powerless. Anxiety and panic may not respond to the same tools you use in your career or intellectual pursuits, but they are manageable, and you can reclaim control. I’m Dr. Deborah Grody, and in this article, I’ll explore why anxiety and panic affect high achievers differently and how subtle yet powerful insights can help you break free from the grip of these overwhelming emotions.

Why We Struggle with Anxiety and Panic

For so many, anxiety and panic often present unique challenges. Your ability to solve problems, think critically, and perform at a high level is central to your identity. But anxiety can undermine these strengths, making you feel like you’ve lost control over both your thoughts and your body.

To better understand this experience, let’s explore some of the specific reasons anxiety and panic can feel incredibly distressing for high achievers.

1. The Need for Control

You likely thrive on control. You’ve built systems, routines, and strategies that allow you to manage your life effectively. Maintaining control has always been critical to your success, whether in your professional career, personal goals, or relationships. But anxiety is often born from a fear of losing control, and panic attacks are the ultimate manifestation of that fear.

The irony is that the more you try to control anxiety, the more out of control it feels. Anxiety doesn’t respond well to being “fixed” with rational solutions. Instead, it feeds on the pressure you put on yourself to “figure it out” or to stop feeling anxious altogether. This constant striving for control can become exhausting, leaving you feeling trapped in a cycle of stress and anxiety.

2. High Expectations and Perfectionism

You are often hold themselves to incredibly high standards in their work and every aspect of their lives. You expect excellence from yourself, and anything less can feel like failure. This perfectionism creates a fertile ground for anxiety to flourish.

Anxiety thrives on “what if” thinking—what if I don’t succeed, what if I make a mistake, what if I let someone down? When perfectionism is at play, the pressure to meet these high standards can become overwhelming, triggering feelings of anxiety that spiral into panic. Even minor mistakes or setbacks can feel catastrophic, leading to an endless cycle of worry and self-criticism.

3. The Stigma of Mental Health Struggles

You are often seen as the epitome of strength, success, and self-reliance. You’re the person others look to for answers, and you’ve built your identity around being competent and capable. But when anxiety strikes, it can feel like a betrayal of everything you stand for. The stigma around mental health, combined with your own internalized pressure to always “have it together,” can make it incredibly difficult to acknowledge that you’re struggling.

You might fear that admitting to anxiety or panic will make you appear weak or incapable. This fear can lead to avoidance, as you try to push through and ignore the problem, hoping it will go away on its own. Unfortunately, anxiety rarely resolves itself without intervention, and the longer you avoid addressing it, the more entrenched it becomes.

4. Overthinking and Hyper-Responsibility

You tend to be deep thinkers. You analyze, problem-solve, and anticipate challenges before they arise. While this can be a valuable skill in many areas of life, it also contributes to overthinking, which is one of the main drivers of anxiety.

You are overthinking leads to an endless loop of “what if” scenarios, each one more catastrophic than the last. You may also feel a heightened sense of responsibility for everything and everyone around you, believing that disaster will strike if you don’t stay on top of things. This hyper-responsibility, combined with overthinking, can lead to chronic anxiety and, eventually, panic attacks.

 Why Traditional Methods Often Fail

When it comes to anxiety and panic, many people often find that traditional approaches, such as medication or basic cognitive behavioral techniques, don’t seem to work as effectively as they would hope. This is partly because these methods don’t always address the specific needs of high achievers—people who think deeply, question everything and are accustomed to solving complex problems independently.

Anxiety is not a problem to be “fixed” with the same tools you use in other areas of life. It requires a different approach that acknowledges the unique pressures you face and helps you shift your perspective in ways that align with your strengths. Here are a few subtle yet powerful insights that have helped my clients, people just like you, break free from the grip of anxiety and panic.

 The Breakthrough: Subtle Shifts That Transform Anxiety and Panic

1. Letting Go of Control

One of the most significant breakthroughs for dealing with anxiety is learning to let go of the need for total control. This doesn’t mean giving up on managing your life, but it does mean accepting that some things are beyond your control—particularly your emotions.

Anxiety thrives when we try to fight it or push it away. The more you resist, the stronger it becomes. Instead, practice acceptance. When anxiety arises, acknowledge it without judgment. Tell yourself, “This is anxiety, and it’s okay to feel this way.” By accepting anxiety instead of trying to control it, you take away some of its power.

This shift might feel counterintuitive at first, but over time, you’ll find that the more you allow anxiety to exist without trying to control it, the less overwhelming it becomes.

2. Embracing Imperfection

Perfectionism is often at the root of anxiety for high achievers. You may feel that anything less than flawless performance is unacceptable, which creates an enormous amount of pressure. But here’s the truth: Perfection is an illusion.

One of the most powerful shifts you can make is to embrace imperfection. This doesn’t mean lowering your standards or giving up on your goals; it simply means recognizing that mistakes and setbacks are part of the process. By allowing yourself to be imperfect, you release some of the pressure that fuels your anxiety.

Try reframing mistakes as opportunities for growth rather than failures. When you stop expecting perfection, you create space for self-compassion and resilience, which are essential in managing anxiety.

3. Challenging Catastrophic Thinking

Anxiety is often fueled by catastrophic thinking—the tendency to imagine the worst-case scenario in any situation. This type of thinking can feel like a protective mechanism for high achievers, allowing you to anticipate problems before they arise. But in reality, catastrophic thinking often leads to unnecessary stress and panic.

To break free from this cycle, practice challenging your catastrophic thoughts. When you are spiraling into “what if” scenarios, ask yourself: Is this realistic? What evidence do I have that this worst-case scenario will actually happen? What would I do if it did happen?

By questioning your thoughts and challenging the worst-case scenario, you can begin to reframe your thinking and reduce the intensity of your anxiety.

4. Prioritizing Self-Care and Downtime

You often push themselves to the limit, sacrificing sleep, relaxation, and self-care to pursue success. However, this constant state of high alert can exacerbate anxiety and lead to burnout.

Learning to prioritize self-care is essential for managing anxiety. This doesn’t mean you must spend hours meditating or practicing yoga (although those are great options if they resonate with you). It could be as simple as setting boundaries around work hours, scheduling time for hobbies or activities you enjoy, or ensuring you get enough rest each night.

When you take care of yourself, you give your mind and body the chance to recover from the constant demands of your life. This, in turn, helps reduce anxiety and allows you to approach challenges with a clearer, calmer mindset.

5. Breathing Through Panic Attacks

Panic attacks can be one of the most terrifying experiences of anxiety, leaving you feeling as though you’re losing control of your body or even dying. But panic attacks, while distressing, are not dangerous. They are your body’s fight-or-flight response in overdrive.

One of the most effective ways to manage panic attacks is through controlled breathing. When you feel a panic attack coming on, practice slow, deep breaths, focus on inhaling for four counts, holding for four counts, and exhaling for four counts. This technique helps regulate your nervous system and signals to your brain that you are safe, which can stop the panic attack from escalating.

The Path to Freedom from Anxiety and Panic

Anxiety and panic are not weaknesses, nor are they reflections of your abilities or worth. They are challenges that you, as a high achiever, are more than capable of overcoming. The key is learning to approach them from a different perspective.

Instead of trying to control or fix your anxiety, embrace acceptance. Instead of striving for perfection, allow yourself to be human. And instead of overthinking every situation, challenge your catastrophic thoughts and practice self-care.

I’ve worked with many high achievers like you, and I’ve seen firsthand the incredible transformations possible when you adopt these subtle yet powerful shifts. If you’re ready to take the next step in overcoming anxiety and reclaiming your life, I encourage you to reach out. Together, we can explore the insights and strategies that will help you break free from the grip of anxiety and panic, allowing you to live with greater peace, clarity, and confidence.