7 Signs of Hidden Anxiety

A cool head is important in truly extreme situations, when your actions are vital for your life and that of others. At the same time, “mobilization” cannot last forever – sooner or later you will reach the point of emotional burnout with all the unpleasant side effects. Even if it seems to you that you can handle stress very well, find a way to give free rein to your emotions: exercise, attend a support group, get enough sleep, etc. In general, do what helps you relax and relieve stress without harming your health.

Behavior aimed at pleasing and being liked by people is not necessarily beneficial: not for you, not for others. Your favors under the guise of goodwill can subtly destroy relationships, while from the outside it looks like a friendly favor. If you are trying so hard to make others happy, even at the expense of your own needs and interests, because of fear of disapproval, it is time to learn to say “no” and take care of yourself.

You may feel that any deviation from perfection will lead to judgment and negative consequences, causing you to over-anxious and set impossibly high standards for yourself. The desire for perfection often masks a deep fear of making mistakes. And while perfectionism is widely celebrated in today’s achievement-oriented society, psychologists advise embracing the idea that mistakes are opportunities for learning and growth, rather than signs of failure.

Overachieving is essentially a severe case of the “A student syndrome,” where you strive not just to get the highest grade, but to do more than you need to. Sometimes overachieving can actually give you a valuable advantage, but sometimes it’s just a painful habit and a waste of time. To reduce anxiety, give up overachieving in favor of balance and well-being.

Empathy—the ability to understand and share the feelings of those around you—can be a kind of superpower, but only if you know how to set personal boundaries. Otherwise, your involvement in the world’s problems will leave you feeling empty and anxious. If you care more about other people’s problems than you do about your own, you’ll end up with nothing. The ability to sympathize is not a hindrance to a healthy dose of selfishness.

For centuries, most people didn’t know what was going on outside their immediate area. Information overload wasn’t an issue, so the urge to collect rumors and news was harmless. Nowadays, the desire to keep your finger on the pulse can backfire: It’s impossible to know everything these days, and you’ll end up feeling anxious about what you might have missed.

Perhaps you hate relying on others during group projects or find it hard to relax in a group because “someone has to look after everyone.” If so, you may be taking on too much responsibility, which can lead to too much stress. Make sure you’re taking on tasks you can handle. And be able to share tasks that you can’t handle with others.