The Work Stress Pattern Hiding in The standard that keeps moving

Your mind goes blank in a meeting, you reread the same email five times, and somehow you still tell yourself you should be able to handle it. We unpack why that loss of clarity under work stress is often a predictable nervous system response, not a motivation problem. I’m Cheryl Parris, a clinical hypnotherapist and stress recovery coach, and I’m joined by Hannah Curman to map what’s happening in the body when pressure starts to feel like threat. We talk about cortisol, the prefrontal cortex, and why the “thinking brain” can get overloaded when stress becomes chronic. Hannah explains how prolonged activation can leave you feeling overwhelmed, dizzy, fatigued, or emotionally empty, even while you look totally composed on the outside. If you’ve ever related to high functioning anxiety, this conversation puts language to that experience and replaces self-blame with biology and practical awareness. Then we move into what you can actually do. Hannah shares her Clarity Chain approach: spot, decode, direct. We focus on simple signals you can notice in seconds, muscle tension, breathing depth, and even the speed and tone of your voice, and how those cues can reveal patterns in specific places, around certain people, or in repeating work situations. We also explore where you get your energy back, why authenticity beats perfection, and how to challenge worst-case thinking and impostor syndrome without forcing yourself to “think positive.” If you want calmer decisions, clearer focus, and a kinder relationship with your own stress signals, listen now. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s carrying too much, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Send us Fan Mail The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers Support the show Got feedback, a question, or a future episode suggestion? https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®. Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™ Connect with Cheryl Paris LinkedIn: https://go.workstressanxiety.com/linkedin  Facebook: https://go.workstressanxiety.com/Facebook Shared stories are anonymised. This podcast is provided for educational and self- reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, workplace, or professional advice. Disclaimer: https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/ © Cheryl Paris. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.