Why Smart Women Make Worse Choices Under Stress

You can know exactly what matters most, swear you’ll handle it differently this time, and still watch yourself default to the quickest, most familiar choice. That gap between what we intend and what we do is where work stress and anxiety quietly take over, especially for high-achieving women who are used to powering through. Paula joins me to explain why that “bad decision under pressure” is often your brain trying to protect you, not proof that you’re weak or undisciplined. We get specific about the neuroscience of decision-making under stress: how the prefrontal cortex (planning, strategy, emotion regulation) can shut down while the amygdala and basal ganglia ramp up threat response and habit loops. When your system is triggered, your brain reaches for what worked before, what is fastest, and what keeps you safe, even if it moves you away from your real goals. That understanding changes everything, because it replaces shame with clarity and opens the door to burnout prevention that actually works. From there, we talk about what helps you snap out of autopilot in real life. We explore why “pause” feels almost impossible for driven professionals, why surface-level stress management can become a band-aid, and Paula shares a practical four-step reset you can use to assess whether you’re being reactive, evaluate your response, choose a better option, and act in a way that rewires your defaults over time. We close with a word I want you to hold onto if you’re heading toward burnout: forgiveness. If this resonates, subscribe, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review so another quietly overwhelmed listener can find us. 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.