You Might Be Coping More Than You Think: When High Performance Blurs Into Anxiety

You can be the person everyone counts on and still feel like you are running on fumes. Cheryl sits down with Hannah Curman to unpack over functioning: the polished “swan on the lake” image on the surface, with frantic paddling underneath. We get honest about what it looks like in real work life: saying yes when you mean no, over-controlling details, chasing recognition, and performing well while your body stays locked in stress and anxiety. From there, we go deeper than productivity tips. We talk about personal values and why not knowing them can leave you trapped in roles, habits, and expectations that quietly work against you. Hannah challenges the idea that money is always a value and asks the better question: what does money stand for? Security, belonging, hierarchy, freedom? Once you can name the real value, you can make clearer choices without the constant internal friction. We also explore status, integrity, and a powerful piece of human psychology: loss aversion. When the fear of losing a title, approval, or identity feels bigger than any potential upside, high performance can turn into a stress response. Finally, we reframe “stepping back” as strength and safety, not failure, and share a lived burnout-to-recovery story that points to a healthier definition of achievement: high impact, not high hours. Subscribe for more conversations on workplace stress, anxiety, burnout, and nervous system aware performance, and if this resonates, share it with someone who is carrying too much and leave a review. 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.