logo
episode-header-image
Jul 15
22m 13s

372 - 6 Hidden Habits of High-Functionin...

Michelle Grosser – Inspired by Mel Robbins, Rachel Hollis & Dr. Becky Kennedy
About this episode

You’re functioning. Performing. Keeping it together.


But deep down, your mind is racing. Your shoulders are tense. And you’re one more Slack notification away from snapping.


If you’re looking calm on the outside—but buzzing underneath, it might be high-functioning anxiety—and most women don’t even realize they’re living in it.


Today, we’re pulling back the curtain on high-functioning anxiety from a nervous system perspective. 


I’ll walk you through what it really is, how it forms, and the hidden habits that keep you stuck in the loop—plus simple body-based ways to start shifting out.


You’ll learn:
 🔹 Why high-functioning anxiety isn’t just “being Type A”
 🔹 How your nervous system creates a performance-survival blend
 🔹 The physiological reason you can’t just “think your way out of it”
 🔹 How to spot (and shift) 6 subtle patterns that keep you dysregulated


Then, I’ll walk you through 6 hidden habits that high-functioning anxious women tend to carry—and the somatic tools that help you release them.


We’ll cover:
 ✔️ People-pleasing – the fawn response disguised as kindness
 ✔️ Overthinking – survival mode in a productivity costume
 ✔️ Perfectionism – when safety gets fused with performance
 ✔️ Suppressed needs – why you freeze when someone asks what you want
✔️ Hypervigilance – the nervous system on high alert, 24/7
✔️ Procrastination + sprinting – how your system flips from freeze to hustle


Because high-functioning anxiety isn’t your personality—it’s your protection.


And when you learn to regulate your body, you can finally stop white-knuckling your life.



Related Episodes to Explore:

---


➡️ ➡️ > SAVE YOUR SPOT: "FROM ON EDGE TO AT EASE" WORKSHOP < ⬅️ ⬅️

Up next
Today
397 - Feeling the Urge to Leave or Start Over? The Spiritual Power of Staying with Rev. Lydia Sohn
If you’ve ever wondered, “Do I stay and dig deeper—or is it time to go?” you’re not alone.In a world that glamorizes fresh starts, we can miss the quiet miracles of rootedness. But staying (with discernment) can be where real growth, depth, and peace are forged.In this episode, I ... Show More
38m 52s
Oct 7
396 - The 10-Minute After-Work Reset to Transition Out of Work Stress and Into Family Time
Why is it so hard to “switch off” at the end of the day?You close your laptop, but your mind keeps buzzing. You replay conversations, run through tomorrow’s to-dos, maybe even reach for your phone to check just one more email. And even if you try to relax with food, TV, or scroll ... Show More
26m 27s
Oct 3
395 - 4 of the Best Things You Can Do to Regulate Your Nervous System
You cannot heal your mind or your body in the presence of chronic stress. Full stop.And here’s the hard truth: all the money, supplements, and energy you’re spending trying to heal without addressing your stress load? It’s mostly wasted.Because stress is cumulative. It’s not just ... Show More
23m 36s
Recommended Episodes
May 2025
177: 4 Simple Ways to Slow Down An ADHD Brain
Ever feel like your brain just won’t shut off — like it’s sprinting while the world is asking you to walk? You’re not alone. In this episode of Do I Have ADHD?, your host (recording from the car today!) shares four easy, practical tools that help calm a racing mind. No special to ... Show More
9m 54s
Feb 2025
Stressed Out? How to Manage Stress and Reset Your Nervous System
How do you recognize and overcome stress manifestations? In this episode of A Really Good Cry, I dive into the deep-rooted effects of stress—how it sneaks into our thoughts, our bodies, and even our sleep. I share my Ultimate Stress Reset Formula, a simple three-step process to h ... Show More
25m 39s
May 2024
Are You Tired All The Time? Easy to Follow Tips to Increase Your Energy Throughout The Day
Have you always been feeling tired recently?  Feeling tired is something we all deal with—it's like running on empty, trying to keep up with everything on our plates. But what if there are simple ways to avoid that drained feeling without making things overly complicated? In this ... Show More
46m 43s
Aug 2024
Practice These Techniques To Relieve Daily Stress
We all know life has been extra stressful lately, so I’ve got some practical tools for you to keep that stress in check. We’ll dive into breathing techniques to calm your mind and body, the power of gratitude to boost your mood, the benefits of nature walks for lowering stress le ... Show More
16m 53s
May 2025
Healing Your Nervous System from Stress and Burnout
Are you a busy professional with ADHD feeling overwhelmed and burned out? You're not alone. This week, David welcomes Brittany Piper, author of Body-First Healing: Get Unstuck and Recover from Trauma with Somatic Healing, and an expert in trauma-informed care, to dig into the pro ... Show More
52m 17s
Dec 2024
#straightfromcait: 3 Ways To Add Ease To Your Day Without Changing Your Circumstances
Burnout Recovery works better with support. UNFRIED is our small group (5 people max!) coaching program to help guide you through your recovery. Apply now! [http://bit.ly/unfried] “I want you to forcibly slow yourself down,” says Cait on this #straightfromcait episode of FRIED wh ... Show More
7m 21s
Sep 2024
Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith: The 7 Types of Rest
Ready to leave burnout behind for good? Join UNFRIED: A Small Group Burnout Recovery Program and start reclaiming your energy and joy. Apply today! https://bit.ly/unfryapply “We really need to break our limitations of what we say rest is,” says Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, a board-c ... Show More
48m 25s
Sep 25
How to Calm Catecholamines for Deeper Sleep
Do you ever feel wired, anxious, or restless at night even when you’re exhausted? The reason often comes down to catecholamines, the stimulating brain chemicals (dopamine, norepinephrine, and adrenaline) that keep your mind and body in overdrive. While these neurotransmitters are ... Show More
13m 28s
Apr 2025
Overcome Overwhelm (When Life Feels Too Much)
When life feels like too much to handle, one of the most powerful tools we have to regain a sense of clarity and balance is meditation. The constant demands of work, family, and social obligations can leave us feeling mentally foggy, emotionally drained, and physically tense. Med ... Show More
13m 33s
Jan 2025
255 | 6 Journaling Prompts to Reset Your Health Habits & Up-level Your Sleep, Exercise & Nutrition in 2025
In today&#39;s episode we are diving into nutrition, sleep & exercise! You&#39;ll get journaling prompts to help you:identify what habits & choices you want to leave in 2024create a vision of how you can improve these areas of your lifetune in your best self energy for how you ca ... Show More
23m 22s