Anxiety in Midlife
Worry that once felt manageable can become louder in midlife, when responsibilities, losses, and questions about the future pile up.
Read MoreAnxiety That Hides Behind Competence
If people describe you as capable and calm, they may not see how much effort it takes to keep everything running.
Rebecca Victor, LP-D
Questions That Matter to You
Anxiety That Hides Behind Competence
If people describe you as capable and calm, they may not see how much effort it takes to keep everything running.
Looking fine and feeling otherwise
Some people manage anxiety by staying busy, prepared, and helpful. It can work for a long time. The cost may show up as exhaustion, difficulty resting, or a sense that you would fall apart if you stopped. Because you are functioning, it can be hard to justify asking for help.
Where the pattern comes from
Competence can be a strength and also a way of coping. In therapy you might explore when being dependable became so important, what you fear would happen if you were less prepared, and what feelings stay out of view while you are busy.
A different kind of hour
Sessions are not another task to excel at. There is no right way to do therapy and no performance to give. That can feel unfamiliar at first, and that unfamiliarity can itself be useful to talk about.
If this sounds familiar
A free 15-minute consultation is a place to ask about fit and practical arrangements. Onboarding happens only after you both agree to try working together.
Frequently asked questions
Is high-functioning anxiety a clinical term?
It is an informal phrase, not a formal diagnosis. It describes an experience many people recognize.
Can therapy fit around a demanding job?
Discuss scheduling during the consultation. Fit includes practical arrangements as well as the approach.
Continue Reading
More About Working Together
When You Have Spent Years Caring for Everyone Else
Being the person everyone counts on can become so familiar that you stop noticing what it costs you.
Read MoreTherapy for Young Professionals
Early career years can bring pressure, uncertainty, and relationship questions that are hard to sort out alone.
Read MoreA conversation about fit comes first.
Ask about a free 15-minute consultation. Onboarding follows only after you agree to try working together.