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You can look perfectly pulled together and still be running on empty. High-functioning anxiety is the silent cost high-achieving women pay: the pressure to appear calm, capable, and endlessly available while stress builds invisibly underneath. In this episode, Cheryl sits down with Dr. Carla Caturia to name the mask that so many of you wear in silence—and more importantly, how to recognize when your nervous system is screaming while your calendar says you're fine. Discover why appearing in control can actually deepen burnout, and learn the micro-recovery tools you can use right now, even while looking composed at work.

You can be the person everyone depends on and still be quietly running on empty. We sit down with Dr Carla Caturia to name what so many high-achieving women carry in silence: the pressure to look calm, capable, organised, and endlessly available, even when stress and anxiety are building underneath. We talk about the hidden emotional cost of being “the reliable one,” and why competence can become a mask that keeps you disconnected from your own needs.

Dr. Carla breaks down her “success without self” cycle, including how chasing achievement can turn into an identity that crowds out rest, self-trust, and joy. We get honest about what burnout can look like in real life, from years of overwork to panic, shutdown, and the feeling that you’re performing at a high level while trusting yourself less. If you’ve ever thought, “This is just normal,” while waking early, working late, and never truly switching off, this conversation will feel uncomfortably familiar in the best way.

We also dig into practical signs and resets: perfectionism that won’t let go, overthinking that steals sleep, and the moment “busy” crosses into chronic stress. Dr. Carla shares why “good enough” is a skill, how boundaries protect your energy, and why saying no is often the biggest action you can take at work and at home. Most importantly, we end with a message for anyone whispering “I’m fine” while spiralling inside: you’re not alone, and support is a strategy.

If this hit home, share it with a friend who always seems okay, subscribe for more conversations on work stress and anxiety, and leave a review to help more women find the support they deserve.

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

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Work Stress Anxiety by ABGW is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

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