Can Overachievement Hide Anxiety?

[Shree]

Some people stay busy to avoid inner worries. Have you noticed yourself constantly setting new goals to escape stress or self-doubt? How do you tell the difference between ambition and anxiety?

 

[Teri W]

I know of many people that have anxiety and depression but their coping mechanism is to do more work. For such people, they have a false sense of mental wellness by the things they have been able to achieve from work. But that is just a mask.

 

[Hazel]

I’ve definitely caught myself doing that, filling every minute with projects just to avoid sitting with uncomfortable thoughts. The difference between ambition and anxiety, I’ve learned, is how it feels inside. Ambition feels energizing and purposeful, while anxiety-driven busyness feels frantic and never enough. When I’m acting from ambition, I can enjoy the process and rest without guilt. When it’s anxiety, even rest feels wrong.