Well, we made it to 2021! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season. I know I’m excited to be back at the podcast after a short break. 

One of the most challenging aspects of High Functioning Anxiety is the Catch-22 of the positive affirmations you receive for being so on-it and accomplishing so much versus the overwhelm and exhaustion you feel under the surface. 

Does this sound familiar?

This Catch-22 causes those of us with HFA to be extremely performative in how we approach our lives. The never-let-them-see-you-sweat idea permeates everything we do. 

On today’s episode, I’m going to go deep into the performative nature of high functioning anxiety and talk with Lou Blaser from the Second Breaks Podcast. Lou was kind enough to agree to come on and talk about her experience with anxiety and depression. 

Lou and I refer to that Catch-22 as The Swan Effect: you look beautiful and calm on the outside but underneath the surface you are paddling like crazy. I am so excited for you to hear this interview. 

This is part one of this conversation with Lou. Check back next week for part two! 

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• When Lou realized she needed help
• What therapy taught her about anxiety and depression 
• The signs for Lou when she needs to step up her self-care practices 
• How both our larger culture and the culture of the corporate world keep us stuck in performing.

Learn more about Lou Blaser:

• secondbreaks.com

Learn more about Nancy:

• Coach in Your Pocket
• The Happier Approach Book
• Live Happier Website

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Coach in Your Pocket

Helping people with High Functioning Anxiety is a personal mission for me. I have a special place in my heart for this struggle because it’s both something I dealt with unknowingly for years, and because it silently affects so many people who think this is just how it is.  

Working with me this way is an incredibly efficient and effective way to deal with your anxiety in the moment–without waiting for your next appointment.

I have been doing this work for over 20 years and

Visit: https://NancyJaneSmith.com
Learn More About Self Loyalty School: https://selfloyaltyschool.com