This is YOUR BRAIN on ANXIETY

Anxiety is an experience familiar to high-performing professionals in business, sports, and the arts—whether it’s preparing for a big presentation, stepping onto the field, or performing on stage. While some stress can fuel your performance, persistent anxiety has deeper effects on the brain, impacting how you think, react, and ultimately perform.

But wait...before we get into what happens to your brain when anxiety takes hold, lets troubleshoot the difference between being ANXIOUS and NERVOUS.

At first glance, “nervous” and “anxious” seem like interchangeable terms. Both may involve that feeling of a racing heart, sweaty palms, or tension before a big event.

Nervousness, however, is a temporary response to a particular situation. You’re nervous before a competition or a big speech, but the feeling dissipates once you begin or complete the task. It’s fleeting and usually

Anxiety, on the other hand, tends to be persistent and doesn’t necessarily need a trigger. It can come on even without a clear reason, affecting your day-to-day life and performance over time. Anxiety tends to be rooted in worry about potential threats or outcomes, even when there’s no immediate cause, which makes it more pervasive and disruptive.

SO IF WE WERE TO START OVER...

Are you ANXIOUS or are you NERVOUS?

The Physical Experience of Anxiety in the Brain

Anxiety can feel like your mind is running at full speed, yet unable to catch up. It’s like spinning wheels without traction: you’re mentally exhausted, but can’t slow down. You might feel scattered or hyper-aware of small things, like a minor mistake or a critical comment. For some, anxiety can feel like a fog, while for others, it’s an unrelenting tension. It’s a mental weight that impacts how you respond to challenges and how you engage with opportunities.

What Anxiety Does to Your Brain

The brain is deeply involved in both the emotional and physiological experience of anxiety. Here are a few major areas of the brain impacted when anxiety sets in:

Amygdala: The Fear Center

???The part of the brain responsible for processing emotions, especially fear. When you’re anxious, your amygdala can become hyperactive, reacting to perceived threats, even when they’re minor or imagined. For a high achiever, this can mean heightened sensitivity to feedback, perceived failure, or anticipation of criticism—creating a loop where the brain stays on high alert.

Prefrontal Cortex: Decision-Making and Reasoning

???The part where critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving happen. Anxiety decreases the efficiency of this area, making it harder to make decisions, focus, and remain calm under pressure. You might find yourself overthinking, doubting, or avoiding tasks altogether. For professionals, this may mean second-guessing choices, struggling with focus, or feeling paralyzed when faced with challenges.

Hippocampus: Memory and Learning

???The part that is responsible for storing memories. When anxiety is persistent, the hippocampus can actually shrink, impacting memory retention and recall. For a high performer, this can mean struggling to remember details, losing track of steps in a strategy, or forgetting important details—things that can negatively impact performance and confidence.

Cortisol Flooding: The Stress Hormone

???When you’re anxious, the brain releases cortisol, a hormone intended to help you manage stress. While cortisol is helpful in small doses (it gets you moving in emergencies), chronic anxiety keeps cortisol levels elevated. High cortisol over long periods can impair cognitive function, increase fatigue, and even weaken the immune system. This state of constant readiness can drain your energy and focus, leading to burnout or fatigue.

Saying Goodbye to Performance Anxiety

While anxiety and nervousness is natural, chronic anxiety has a real, measurable impact on the brain and your performance. Recognizing and managing anxiety can help you transform it from a disruptor into a more manageable part of your experience as a high performer.

By learning to interpret anxiety as a signal rather than a threat, you allow yourself to stay focused, resilient, and fully engaged with the demands of your field.

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