Episode 16: Overcoming High Functioning Anxiety with Heather Rider
When I was in my twenties, I had joined a tennis league. I used to drive 45 min from my office on a Monday night to play the weekly matches. On Wednesdays, I spent another hour taking tennis lessons to improve my game. When I think about it, I marvel at my ability to leave work behind and commit to doing something in my evenings. Now when I make plans on a weeknight, I find myself feeling guilty and wanting to get back to my desk as soon as possible to get a little more work done and be a little more prepared for tomorrow. No matter how much fun I am having, this low hum of anxiety plays in the background. Over time I have realized that anxiety is a bit like leaked makeup in your purse - it is going to leave a mark on everything, your health, relationships, sleep, and work.
So I felt fortunate to come across Heather Rider, an anxiety coach. When Heather described to me what high functioning anxiety is (a form of anxiety that afflicts high achievers as they struggle to consistently meet their own high standards), I instantly recognized the symptoms in myself. Her story inspired me to question what I had accepted as “normal” and to work towards turning off this constant voice in my head asking me to do more.
Heather Rider is an anxiety coach and Imposter Syndrome educator who personally overcame high-functioning anxiety and Imposter Syndrome while working in a demanding Tech job. She works with clients from all over the world who want to take a nontraditional, holistic approach to healing anxiety. She regularly writes and presents on the issues of perfectionism, Imposter Syndrome, high-functioning anxiety and other anxiety related topics.
You can learn more about Heather and her coaching practice, and sign up for your free transformation call on her website. You can also follow Heather on social media - LinkedIn, Facebook and Pinterest. I would highly recommend watching the videos on her YouTube channel. One of my favorites is Top Three Reasons You Ruminate. Heather’s story of ruminating about conversations with her mother-in-law really resonated with me. It has made me more aware of such conversations I have in my head!
If you have any comments about the episode or would like to share your own story, please share below. I would love to hear from you!
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