Anxious and High-Achieving: Can You Be Both?
Hey everyone! Thank you for tuning into yet another Undergrad Unfiltered Post! I cannot believe this is my fourth post already, and time has flown by so quickly since I first launched this site. I am so excited to discuss this week’s topic with you, so without further ado, let’s get into “Anxiety & High-Achieving: Can You Be Both”?
If someone were to look at your grades, planner, or ability to get things done, they might think, “Wow, they totally have their life together.” But internally? You're one thought away from a crash-out. Sounds familiar? Welcome to the beautiful chaos of being a high-achieving, anxious person. It’s a very real thing. And no, you’re not imagining it or being dramatic. You can be doing well on paper and still be mentally spiraling. And I would know! So, how is it possible that anxiety and success can coexist? Aren’t they supposed to be opposites? Let’s dive into this!
The Anxiety-Achievement Cycle:
There’s this weird cycle that happens when you're both ambitious and anxious. Anxiety fuels your need to get everything done perfectly, so you do. You overwork, over-prepare, and overthink, which leads to good grades or great results. But then, the stakes feel even higher because now there’s something to live up to. So you stay anxious, and the loop continues. Even though anxiety feels like it should make us fall apart, it often pushes us to do more: to be hyper-aware and constantly “on”. And research backs this up: one study found that students with maladaptive perfectionism and test anxiety often still maintain high GPAs, even while struggling internally (Eum & Rice, 2011). So yes, you can be anxious and still achieve. But just because it works doesn’t mean it’s healthy.
Motivation Due to Fear:
A lot of people assume high achievers are just naturally driven people. And while that might be true in some cases, for many of us, success is more about avoiding failure than chasing dreams. It’s not “I want to do well,” it’s “I’m terrified of messing up.” That kind of pressure might get you results, but it’s not exactly sustainable. You're operating from a place of fear, and fear can be exhausting!
The Perfectionism Problem:
Now let’s talk perfectionism, because she’s absolutely at the root of all this. There’s a difference between healthy, motivating perfectionism and the kind that basically eats you alive. Researchers call these adaptive vs. maladaptive perfectionism. Wanting to do your best is great, but believing your worth depends on being perfect? That’s the real problem. One study describes this really well: Perfectionistic strivings (working hard, aiming high) can actually be positive, but when paired with perfectionistic concerns (fear of failure, self-criticism), it leads straight to anxiety and burnout, even in typical high performers (Stoeber & Otto, 2006).
So, How Can We Combat This? :
That’s a bigger question, and one I (and most others) probably don’t have the complete answer to yet. But I do think awareness is the first step. Naming what you’re experiencing, understanding where it comes from, and realizing you’re not the only one is powerful. Maybe it’s giving yourself more grace. Maybe it’s taking one thing off your plate. Maybe it’s redefining what “success” means to you. Maybe it’s just taking a break before launching into the next goal. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
My Take:
So yeah—turns out, you can be anxious and high-achieving. But that doesn’t mean it’s a healthy combo, or something we should normalize. Just because anxiety has helped you stay on top of things doesn’t mean you should have to suffer to succeed. I’m personally still trying to untangle the idea that stress = success. Because honestly, it shouldn’t! You don’t need to be in a constant state of panic to reach your goals (even though it might feel like that’s what’s keeping you going). If you relate to anything I have said throughout this post, just know you’re not alone. You’re human! A very high-functioning, slightly overwhelmed, probably over-caffeinated human ;).
If this post gave you something to think about or just made you feel a little more seen, then I consider that a win in my book. Here’s to choosing goals and peace at the same time.
Love your favorite Undergrad,
Apama <3
References :
Eum, K., & Rice, K. G. (2011). Test anxiety, perfectionism, goal orientation, and academic performance. Anxiety, Stress & Coping, 24(2), 167–178. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2010.488723
Stoeber, J., & Otto, K. (2006). Positive conceptions of perfectionism: Approaches, evidence, challenges. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 10(4), 295–319. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327957pspr1004_2
