Calmly Coping

Tatiana Garcia

Calmly Coping is the go-to podcast for high-achieving professionals who look like they have it all together—but inside, they're overthinking, self-doubting, and feeling the weight of constant pressure. I'm Tati Garcia, a licensed therapist and coach specializing in high-functioning anxiety. I help ambitious professionals break free from the cycle of overworking, overthinking, and never feeling good enough, so you can cultivate confidence, balance, and peace—without sacrificing success. If you struggle with: ✔ Overanalyzing everything and second-guessing yourself ✔ Feeling stuck in busyness but unsure how to slow down ✔ Putting immense pressure on yourself to always do more ✔ Trouble relaxing, switching off, or setting boundaries ✔ Self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and fear of failure Then you're in the right place. Each bite-sized, evidence-based episode is designed to help you manage anxiety, improve focus and performance, communicate more confidently, and build the inner calm you crave. New episodes every Wednesday. Hit follow and start breaking free from the anxiety-driven cycle today.

  1. 7H AGO

    How to Stay Calm in a High-Pressure Work Environment

    High-pressure environments don't just demand more of your time, they demand more of you. And when the pressure is constant, it's easy to start living in survival mode… pushing through, tightening your grip, and telling yourself you just need to be tougher. In this episode, we're looking at what actually helps you stay calm in high-pressure environments, so you can stay grounded, think clearly, and protect your energy without burning out. In this episode, you will learn: What it actually means to stay calm in high-pressure environments How to reduce internal pressure without avoiding responsibility Practical ways to protect your energy and boundaries at work 📝 Free Workbook: From Pressure to Ease: A short guided reset to help you soften internal pressure and feel more at ease without dropping the ball: https://calmlycoping.com/pressure 00:00 Introduction to High Pressure Environments 00:58 Understanding High Pressure Environments 01:59 The Harmful Effects of Pushing Through 02:31 Defining Calm in High Pressure Situations 03:51 Addressing Fear and Clarity in the Workplace 05:05 Practical Tips for Staying Calm 06:42 Setting and Protecting Boundaries 07:55 Acting from Intention and Courage 09:25 Managing Internal Pressure 11:43 Conclusion and Additional Resources   ——————— Calmly Coping is a self-improvement podcast for high achievers who struggle with high-functioning anxiety to help you feel more calm, balanced, and confident from within. ——————— 💬 Submit a message, question, or suggestion to the podcast: https://calmlycoping.com/message ——————— Want more? 👩🏽‍💻 Work with me: My mission is to help you decrease your anxiety, declutter your mind, and say hello to a life of calm and balance.  Learn more about my coaching, therapy, and course offerings here: https://becalmwithtati.com/work-with-me 👥 Join the Calmly Coping Group: The free supportive community for high-achievers with high-functioning anxiety. Join Today: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CalmlyCoping 📝 Take the Free High-Functioning Anxiety Quiz: http://hfaquiz.com ——————— Say hi on social: 🔗 Website: https://becalmwithtati.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/tatianaglpc 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatianaglpc/ 📌 Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tatianaglpc ——————— Intro/Outro Music: Rescue Me (Instrumental) by Aussens@iter (c) copyright 2018 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/tobias_weber/57990 Ft: Copperhead Disclaimer All content here is for informational purposes only. This content does not replace the professional judgment of your own mental health provider. Please consult a licensed mental health professional for all individual questions and issues.

    13 min
  2. JAN 28

    Demand Sensitivity: Why You Feel Constant Pressure

    If you've ever felt like your to-do list keeps growing even when no one is actually asking anything of you… like everything somehow turns into a demand the moment it enters your awareness, this episode is for you. We're going to talk about something called demand sensitivity: why pressure can feel so intense and how to start shifting out of 'should mode' so your life feels lighter and more intentional. In this episode, you will learn: What demand sensitivity is and why pressure feels so intense How "should mode" creates overwhelm, guilt, and resistance How to start shifting your relationship with demands so you feel more ease and choice   Mentioned in Episode: 📝 Free Workbook: From Pressure to Ease: A short guided reset to help you soften internal pressure and feel more at ease without dropping the ball: https://calmlycoping.com/pressure How to Be Enough by Ellen Hendriksen: https://bookshop.org/a/87936/9781250291875 Do You Have Unrealistic Expectations? https://www.becalmwithtati.com/unrealistic-expectations/ YouTube: https://youtu.be/xEkbSU53zJo Source: https://www.focusbear.io/blog-post/understanding-and-managing-demand-resistance-in-personal-and-professional-life   00:00 Introduction to Demand Sensitivity 00:53 Understanding Demand Sensitivity 02:20 Personal Experience with Demand Sensitivity 02:52 Why Demand Sensitivity Happens 03:30 Impact of Demand Sensitivity 04:12 Demand Resistance 05:04 Roots of Demand Sensitivity and Resistance 06:26 Shifting Out of Demand Sensitivity 06:38 Tips for Managing Demand Sensitivity 10:49 Conclusion and Next Steps ——————— Calmly Coping is a self-improvement podcast for high achievers who struggle with high-functioning anxiety to help you feel more calm, balanced, and confident from within. ——————— 💬 Submit a message, question, or suggestion to the podcast: https://calmlycoping.com/message ——————— Want more? 👩🏽‍💻 Work with me: My mission is to help you decrease your anxiety, declutter your mind, and say hello to a life of calm and balance.  Learn more about my coaching, therapy, and course offerings here: https://becalmwithtati.com/work-with-me 👥 Join the Calmly Coping Group: The free supportive community for high-achievers with high-functioning anxiety. Join Today: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CalmlyCoping 📝 Take the Free High-Functioning Anxiety Quiz: http://hfaquiz.com ——————— Say hi on social: 🔗 Website: https://becalmwithtati.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/tatianaglpc 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatianaglpc/ 📌 Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tatianaglpc ——————— Intro/Outro Music: Rescue Me (Instrumental) by Aussens@iter (c) copyright 2018 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/tobias_weber/57990 Ft: Copperhead Disclaimer All content here is for informational purposes only. This content does not replace the professional judgment of your own mental health provider. Please consult a licensed mental health professional for all individual questions and issues. *Links included in these show notes may be affiliate links. This means that I may earn a small commission for purchases made using these links (at no additional cost to you). All products that I share are products I use, love, and recommend.

    12 min
  3. JAN 21

    Why You Always Feel Behind (and How to Break the Cycle)

    If you've ever felt like no matter how much you get done, you're still somehow behind—behind in your work, behind in your life, behind where you think you should be—this episode is for you. We're going to look at why that "never enough" feeling shows up, how patterns like over-responsibility early in life, conditional validation, and fear-based survival wire us into always pushing and never quite feeling caught up, and how simply understanding this can start to soften the cycle you've been stuck in.   In this episode, you will learn: Why the feeling of being "behind" has so little to do with your actual productivity, and so much to do with how you learned to stay safe and valued The three core patterns that wire high-achievers into constant pressure, overdoing, and never feeling like enough How understanding where this cycle came from can start to loosen its grip, so you can relate to yourself with more compassion and less self-blame   ✨ Remember: You are exactly where you need to be right now. ✨   00:00 Introduction: The Never Enough Feeling 01:20 Understanding the Feeling of Being Behind 03:18 Core Patterns Leading to Overwhelm 03:32 Over Responsibility in Childhood 05:10 Conditional or Inconsistent Validation 06:13 Fear-Based Survival 07:19 Breaking the Cycle and Self-Compassion 08:52 Re-Parenting and Self-Acceptance 10:37 Conclusion and Next Steps ——————— Calmly Coping is a self-improvement podcast for high achievers who struggle with high-functioning anxiety to help you feel more calm, balanced, and confident from within. ——————— 💌 Subscribe to the Calmly Coping Newsletter: https://calmlycoping.com/newsletter 💬 Submit a message, question, or suggestion to the podcast: https://calmlycoping.com/message ——————— Want more? 👩🏽‍💻 Work with me: My mission is to help you decrease your anxiety, declutter your mind, and say hello to a life of calm and balance.  Learn more about my coaching, therapy, and course offerings here: https://becalmwithtati.com/work-with-me 👥 Join the Calmly Coping Group: The free supportive community for high-achievers with high-functioning anxiety. Join Today: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CalmlyCoping 📝 Take the Free High-Functioning Anxiety Quiz: http://hfaquiz.com ——————— Say hi on social: 🔗 Website: https://becalmwithtati.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/tatianaglpc 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatianaglpc/ 📌 Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tatianaglpc ——————— Intro/Outro Music: Rescue Me (Instrumental) by Aussens@iter (c) copyright 2018 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/tobias_weber/57990 Ft: Copperhead Disclaimer All content here is for informational purposes only. This content does not replace the professional judgment of your own mental health provider. Please consult a licensed mental health professional for all individual questions and issues.

    12 min
  4. JAN 14

    How Chronic Stress Disrupts Cortisol—and What Actually Helps with Marina Wright

    If you're feeling exhausted but still pushing through, this episode is for you. I'm joined by Marina Wright, functional nutrition practitioner and author of The Cortisol Reset Plan, to explore what your stress symptoms are really trying to tell you. We talk about how chronic stress affects the body and brain, why cortisol isn't the enemy, and how small, compassionate shifts in nutrition, lifestyle, and nervous system regulation can help you rebuild resilience from the inside out.   In this episode, you'll learn: Why stress isn't always bad, and how resilience depends on recovery The difference between high and low cortisol symptoms (and why many people experience both) How ultra-processed foods, blood sugar swings, and circadian disruption add hidden stress to the body Simple nutrition and lifestyle shifts that support cortisol balance without perfectionism Why healing from burnout requires both physical and nervous system support   About the Guest: Marina Wright is a functional nutrition practitioner, health coach, and author of The Cortisol Reset Plan. She helps people build resilience to physical and psychological stress to support lasting physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Marina bridges science and holistic healing, translating complex research into simple, sustainable daily habits that empower people to feel better without overwhelm. Connect with Marina: Book: The Cortisol Reset Plan: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-cortisol-reset-plan-marina-wright?variant=43106558869538 Website: https://www.marinawright.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marinawrightwellness/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marinawrightwellness   00:00 Introduction to Stress and Cortisol 04:01 Symptoms of Chronic Stress 14:00 High vs. Low Cortisol Symptoms 16:53 Strategies to Manage Stress 23:41 Nutritional Tips for Reducing Stress 36:27 Five Steps to Reduce Stress and Improve Health 37:27 Balancing Blood Sugar for Better Health 42:24 Regulating Your Circadian Rhythm 51:08 Exercise and Nervous System Regulation 52:48 Conclusion and Final Thoughts ——————— Calmly Coping is a self-improvement podcast for high achievers who struggle with high-functioning anxiety to help you feel more calm, balanced, and confident from within. ——————— 💌 Subscribe to the Calmly Coping Newsletter: https://calmlycoping.com/newsletter 💬 Submit a message, question, or suggestion to the podcast: https://calmlycoping.com/message ——————— Want more? 👩🏽‍💻 Work with me: My mission is to help you decrease your anxiety, declutter your mind, and say hello to a life of calm and balance.  Learn more about my coaching, therapy, and course offerings here: https://becalmwithtati.com/work-with-me 👥 Join the Calmly Coping Group: The free supportive community for high-achievers with high-functioning anxiety. Join Today: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CalmlyCoping 📝 Take the Free High-Functioning Anxiety Quiz: http://hfaquiz.com ——————— Say hi on social: 🔗 Website: https://becalmwithtati.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/tatianaglpc 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatianaglpc/ 📌 Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tatianaglpc ——————— Intro/Outro Music: Rescue Me (Instrumental) by Aussens@iter (c) copyright 2018 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/tobias_weber/57990 Ft: Copperhead Disclaimer All content here is for informational purposes only. This content does not replace the professional judgment of your own mental health provider. Please consult a licensed mental health professional for all individual questions and issues.

    54 min
  5. JAN 7

    How to Prioritize Your Nervous System as a High Achiever

    If you're constantly pushing yourself to do more but still feel anxious, overwhelmed, or exhausted, this episode is for you. I'm sharing why your nervous system—not your productivity—is the real foundation for feeling calm, balanced, and confident. You'll learn how chronic stress keeps your body stuck in survival mode and three practical, realistic ways to regulate your nervous system, even if your life feels busy or out of control.   In this episode, you will learn: Why focusing only on goals and productivity can keep you stuck in survival mode Three practical ways to regulate your nervous system using your body, environment, and thoughts How small, consistent shifts create more calm, clarity, and resilience over time ——————— Calmly Coping is a self-improvement podcast for high achievers who struggle with high-functioning anxiety to help you feel more calm, balanced, and confident from within. ———————   ✨ Enroll in the Calm & Ambitious Resource Vault: https://www.calmlycoping.com/vault 💬 Submit a message, question, or suggestion to the podcast: https://calmlycoping.com/message   ——————— 00:00 Introduction: The Importance of Your Nervous System 00:48 Welcome to Calmly Coping 01:16 Understanding Your Nervous System 03:25 The Impact of a Dysregulated Nervous System 05:25 Three Ways to Regulate Your Nervous System 09:33 Creating a Supportive Environment 12:21 Mind Your Thoughts 15:32 Conclusion and Additional Resources   ——————— Want more? 👩🏽‍💻 Work with me: My mission is to help you decrease your anxiety, declutter your mind, and say hello to a life of calm and balance.  Learn more about my coaching, therapy, and course offerings here: https://becalmwithtati.com/work-with-me 👥 Join the Calmly Coping Group: The free supportive community for high-achievers with high-functioning anxiety. Join Today: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CalmlyCoping 📝 Take the Free High-Functioning Anxiety Quiz: http://hfaquiz.com   ——————— My favorite tools: 🧘🏽‍♀️ Mindfulness Meditation App*: https://mindfulnesscom-partner-program.pxf.io/x97kyd ✅ Todoist To-Do List App*: https://get.todoist.io/8e7o0ay8n081   ——————— Say hi on social: 🔗 Website: https://becalmwithtati.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/tatianaglpc 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatianaglpc/ 📌 Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tatianaglpc   ——————— Intro/Outro Music: Rescue Me (Instrumental) by Aussens@iter (c) copyright 2018 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/tobias_weber/57990 Ft: Copperhead Disclaimer All content here is for informational purposes only. This content does not replace the professional judgment of your own mental health provider. Please consult a licensed mental health professional for all individual questions and issues. *Links included in these show notes may be affiliate links. This means that I may earn a small commission for purchases made using these links (at no additional cost to you). All products that I share are products I use, love, and recommend.

    17 min
  6. 12/03/2025

    Metrics Are Making You Miserable

    Metrics and "self-tracking" could be making you miserable. In recent years we have seen the rise of tracking metrics such as sleep, mood, habits, steps, water intake, and so much more, along with the pursuit of maintaining streaks, closing your rings, and other ways of gamifying health and wellness habits. However, if you struggle with perfectionism or are a high achiever, these forms of improving your physical and mental health could be causing you more pressure, guilt, and self-criticism than you realize. In this episode, I'll be diving into why, along with how you can use digital tools more mindfully to support your health and well-being, rather than sabotaging them.   In this episode, you will learn: How metric-tracking can negatively reinforce perfectionism The harmful mental health effects of streaks and the gamification of mental and physical health How to use digital tools intentionally, rather than having them control you   Related episodes: When "Balance" Becomes Unhealthy: https://www.becalmwithtati.com/unhealthy-balance/ YouTube: https://youtu.be/NuVSTYstoX4 The Balance Between Self-Compassion & Discipline in Getting Things Done: https://www.becalmwithtati.com/self-compassion-discipline/ YouTube: https://youtu.be/riJqMgaC3rI   Sources: Experiences of using mental health apps to support psychological health and well-being: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/19367244231196768 Self-criticism, goal motivation, and goal progress: https://selfdeterminationtheory.org/SDT/documents/2007_PowersKoestnerZuroff_JSCP.pdf Perfectionism and Eating Disorder Tendencies In Calorie-Tracking App Users: https://research.ebsco.com/c/5x2dc3/search/details/owh4uehmnj?db=aph Research on self-compassion: https://self-compassion.org/what-is-self-compassion/#research-on-self-compassion   Mentioned in episode: Finch App: https://finchcare.com/ How We Feel App: https://howwefeel.org/   ——————— Calmly Coping is a self-improvement podcast for high achievers who struggle with high-functioning anxiety to help you feel more calm, balanced, and confident from within. ———————   📝 Do You Have High-Functioning Anxiety? Take the Free Quiz: http://hfaquiz.com 💬 Submit a message, question, or suggestion to the podcast: https://calmlycoping.com/message ———————   Want more?   👩🏽‍💻 Work with me: My mission is to help you decrease your anxiety, declutter your mind, and say hello to a life of calm and balance.  Learn more about my coaching, therapy, and course offerings here: https://becalmwithtati.com/work-with-me   👥 Join the Calmly Coping Group: The free supportive community for high-achievers with high-functioning anxiety. Join Today: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CalmlyCoping   📝 Take the Free High-Functioning Anxiety Quiz: http://hfaquiz.com ———————   My favorite tools: 🧘🏽‍♀️ Mindfulness Meditation App*: https://mindfulnesscom-partner-program.pxf.io/x97kyd ✅ Todoist To-Do List App*: https://get.todoist.io/8e7o0ay8n081 ———————   Say hi on social: 🔗 Website: https://becalmwithtati.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/tatianaglpc 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatianaglpc/ 📌 Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tatianaglpc ———————   Intro/Outro Music: Rescue Me (Instrumental) by Aussens@iter (c) copyright 2018 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/tobias_weber/57990 Ft: Copperhead   Disclaimer All content here is for informational purposes only. This content does not replace the professional judgment of your own mental health provider. Please consult a licensed mental health professional for all individual questions and issues.   *Links included in these show notes may be affiliate links. This means that I may earn a small commission for purchases made using these links (at no additional cost to you). All products that I share are products I use, love, and recommend.

    14 min
  7. 11/26/2025

    Should You Use ChatGPT for Therapy?

    Increasingly more and more people are chatting with AI to help them talk through and manage mental health struggles. But is this okay? Does it actually help? And on the flip side — does it pose any dangers to your mental health? In this episode, I'm diving deep into whether or not using ChatGPT, or any AI bot, for therapy is a wise choice, along with the potential consequences.   In this episode, you will learn: The risks of using AI for therapy The differences between chatting with AI and going to therapy Future considerations to use AI for mental health   *** Correction: In this episode, I mention "a teen who killed his mother," but the case involved an adult, not a teen.   Sources: Talk Therapy, Meet ChatGPT: https://research.ebsco.com/c/5x2dc3/viewer/html/q342kfukw5 Gen Z is increasingly turning to ChatGPT for affordable on-demand therapy, but licensed therapists say there are dangers many aren't considering: https://research.ebsco.com/c/5x2dc3/viewer/html/gatwdcpoon AI chatbots are sycophants — researchers say it's harming science: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03390-0   Mentioned in episode: The Shallows by Nicholas Carr: https://www.nicholascarr.com/?page_id=16 Smartphone Anxiety Is Real — Here's What Helped Me: https://www.becalmwithtati.com/phone-boundaries/ YouTube: https://youtu.be/xnkSGAk2ufo   Therapy Directories: Open Path Collective – Low-cost therapy directory: https://openpathcollective.org Psychology Today Therapist Directory – https://psychologytoday.com TherapyDen – Inclusive therapist directory: https://therapyden.com Inclusive Therapists – Focused on cultural responsiveness + trauma-informed care: https://inclusivetherapists.com Mental Health Match – Matches you with therapists in your area: https://mentalhealthmatch.com Clinicians of Color Directory – https://www.cliniciansofcolor.org National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network (NQTTCN) – https://nqttcn.com OpenCounseling – Low-cost and community-based counseling resources: https://opencounseling.com ———————   Calmly Coping is a self-improvement podcast for high achievers who struggle with high-functioning anxiety to help you feel more calm, balanced, and confident from within. ———————   💬 Submit a message, question, or suggestion to the podcast: https://calmlycoping.com/message ———————   Want more?   👩🏽‍💻 Work with me: My mission is to help you decrease your anxiety, declutter your mind, and say hello to a life of calm and balance.  Learn more about my coaching, therapy, and course offerings here: https://becalmwithtati.com/work-with-me   👥 Join the Calmly Coping Group: The free supportive community for high-achievers with high-functioning anxiety. Join Today: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CalmlyCoping   📝 Take the Free High-Functioning Anxiety Quiz: http://hfaquiz.com ———————   My favorite tools: 🧘🏽‍♀️ Mindfulness Meditation App*: https://mindfulnesscom-partner-program.pxf.io/x97kyd ✅ Todoist To-Do List App*: https://get.todoist.io/8e7o0ay8n081 ———————   Say hi on social: 🔗 Website: https://becalmwithtati.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/tatianaglpc 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatianaglpc/ 📌 Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tatianaglpc ———————   Intro/Outro Music: Rescue Me (Instrumental) by Aussens@iter (c) copyright 2018 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/tobias_weber/57990 Ft: Copperhead   Disclaimer All content here is for informational purposes only. This content does not replace the professional judgment of your own mental health provider. Please consult a licensed mental health professional for all individual questions and issues.   *Links included in these show notes may be affiliate links. This means that I may earn a small commission for purchases made using these links (at no additional cost to you). All products that I share are products I use, love, and recommend.

    16 min
5
out of 5
45 Ratings

About

Calmly Coping is the go-to podcast for high-achieving professionals who look like they have it all together—but inside, they're overthinking, self-doubting, and feeling the weight of constant pressure. I'm Tati Garcia, a licensed therapist and coach specializing in high-functioning anxiety. I help ambitious professionals break free from the cycle of overworking, overthinking, and never feeling good enough, so you can cultivate confidence, balance, and peace—without sacrificing success. If you struggle with: ✔ Overanalyzing everything and second-guessing yourself ✔ Feeling stuck in busyness but unsure how to slow down ✔ Putting immense pressure on yourself to always do more ✔ Trouble relaxing, switching off, or setting boundaries ✔ Self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and fear of failure Then you're in the right place. Each bite-sized, evidence-based episode is designed to help you manage anxiety, improve focus and performance, communicate more confidently, and build the inner calm you crave. New episodes every Wednesday. Hit follow and start breaking free from the anxiety-driven cycle today.

You Might Also Like