Episode 76: High-Functioning Anxiety, with psychologist Dr Lalitaa Suglani. Masking sensitivity, ADHD, and strong emotions. Where HFA comes from, the signs, and what you need to know

What is high-functioning anxiety? Dr Lalitaa Suglani takes us through everything you need to know – how HFA shows up day to day; where it comes from; and what you can do if you think you might have HFA. Dr Suglani is an award-winning psychologist and author of High-Functioning Anxiety: A 5-step guide to calming the inner panic and thriving (Hay House). We get into Dr Lalitaa’s own story of how HFA masked her dyslexia, ADHD, and how perfectionism and people-pleasing were running her life. She shares key actions you can start implementing right away if you recognize HFA in your own life. Poignant and practical. Join us!

1:43 What is HFA?

3:14 What would you be seeing day to day at work with something who has HFA? 

4:28 Does HFA show up the same way for men and women?

6:38 Where HFA might come from.

8:06 Lalitaa’s own story.

15:48 Steps to kick off the “unlearning” part of the process.

19:51 Noticing when you’re catastrophising, and when dysregulation. Shadow work.

22:35 Conscious change. Learning to connect with the body.

26:13 How to sit in difficult emotions.

29:45 Coaching question 1 about people pleasing, being taken advantage of, and resentment. How to shift this.

32:22 Coaching question 2 about fear of confrontation and never learning to use one’s voice.

38:18 Coaching question 3 about having ridiculously high standards. Lowering those standards feels like “I can’t hack it.” Intention instead of anxiety.

39:46 Lalitaa’s brick of wisdom.

Links:

Dr Lalitaa Suglani’s website and book

Dr Lalitaa on Instagram

Dr Mandy Lehto on Instagram

Dr Lalitaa on LinkedIn 

Dr Mandy Lehto on LinkedIn