(Especially If You’re Afraid of the Panic Attacks Coming Back)

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re the kind of person who gets things done. You’re reliable. You’re committed. You hold yourself to a high standard. People trust you because you always show up.  Often more than you have capacity for.

But here’s the thing most people around you don’t see:

You don’t actually want to be working at this pace.
You don’t want to feel like things could fall apart if you slow down.
And you definitely don’t want to get anywhere near the edge of panic again.

The fear is real:
“If I stop pushing so hard… will everything fall apart?”
“If I ease off… will I lose my edge?”
“If I rest… will I get left behind?”

This blog is here to help you understand why you feel like this and how to break the cycle without sacrificing your ambition, success, or ability to perform at a high level.

Why High-Performers Overwork (Even When They Don’t Want To)

Most chronic overworking patterns aren’t actually about ambition.
They’re about safety.

For many people I work with, overworking is tied to:

• A fear of being judged or letting people down

• A belief they need to prove their worth

• Anxiety about things going wrong

• A nervous system stuck in “fight-or-flight” mode

• Past experiences where slowing down didn’t feel safe

• A perfectionist streak that’s been rewarded for years

Overworking becomes the coping strategy that keeps panic at bay.  Until it doesn’t.

The truth?

Your work ethic isn’t the problem.
Your nervous system overload is.

 The Real Reason It Feels Dangerous to Slow Down

You’re not imagining it; slowing down does feel uncomfortable at first.  It is literally out of your comfort zone.

To a dysregulated nervous system, stillness feels unsafe.
Your body thinks:

• “If I don’t stay ahead, something bad might happen.”

• “If I stop, all the spinning plates will fall.”

• “If I rest, I’ll lose my momentum.”

This is why the idea of pulling back (even slightly) can trigger the same uncomfortable sensations that precede a panic attack.

But here’s the good news:

You can train your nervous system to feel safe while you gently step outside of that comfort zone.
You can recover your calm and keep your edge.

How to Stop Overworking Without Losing Your Edge

These strategies don’t require quitting your job, lowering your standards, or suddenly becoming someone who “doesn’t care.” You get to keep your ambition, just without the panic.

1. Learn to Work “From Regulation” Instead of “From Survival”

High performers thrive when their nervous system is calm, steady and focused, NOT when it’s overloaded.

A regulated nervous system makes you:

• more productive

• more creative

• more decisive

• more resilient

• less prone to burnout or anxiety

This isn’t about working less.
It’s about working differently.

Even 2–3 minutes of nervous-system regulation before you start a task can change your whole day.

Examples include:

• Slow belly breathing, or box breathing.

• Grounding your feet (standing barefoot outside is my favourite)

• A brief walk – looking up and around you.

• Body scanning

It’s subtle… but powerful.

2. Redefine “Success” Without Losing Ambition

A lot of overworking comes from outdated internal rules such as:

• “I’m only valuable when I’m achieving.”

• “I have to be strong all the time.”

• “If it’s not perfect, I’ve failed.”

• “Resting is lazy.”

These beliefs may have helped you survive earlier chapters of your life, but they’re not helping you thrive now.

Releasing these beliefs doesn’t make you less driven.
It makes you more effective.

The truth is that “success” is totally subjective, and trying to be “successful” can be like trying to fill a bottomless pit.  Try leaning into your heart and what it is telling you about your worth, instead of seeing success as the only thing that matters to your sense of self.

3. Build a New Relationship With Rest

Rest isn’t an obstacle to your success.
Rest is the fuel for your success.

Your edge comes from clarity, energy, intuition, leadership, all things that a rested nervous system provides more of, not less.

Try reframing rest as:

• a strategy, not a luxury

• a performance tool, not a weakness

• your competitive advantage, not your downfall

Think of rest like servicing your car.  You wouldn’t skip that and just keep driving indefinitely.  It is essential maintenance. 

4. Create Boundaries That Protect Your Energy (Not Your Productivity)

Most people create boundaries that protect their output.
High performers need boundaries that protect their nervous system.

This might look like:

• No longer replying instantly

• Scheduling deep work instead of multitasking

• Leaving the office on time 3 days a week

• Not saying yes until you’ve taken a breath

• Setting gentle limits with clients, teammates or family

Small boundaries = huge internal safety.

5. Get Support to Break the Pattern

Overworking is often rooted in old emotional patterns that can’t be shifted by reading tips or downloading templates.

They change when:

• Your nervous system is supported

• Your core beliefs are challenged with compassion

• You learn to feel safe without constant doing

• You’re held accountable to healthier rhythms

• You have someone helping you create a plan that doesn’t burn you out

This is where coaching can be life-changing.

It’s not about making you “less ambitious.”
It’s about making you more powerful, more grounded, and more you.  Without the panic.

What Happens When You Stop Overworking (and Still Keep Your Edge)

People who do this work often report:

✨ fewer panic sensations
✨ more clarity and confidence
✨ better decision-making
✨ more time for life and family
✨ deeper self-trust
✨ more focus
✨ better boundaries
✨ more consistent success
✨ feeling calm and grounded
✨ feeling worthy without needing to prove anything

And here’s the beautiful part:

You don’t actually lose your edge.
You gain a sharper one.

If This Spoke to You, Coaching Might Be Your Next Step

If you’re recognising yourself in this pattern (the overworking, the fear of slowing down, the worry about panic returning) you’re not alone, and you’re not broken.

This is exactly the kind of work I do with my clients:

• nervous-system regulation

• stress unravelling

• shifting unconscious patterns

• building a healthier way of succeeding

• planning, strategy and accountability

• reconnecting with your inner worth

• rebuilding a sense of safety in yourself

If you’d like support breaking out of this cycle, you’re welcome to reach out and we can explore whether coaching might be the right next step for you.

Until then, be gentle with yourself.
Your worth has never depended on how hard you push.