5 Myths that Keep Anxious High-Achieving Women From Starting Anxiety Therapy in Austin
From the outside, you look like you’ve got it all together. You’re the one juggling the family schedules, multiple deadlines, staying on top of your inbox, and showing up for friends and family. But on the inside? It’s a different story. The anxiety, overthinking, perfectionism, and exhaustion that a nap won’t fix are invisible to others, but leave you feeling drained.
And yet, the thought of going to therapy feels….. complicated.
You may have questioned if therapy is even “for you.” You may have brushed it off, telling yourself that you “should” be able to handle this on your own. Or maybe the thought of trying to squeeze an hour of therapy into your already overcommitted schedule feels impossible. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many ambitious and high-achieving driven women hesitate to seek therapy. This blog covers some of the most common myths that keep high-achieving women from getting the support they desperately need and deserve.
1. I Don’t Have the Time
Your calendar is already overbooked, and there is no way you can fit in one more thing, let alone an hour (maybe more for traveling) for therapy. Not having the time to go to therapy is a common concern for many high-achieving women. They’re already feeling burnt out so the thought of adding one more thing to their schedule feels immensely overwhelming.
Reality: You have to make the time to invest in yourself. You likely have more availability than you think you do. But because you are ambitious, driven and dependable (maybe people-pleasing), you take on more than you need to. Not having time for yourself and your needs is the exact thing that you need to be working on in therapy. For my high-achieving clients, online therapy provides them the convenience and flexibility to get their needs met in therapy without sacrificing their productivity.
Gentle suggestion: Therapy is just one hour once a week. And yet, working with an anxiety therapist will have a massive impact on all areas of your life.
2. My Anxiety Isn’t That Bad
You think to yourself that your anxiety isn’t really that bad because you still get things done. You perform well at work, juggle a social life with your professional one, and still have so many goals you want to achieve. You’re not having public panic attacks and most people in your life would be shocked to know that you are struggling with anxiety. You might even think to yourself, “It’s not that bad.”
Reality: Therapy isn’t a last resort. And waiting until you are absolutely burnt out and wanting to run away into the forest isn’t helping. Believe me, I know. Starting therapy before have the desire to quit your job and live off the grid can help you prevent running yourself into the ground.
Gentle Suggestion: Don’t wait until you are at your breaking point. Now is a great time to start therapy.
3. Therapy Will Make Me Less Productive
You love feeling productive, accomplished, and crossing things off your to-do list. So the thought of starting therapy fills you with anxiety and fear. Fear that if you start seeing a therapist, you will somehow lose all your productivity or you will fall behind. Many high-achieving women fear that anxiety and perfectionism help them succeed and fear that therapy will take that away.
Reality: Therapy helps you be productive without running yourself into the ground. My goal for clients isn’t to get rid of their driven parts; it’s to help them channel their ambition more effectively so that success doesn’t come at the cost of their health, relationships, or joy.
Gentle Suggestion: Slowing down and focusing on your needs won’t make you less productive. What’s something you can take off your schedule or delegate so you can focus on yourself and be more productive?
4. I Should Be Able To Do This On My Own
Despite your success, you feel like everyone else has it together better than you. And you’re secretly worried what others would think if they knew how much you were struggling. Maybe others have told you to “just focus on the positive” when you’ve tried to open up. Or maybe you are the one that others turn to for support so you feel like you should be able to handle your own anxiety. This thinking trap is a common reason why many anxious high-achieving women may struggle reaching out for support.
Reality: Everyone needs support. The world’s best athletes, CEOs, top performers, and high-earners all need support. Most folks are great at being supportive, kind, and compassionate toward others who need support. But when it comes to ourselves, we struggle. Therapy is a great place for you to get the unique kind of support that you need.
Gentle Suggestion: Don’t be your own therapist. Work with an anxiety therapist.
5. Talking Won’t Change Anything
Maybe you’ve tried therapy before and felt like it didn’t work. Or maybe you question how “talking to a stranger” will actually help. Bad experiences in therapy in the past can make it harder to seek out support when you need it. And not knowing what therapy truly is like and how it can help, can also make it hard to start therapy.
Reality: Therapy is more than just venting. Modern therapy provides effective strategies for managing anxiety, setting boundaries, and rewiring unhelpful thought patterns. I help clients get to the root of their anxiety and self-doubt so they can be more productive without fear keeping them stuck.
Gentle Suggestion: When you start therapy, give it a few weeks to see how it feels before deciding that it won’t work. Also, make sure you find a therapist that YOU feel comfortable working with.
Final Thoughts
These myths keep so many brilliant women stuck in cycles of anxiety, overwork, and burnout. Therapy isn’t about admitting that something is wrong—it’s about giving yourself the tools to succeed without sacrificing your health, relationships, or joy.
If you’ve been waiting for “the right time” or telling yourself you don’t really need therapy, consider this your sign: you don’t have to keep paddling frantically under the surface. Therapy is here to help you stop surviving and start thriving. To learn more about how anxious high-achieving women benefit from anxiety, you can read more here.
Tackle Your Anxiety with Therapy for Anxiety in Austin and throughout the state of TX!
I work with clients like you, anxious high-performing women who are ready to go beyond coping skills and heal the root of their anxiety. If you are ready to finally tackle your anxiety, quiet your inner critic that is always telling you “you’re not enough, and truly recover from burnout, I would love to hear from you.
Ready to make a change?
1. Send me a brief message here!
2. I’ll reach out shortly and we will schedule a brief consultation call to ensure that therapy with me will be a good fit.
Other Services Offered by Dr. Molly Moore of Moore Psychotherapy, PLLC
Are you a high-achieving woman who struggles with anxiety, impostor syndrome, and burnout? I’m Dr. Molly Moore, a licensed psychologist in Austin, TX who specializes in working with high-achieving women just like you. In addition to helping clients ditch anxiety with Therapy for Anxiety, I also help women overcome self-doubt and feeling like a fraud with Therapy for Imposter Syndrome. Therapy for Burnout is for women who are exhausted—emotionally and physically—to find relief and be productive without sacrificing their needs. In my practice, I provide Online Therapy in Texas. To learn more about me and the work I do, check out my About Me page and my blog.