Anxiety often isn't a brain chemistry issue but a physical stress response. A blood sugar crash or caffeine can trigger a physiological state of emergency, and the mind then invents a psychological narrative (like work stress) to explain the physical sensation.

After retiring from a high-pressure career, elite performers may experience unexpected physical tiredness and stress. This is often the body finally processing suppressed emotions and somatic experiences that were previously masked by the overwhelming focus on a single, all-consuming goal.

The stress and anxiety felt after a sales interaction goes poorly is not a weakness. It signals a high degree of ownership and responsibility—core traits of successful salespeople. Those who feel this pain are more likely to learn, adapt, and ultimately be trusted by clients.

When salespeople consistently procrastinate on activities they know are crucial for success, like making calls or posting on LinkedIn, it's often an indicator of underlying mental health challenges like fear or imposter syndrome, not simply a lack of discipline.

Seemingly harmless habits like excessive social media scrolling, shopping, or overeating can be mechanisms to avoid the fear and anxiety common in high-pressure sales roles. Recognizing these as numbing behaviors is a first step to addressing underlying mental health issues.

Psychologist Dacher Keltner developed dozens of severe panic attacks after moving from California to Wisconsin. The unfamiliar climate and culture created a profound sense of isolation that manifested physically, highlighting the deep link between environment and mental health.

A founder's decision to sell was triggered by her first-ever panic attack during a casual conversation about the business's future. This intense physical reaction served as an undeniable gut signal that her ego-driven push for the next funding round was the wrong path, prompting her to explore an exit.

Top performers, like sales expert Jeb Blount and Army Golden Knights, still experience fear before high-stakes activities. They don't eliminate the fear; they manage it by relying on a consistent, practiced routine to push through the initial emotional resistance and execute their tasks effectively.

We often assume our thoughts cause our feelings. However, the body frequently experiences a physical state first (e.g., anxiety from adrenaline), and the conscious mind then creates a plausible narrative to explain that feeling. This means the "reason" you feel anxious or unmotivated may be a story, not the root physical cause.