High-Functioning But Exhausted? Let’s Talk.
On paper, you’re doing well.
You go to work. You parent. You reply to emails. You show up. You manage.
From the outside, you look capable.
Inside? You’re running on fumes.
You might not even describe yourself as struggling. You might say:
“I’m just tired.”
“It’s a busy season.”
“Everyone feels like this.”
But this isn’t just tired.
This is the particular exhaustion that comes from carrying too much for too long.
The Invisible Load
Many of the women I work with are high-achieving and deeply responsible.
They are:
The default parent
The emotional regulator in their family
The reliable one at work
The friend who checks in on everyone else
They are competent. Strong. Capable.
And completely depleted.
What we often uncover in therapy isn’t incapability — it’s unsustainable standards.
Standards shaped by:
Perfectionism
Gendered expectations
“I must not let anyone down”
“If I stop, everything falls apart”
Over time, that pressure becomes anxiety. Or irritability. Or numbness.
High-Functioning Anxiety Is Still Anxiety
Because you’re still managing, it’s easy to dismiss your distress.
But high-functioning anxiety often looks like:
Overthinking everything
Difficulty switching off
Trouble sleeping
Harsh self-criticism
Constant mental rehearsal of worst-case scenarios
You can look calm and feel like you’re internally sprinting.
Therapy Isn’t for When You Collapse
You don’t have to wait until you fall apart.
CBT therapy can help you:
Identify the rules you’re living by
Challenge the “I must cope alone” narrative
Reduce anxiety at its root
Rebalance responsibility
Build boundaries without guilt
Strength doesn’t mean self-sacrifice.
If you’re functioning but quietly exhausted, that matters.
You deserve support before burnout forces it.
I work with women across London and the UK who look fine on the outside but are tired of carrying everything alone. If that sounds familiar, therapy could be a place to finally put some of it down.