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The Self and Psychology Series

The "Anxiety-Disordered" Hypercompetitive Workers Common in the Workplace

I. Common Signs of Excessive Anxiety (Compiled from Online Sources; I Am Not a Medical Professional, and This Is Not Medical Advice)

  1. Emotional and psychological symptoms:

Excessive worry, catastrophic thinking, heightened vigilance, difficulty concentrating, etc.

  1. Physical symptoms:

Shallow breathing, bodily stiffness and tension, sleep disturbances, digestive distress (such as irritable bowel symptoms), and restlessness.

  1. When anxiety becomes severe, it can lead to avoidance behaviors.

a. Behavioral avoidance: Directly avoiding the source of your anxiety. For example, refusing to go out because you fear social interaction, taking a taxi instead of the subway because you are afraid of riding it, or even being afraid to go anywhere crowded.

b. Cognitive avoidance: Forcing yourself not to think about what makes you anxious, or distracting yourself with other activities, such as compulsively scrolling on your phone or binge eating.

c. Emotional avoidance: Suppressing or denying your anxiety and pretending that “everything is fine,” while actually suffering deeply inside.

II. Many People Experience Excessive Anxiety Yet Still Perform “Quite Well” at Work

  1. Heightened vigilance and extreme sensitivity to detail.
  1. Driven by perfectionism: The fear of making mistakes or being criticized can compel you to check your work repeatedly, finish tasks ahead of schedule, and even volunteer to work overtime, making you seem “very reliable” in the short term.
  1. Compensatory behaviors: Trying to prove yourself through “overworking,” “self-control,” “striving,” and “external recognition and achievement” to conceal inner unease, emptiness, and a sense of losing control.
  1. Being susceptible to psychological manipulation and giving others a “familiar feeling of anxiety,” which can actually make you a favorite of many managers.

Many middle and senior managers are themselves caught in a web of anxiety-driven overwork and competition, and they select the most relentless anxiety-driven overachievers. Everyone in their departments and business units looks sallow.

The cost:

Diminishing efficiency, physical and mental exhaustion, and worsening anxiety and existential symptoms—a vicious cycle.

III. Suggestions (I Am Not a Medical Professional, and This Is Not Medical Advice)

  1. Seek help from a qualified physician or psychological counselor.
  1. Pursue healing and growth in body and mind, work through inner issues, rest, and care for yourself.

Note: I am not a medical professional. The term “anxiety disorder” in this article is not used as a strict medical diagnosis or technical term, but only as a reminder to practice self-care and self-awareness. If you have severe symptoms, I recommend seeking medical care and professional help.