Intuition vs. Anxiety: How to Tell the Difference
By Dr. Devon Redmond, Modern Psychology
Have you ever had a strong gut feeling about something and wondered, is this my intuition guiding me, or is this just my anxiety talking? Many people struggle to tell the difference between intuition and anxiety, especially when stress or worry has been a constant part of life. Learning to distinguish the two can help you feel more grounded, confident in your decisions, and connected to yourself.
What Is Intuition?
Intuition is that quiet inner voice or “gut feeling” that helps guide your choices without needing logical analysis. It often feels calm, clear, and steady, like an inner nudge that points you in a direction. For example, intuition might whisper: This opportunity feels right for me, or I don’t feel safe in this situation.
Intuition tends to be:
Calm and grounded
Present-focused
Steady and consistent
Free of judgment or criticism
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety, on the other hand, is rooted in fear and worry. Instead of feeling calm and clear, anxious thoughts are often urgent, overwhelming, and repetitive. Anxiety can trick you into believing worst-case scenarios are about to happen, even if there’s no evidence.
Anxiety often feels:
Urgent or panicky
Future-focused (what might go wrong)
Repetitive or looping
Judgmental and self-critical
Intuition vs. Anxiety: Key Differences
When you’re caught in a spiral, it’s not always easy to tell the difference. Here are a few cues that may help:
Tone: Intuition feels like a calm suggestion; anxiety feels more urgent and fear-driven.
Focus: Intuition centers on what’s happening now; anxiety projects into the future.
Energy: Intuition feels steady; anxiety feels restless or exhausting.
Clarity: Intuition gives you a simple “yes” or “no” feeling; anxiety floods you with “what ifs” and numerous, repetitive questions.
Why It’s Hard to Trust Your Gut When You’re Anxious
If you’ve experienced chronic anxiety, your nervous system may be on high alert much of the time. That makes it harder to access intuition, because your body is constantly scanning for danger. Therapy for anxiety can help calm the nervous system, giving you more space to recognize and trust your intuition.
How Therapy Can Help
Working with a therapist can help you:
Learn techniques to reduce anxious thoughts and calm the body
Identify the difference between intuitive wisdom and fear-based thinking
Build confidence in decision-making
Strengthen trust in yourself
When anxiety quiets down, intuition has more room to be heard.
Final Thoughts
Everyone has intuition, but anxiety can sometimes drown it out. The more you learn to recognize the difference, the easier it becomes to trust your inner guidance.
If you’re wondering whether anxiety is getting in the way of your decision-making, therapy can help. I work with children, adolescents, and adults in Charlotte to manage anxiety and reconnect with their inner wisdom.
Interested in learning more? Reach out today to schedule a free consultation and take the first step toward calming anxiety and reconnecting with yourself.
