How to Tell the Difference Between Intuition and Anxiety
Have you ever had a feeling that something was “off,” only to second-guess yourself and wonder if it was just your anxiety talking? Or maybe you felt a nudge to take a certain action, but your mind spun into worst-case scenarios? This is a common struggle—learning to distinguish intuition from anxiety takes practice, patience, and a little trust in yourself.
Intuition is quiet, clear, and steady. Anxiety is loud, racing, and often accompanied by fear.
Here’s how to tell the difference:
1. The tone of the feeling
Intuition often feels calm and grounded, even if it’s pointing out something important. Anxiety tends to feel jittery, urgent, or panicky, as if something bad is going to happen right now.
2. The physical cues
Intuition may show up as a soft pull in your gut, heart, or chest—a subtle sense of knowing. Anxiety often shows up as tension, rapid heartbeat, shallow breathing, or restless energy.
3. The clarity of guidance
Intuition usually comes with a sense of clarity or a gentle “this is what feels right.” Anxiety comes with a jumble of “what ifs,” hypotheticals, and scenarios that feel overwhelming or paralyzing.
4. Timing and repetition
Intuitive messages often come when you’re grounded, quiet, or in flow. Anxiety tends to spike in cycles, triggered by stress, overthinking, or uncertainty.
5. Emotional attachment
Intuition is often neutral and supportive—it doesn’t carry judgment. Anxiety tends to come with pressure, guilt, or a sense of obligation.
Tips to tune in:
Pause and breathe: Slow down and notice where the feeling sits in your body.
Ask yourself questions: Does this feeling guide me or control me?
Check for patterns: Anxiety often repeats in predictable loops; intuition usually points in a single direction.
Ground and center: A few minutes of grounding or self-Reiki can help clear the fog and make the difference more obvious.
Remember, both intuition and anxiety are part of being human. The goal isn’t to eliminate anxiety—it’s to learn to recognize your own inner guidance even when life feels noisy.
If you want support in learning to trust your intuition and release picked-up anxiety or energy from others, Reiki sessions can help you reconnect with your own clarity and calm. For deeper guidance, my Medicine Dream Mentorship offers personalized one-on-one mentoring to help you strengthen your intuition, develop confidence in your inner knowing, and integrate these practices into your daily life.
