Feeling Stuck at Work? The Anxiety of Staying Somewhere You’ve Outgrown

Today, we’re continuing our conversation about the subtle ways anxiety shows up in our lives.

You know, the kind of anxiety that doesn’t show up as panic attacks or racing thoughts at first. It lives in the not-so-obvious moments. You might notice it on Sunday evenings, when your chest feels tight as you think about the week ahead. Or in the mornings, when getting ready for work takes more effort than it used to.

Many people I work with in anxiety therapy in Maryland describe this experience as feeling stuck. On the outside, everything looks fine. You’re competent, dependable, and doing what’s expected of you. But internally, something feels off. The work that once felt meaningful no longer fits. And yet, leaving feels complicated, impossible, scary, or even selfish.

If this sounds familiar, you’re far from alone. You may not realize how common this experience is simply because people don’t often talk about it openly.

When Work No Longer Aligns With Who You Are

Career-related anxiety often begins with a sense of misalignment. Maybe your values have shifted, but your role hasn’t. Perhaps you’ve grown emotionally and personally, while the environment you’re in hasn’t grown with you.

You might find yourself asking questions like:

• Is this really what I want to be doing anymore?

• Why do I feel so restless when I “should” be grateful?

• I used to love my work. What’s really going on with me?

These questions can bring up guilt, confusion, and self-doubt. Especially for high-achieving, sensitive, and responsible people who are used to making things work, even when they’re unhappy.

Over time, this internal conflict can fuel anxiety. You may feel on edge, irritable, exhausted, or emotionally flat because something in your life no longer fits who you are becoming.

The Anxiety of Change and the Fear of Letting Others Down

One of the reasons work-related anxiety can feel so paralyzing is because it’s often layered with fear.

You may notice fear of financial instability, making the “wrong” decision, or disappointing your employer or your family. You may even fear disappointing the past version of yourself that dreamt of doing the work that no longer feels fulfilling.

Many people stay in jobs they’ve outgrown not because they want to but because they’re deeply aware of how their choices affect others. If you’re someone who values responsibility and loyalty, the thought of leaving can bring a heavy emotional burden.

You might tell yourself:

• I don’t want to create problems for anyone.

• I should be able to handle this.

• Other people have it worse. I should be grateful.

While these thoughts are understandable, they can keep you stuck in a cycle where anxiety slowly builds. Suppressing your needs doesn’t make them disappear. More often, it intensifies the internal tension over time, which can eventually lead to overwhelming anxiety.

Anxiety Doesn’t Always Mean You’re in the Wrong Job, But It Might Mean Something Needs Attention

Now, I feel it’s important for me to let you know that feeling anxious at work doesn’t automatically mean you need to quit your job. As a matter of fact, it could mean quite the opposite.

Sometimes anxiety is pointing to burnout, unspoken boundaries, or the need for rest and recalibration. Other times, it’s signaling a deeper misalignment between your values, where you’re placing your focus, and how you’re spending your energy each day.

In anxiety therapy, we don’t rush to conclusions. Instead, we slow things down. We create space to understand what your anxiety is actually communicating without judgment or pressure to “figure it all out” immediately.

This process can be especially helpful if you feel torn between honoring yourself and honoring your responsibilities.

How Anxiety Therapy in Maryland Can Help With Career-Related Anxiety

Therapy offers a grounded, non-judgmental, and safe place to explore the emotional layers beneath feeling stuck. Rather than focusing only on symptoms, we look at the bigger picture of your life, your values, and your sense of self.

In anxiety therapy, we may explore:

• How long you’ve been ignoring or minimizing your own dissatisfaction

• The beliefs you hold about success, loyalty, and self-worth

• Where fear is protecting you, and where it may be limiting you

• What it would mean to make decisions that are both thoughtful and self-respecting

For many people, simply having space to explore and understand these feelings out loud brings relief. You don’t have to justify them or come up with a preconceived plan of action. You get to be willing to explore your feelings and be open to change.

Over time, this clarity can reduce anxiety and help you feel more grounded, whether you ultimately choose to stay at your job, shift roles, or explore something new.

Keep Growing Even If It Makes Things Uncomfortable

One of the most painful beliefs I hear from clients is that growth shouldn’t be complicated or challenging. That if a path was once right, it must always remain right.

But growth is rarely that comfortable and tidy.

Outgrowing a job doesn’t mean you failed. It doesn’t mean you’re ungrateful or indecisive. Often, it means you’ve learned more about yourself, and your new understanding of self is asking for something different.

Anxiety can be the body’s way of letting you know that something is off internally. It’s your nervous system’s way of getting your attention so that you can acknowledge it and tend to it.

When to Reach Out for Support

If work-related anxiety is affecting your sleep, your mood, or your sense of self, it may be time to seek support. Especially if you feel trapped between wanting change and being afraid to move.

If you’re located in Maryland, anxiety therapy can offer a compassionate, steady place to sort through these feelings and reconnect with what matters most to you.

You can also explore my previous blog on Anxiety Therapy in Maryland, where I talk more broadly about how anxiety shows up in subtle ways—particularly for high-functioning, capable people.

You don’t have to make big decisions right now. You don’t have to have clarity today.

Sometimes, the most meaningful step is simply giving yourself permission to pause, notice what’s felt off lately, and be supported.

If you’re a high-functioning professional in Maryland who’s been living with subtle, or maybe not so subtle, anxiety, this work is for you.

Let’s talk. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation here to see if we’d be a good fit.

About the Author

Danielle Hatchell, LCPC is a therapist with over 25 years of experience providing anxiety therapy in Maryland to highly sensitive individuals and anxious, high-performing professionals who are navigating the challenge of showing up for others while staying connected to themselves. Danielle’s holistic approach blends traditional talk therapy with spirituality, meditation, and breathwork, offering practical tools and effective strategies to manage anxiety and find balance. Her work honors the whole person and invites clients to slow down, listen inward, and reconnect with what matters.