When Worry Wears a Friendly Face

I’m someone people often describe as upbeat, positive and happy. I laugh easily, enjoy deep connections with others and genuinely love the work I do. But behind that cheerful exterior is something quieter — a familiar mental companion that many wouldn’t see: health anxiety.

It doesn’t control my life, but it shapes parts of it. It’s not loud or dramatic, but more like background static — a whisper of what if.

What if that ache is something serious? What if someone I care about is unwell and I don’t know yet? What if, what if, what if?

As a public servant, particularly in social work, I’m used to holding complexity and staying calm in storms. But health anxiety doesn’t show up in professional spaces — it tends to wait until I’m still. A quiet room, a moment alone, and there it is: the noise.

The Hidden Side of High-Functioning Worry

I’ve learned that you can be highly capable, social, and grounded and still carry anxiety. The two can coexist. And I’ve also learned that there are ways to gently quiet the inner noise.

One of the most transformative tools I’ve discovered is tapping, or Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). I came across it through The Tapping Solution, a resource created by the Ortner family in the US. It’s simple, non-invasive and surprisingly effective.

In moments when my thoughts race or my heart skips for no medical reason, tapping brings me back to centre. It’s helped me self-soothe, interrupt spirals and reframe fear with compassion. For that, I’m deeply grateful.

A Gentle Call to Others Like Me

Health anxiety is common — but many of us keep it private. We power through. We lead. We care for others. So I’m writing this for anyone who might feel the same but hasn’t found the words yet.

You’re not alone. You can live well with worry. You can experience joy, show up fully, and still have moments where the “what ifs” knock at the door. That doesn’t make you weak — it makes you human.

I no longer try to eliminate anxiety. I try to live lightly alongside it. To laugh through it. To breathe deeper. To ask for support when I need it. And to remember that being strong doesn’t mean never worrying — it means knowing how to walk with worry without letting it lead.

A Final Thought

This isn’t a story of struggle. It’s a story of learning. Of adapting. Of realising that we can hold both vulnerability and strength.

In public service, we often carry so much — for others and ourselves. So maybe, sometimes, the most powerful thing we can say is:

“I feel this too. And I’m still doing okay.”