Women with past trauma who are over-functioners often face a unique set of concerns in today’s social climate, especially as they navigate a rapidly changing world while trying to prioritize their mental health and well-being.

Here are some top concerns you may have now that 2025 is here; take a gander and see if any of these resonate with you. I’ve also provided some practical ways to help navigate these times, .

1. Balancing Responsibilities with Self-Care: Many over-functioning women feel immense pressure to keep up with their numerous responsibilities—whether it’s career, family, or community commitments. In today’s social climate, where work-life balance and productivity are often glamorized, you may find it challenging to allow yourself the rest you need, leading to fears of burnout and guilt about prioritizing self-care.

   What Helps:

   **Set Realistic Expectations: Identify non-negotiables and delegate tasks where possible. Not everything needs to be done perfectly.

   **Schedule Self-Care: Treat self-care like an appointment—block time in your calendar for rest, hobbies, or relaxation.

   **Reframe Self-Care as Productivity: Remember that caring for yourself replenishes your energy and helps you fulfill your roles more effectively.

2. Economic and Job Stability: With economic uncertainty and shifting job markets, over-functioning, high-anxiety women may be concerned about their financial future. You might worry about maintaining job stability and security while also trying to meet high expectations at work, often pushing yourself to overachieve. The fear of losing a job or not being able to support your family can exacerbate anxiety, especially if you have been conditioned to believe you must always be “in control.”

   What Helps:

   **Focus on What’s Within Your Control: Build skills and networks that enhance your job security while acknowledging that economic shifts aren’t a personal failure.

   **Set Financial Goals: Create a financial plan that includes savings and investments to alleviate some of the anxiety around uncertainty.

   **Seek Support: Consider career counseling or mentorship to navigate professional concerns confidently.

3. Societal Pressure to “Have It All”: Society often expects women to seamlessly balance career success, family life, and personal fulfillment—an unrealistic standard that can be especially overwhelming for over-functioners. You may fear you’re falling short if you’re unable to excel in every area simultaneously, leading to anxiety about not being “enough.” This can be especially difficult in a culture that frequently idealizes perfection.

   What Helps:

   **Redefine Success: Focus on what truly matters to you rather than societal standards.

   **Practice Self-Compassion: Remind yourself that being human means you will have limits, and that’s okay.

   **Prioritize: Identify areas of life where you want to invest energy and allow yourself to let go of the rest.

4. Fear of Not Breaking Generational Patterns: Many women with past trauma want to ensure they are breaking harmful generational patterns, especially as parents. You may feel pressure to provide a nurturing environment for your children without repeating the mistakes of your past. In today’s world, where mental health awareness is growing, you may be hyper-aware of the impact you own behaviors and trauma responses can have on your children, leading to anxiety about doing “enough” to stop generational cycles.

   What Helps:

   **Educate Yourself: Learn about parenting strategies that foster healthy relationships and emotional regulation.

   **Seek Therapy: Explore your own triggers and patterns to better understand how to break cycles. I can help! :)

   **Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge incremental changes you’re making toward creating a healthier environment.

5. Navigating Relationships in a Polarized Social Climate: Today’s social climate is often polarized, with strong opinions and conflicts on social and political issues. For over-functioning, high-anxiety women, people-pleasing tendencies can make it challenging to navigate relationships when there are conflicting values or beliefs. You may fear confrontation or rejection from friends or family if you express your true opinions, leading to stress about maintaining harmony at the cost of your own authenticity.

   What Helps:

   **Clarify Your Values: Understand your personal values so you can approach conversations with authenticity and confidence.

   **Set Boundaries: Limit exposure to divisive topics or people when it becomes too overwhelming.

   **Focus on Connection: Seek relationships based on mutual respect and shared interests rather than differences.

6. Managing Information Overload: In a time of constant news and social media, it can be challenging to filter through information. Women who are over-functioners may feel pressured to stay informed on every issue to be seen as competent or knowledgeable, while simultaneously feeling overwhelmed by the intensity of current events. This need to keep up, paired with traumatic past experiences, can amplify feelings of anxiety and exhaustion.

   What Helps:

   **Set Media Limits: Allocate specific times to check the news or social media and stick to them.

   **Curate Your Feed: Follow sources and accounts that uplift and inform without overwhelming.

   **Practice Mindfulness: Engage in activities like meditation or journaling to ground yourself amidst the noise.

7. Fear of Vulnerability: In today’s more open conversation about mental health, there’s a push for vulnerability and authenticity. However, women with past trauma may struggle to open up due to fears of judgment or rejection. You might worry about whether being vulnerable will lead others to view you as weak or incapable, which is particularly concerning for those who have built their identities around being strong, capable, and dependable.

   What Helps:

   **Start Small: Practice vulnerability in safe relationships to build confidence.

   **Recognize Strength in Openness: Understand that sharing struggles can foster deeper connections.

   **Use Professional Support: Therapy provides a safe space to explore vulnerability without fear of judgment. Again, I can help! :)

8. Maintaining Personal Boundaries: In a world that is more connected than ever before, maintaining personal boundaries can be challenging. Many over-functioning women may fear letting people down by setting boundaries, whether it’s at work, in friendships, or in family life. They may worry about being seen as “selfish” or “difficult” if they prioritize their own needs, making it difficult to establish and maintain healthy boundaries.

   What Helps:

   **Communicate Clearly: Be direct yet kind when stating your needs.

   **Practice Saying No: Remember that saying no to others means saying yes to your well-being.

   **Celebrate Your Efforts: Acknowledge the courage it takes to maintain boundaries.

Working through these concerns requires patience and persistence. Each step forward is a testament to the resilience of over-functioning women with past trauma, proving that growth, healing, and balance are possible—even in today’s challenging world. Reach out any time if you’re needing some support processing the role your emotions are playing in your ability to handle today’s stressors.