“At the end of the day, anxiety and intuition are both trying to communicate with you.”
Have you ever sat down to do something important, or something meaningful to yourself, and been totally paralyzed by anxiety?
I’ve been there.
As a professional tarot reader and life coach, I can recall sitting in front of my cards, heart pounding, mind racing. The cards and their messages were right there in front of me — this is what I do every day, after all — but all I could hear were the intrusive thoughts.
“You’re on the wrong path,” they whispered. “You don’t do anything right. You never do. You’ve failed.”
It felt like everything was spinning, and I couldn’t even focus long enough to actually interpret the symbolism that lay before me. My intuition was nowhere to be found. Or was it?
Nope. That wasn’t intuition. That was anxiety, plain and simple.
As a tarot reader with anxious tendencies, I’ve had to learn the hard way how to separate the two. It’s been a journey, but with time, patience, and a little (okay, a lot) of trial and error, I’ve figured out a few key ways to tell the difference between the anxiety voice and the intuitive voice in my head.
1. Anxiety Screams; Intuition Whispers
If you’ve ever felt the frantic, overwhelming rush of anxiety, you know it’s like a fire alarm going off in your head. Anxiety is loud, demanding, and often chaotic. It’s the part of your brain that thinks there’s danger lurking even when there isn’t.
Intuition, on the other hand, is more like a gentle whisper.
It’s calm, grounded, and offers peaceful guidance. When you hear a voice in your head yelling at you or causing a frantic response, you’re most likely dealing with anxiety. But when you feel a subtle pull or a quiet sense of knowing, that’s intuition showing up.
2. The Physical Symptoms are Totally Different
When you’re anxious, your body reacts — sweaty palms, tight chest, nausea, dizziness.
We’re all familiar with these signs, right?
But intuition? It’s a little sneakier. Instead of the physical discomfort of anxiety, intuition can show up as tingling sensations in your spine, a calm, slow pulse, or even a subtle shift in body temperature.
Another cue to look for is expansion versus contraction. Anxiety contracts, intuition expands. Does your body feel like curling in on itself? That’s probably anxiety. Does your body feel like blossoming, chin up and spine straight? That’s intuition.
It’s easy to overlook these sensations, especially if you’re used to feeling anxious all the time. But with practice, you can start to tune into your body’s more subtle signals. Pay attention to how you feel in different situations — this can really help you start to recognize when intuition is stepping in.
3. Intuition Encourages Confidence; Anxiety Encourages Avoidance
This one is a pretty clear giveaway. Anxiety is the voice that fills you with doubt and makes you want to run away from the situation. It’s the fear of failure, the imposter syndrome, the “I can’t do this” thoughts.
Intuition, however, offers you calm confidence. It might not be loud, but it’s reassuring. It’s the part of you that knows you can handle what’s in front of you, even if it’s a little intimidating. When you feel empowered and confident, that’s intuition at work. When you feel small, fearful, or the urge to hide, that’s anxiety.
4. Chakra Imbalances
Here’s an interesting one — the energy centers in your body can tell you a lot about what’s going on. Anxiety often hangs out in the sacral chakra, the area associated with creativity, fear, and emotional imbalance. If you’re feeling creatively blocked or disconnected from your own sense of vitality, it could be a sign your sacral chakra is out of balance.
Intuition most strongly inhabits the crown and third eye chakras — the higher energy centers associated with clarity, spiritual connection, and inner knowing. If you’re experiencing headaches, brain fog, or confusion, it could indicate an imbalance in these areas. Clearing out any energy blockages and bringing balance back to your chakras can really help clear up the fog between anxiety and intuition.
Putting It Into Practice: A Real-Life Example
Let’s say you just landed a job interview that went really well. You’re offered the position, and it comes with a promotion, a pay raise, and more responsibility. But instead of feeling excited, you’re hit with imposter syndrome. Suddenly, your stomach is in knots, and you start sweating nervously. “I’m going to mess up,” you think. “I’m not qualified. They’ll fire me in the first week.”
That’s anxiety talking.
What are the tells? First off, the physical symptoms are unpleasant — sweaty palms, a racing heart. Then, the emotional response is one of doubt and fear. And lastly, the intrusive thoughts are loud and chaotic.
When you’re feeling like this, it’s important to practice grounding. Take a moment to center yourself, whether it’s by standing barefoot on the ground, holding something cold like an ice cube, or taking deep breaths (if that’s your thing). Once you’ve lowered your heart rate and found a little eye in the storm, the intuitive voice will start to make itself known.
It might feel like a calm knowing, a quiet confidence. Maybe the intuitive message is, “You’ve got this — one step at a time.” It won’t be loud or demanding like anxiety; instead, it will feel still, strong, and centered.
Tapping Into Your Intuition
So how can you get more in touch with your intuition?
For me, it started with tarot — pulling cards each morning to check in with myself.
I’d ask, “How can I show up today?” and pull a handful of cards. I’d journal, make observations, and sometimes even ask my guides for clarification if I got stuck.
I also tapped into creative channels, like writing. Writing helped me express my emotions and channel intuitive insights, all while giving me an outlet for anxious energy. For you, this could be totally different— maybe your outlet is dancing, painting, singing, or gardening. Whatever makes you feel grounded, calm, and connected to your higher self is where your intuition will start to speak to you.
It’s important to remember that neither anxiety nor intuition is “bad.” Both are valid human experiences. Anxiety can be a tool for self-awareness, and intuition is your inner guide. But when anxiety starts to block your intuitive flow, that’s when it’s time to address it.
Take a moment to ask yourself: What’s triggering this anxiety? What’s it trying to tell me? How can I address it so I can hear my intuition more clearly?
At the end of the day, anxiety and intuition are both trying to communicate with you. It’s just a matter of learning to tell the difference and tuning into the subtle voice of your inner wisdom. Honor both, and don’t hesitate to ask for support if you need it — sometimes sharing your anxious thoughts with someone can be the best way to find relief.