
93. When You Remove the Stress — And Start Wondering What’s Wrong With You
From ADHD Mums by Jane McFadden
March 25, 2026 · 9 min · Season 3 · Episode 93
About this episode
This episode explores the complexities of anxiety when stress is removed, discussing why relief may not come even after reducing pressure.
If you’ve removed the pressure… stepped back… even taken a break… and you still feel on edge — this episode is for you. Because this is the part no one explains. When nothing is ‘wrong’ anymore… but your body is still acting like it is. In this episode, we unpack what happens when stress isn’t the thing driving your anxiety — and why removing the load doesn’t always create relief. If you’ve ever wondered ‘is this just who I am?’ this conversation will shift how you see it. 🧠 What We Cover in This Episode: What it means when anxiety doesn’t go away after removing pressure Why ‘just rest’ doesn’t work for everyone The moment you realise it’s not the situation — it’s the pattern How your nervous system can run rules that don’t match your current life The difference between stress-based overwhelm and pattern-based overwhelm Why unclear expectations quietly keep you in a constant state of alert What ‘predictive patterns’ look like in real life (and why they stick) Why insight alone doesn’t change how your body responds What actually helps your system settle — and why it’s not what you think 💭 This episode is for you if: You’ve reduced stress but still feel constantly ‘on’ You’ve…
People in this episode
Host: Jane McFadden
Topics covered
- anxiety
- stress management
- nervous system
- mental health
- self-awareness
Keywords
- anxiety
- stress
- nervous system
- mental load
- predictive patterns
- self-test
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