How to Tell Anxiety From Intuition - When They Feel Almost the Same
If you’ve ever said, “I think it’s my intuition… but I’m also panicking,” …… you’re not alone.
Anxiety and intuition can show up at the same moment—especially when you’re about to grow, choose something unfamiliar, or stop tolerating what you’ve outgrown. The trick is learning to tell the difference between a protective alarm and a true inner yes/no.
Because one is fear trying to keep you safe. The other is truth trying to keep you aligned.
Let’s make it clear.
The Key Difference - In One Line
Anxiety is noisy and future-focused.
Intuition is quiet and present-focused.
Anxiety says: “What if…” Intuition says: “This is.”
What Anxiety Actually Feels Like
Anxiety is your nervous system scanning for threat. It’s protective—but often inaccurate. It’s not evil. It’s just convinced something is about to go wrong, and it wants you to act fast to regain control.
Anxiety usually feels like:
urgency ( the .. “Decide now or you’ll ruin everything”)
spiraling thoughts, mental rehearsals, worst-case scenarios
tight chest, racing heart, shallow breathing
a need to check, re-check, ask ten people, Google, confirm
hyper-fixation on what could happen
Anxiety rarely offers a clear direction. It offers a loop.
What Intuition Actually Feels Like
Intuition isn’t a spiral. It’s a signal.
It can be a soft nudge or a firm “no,” but it doesn’t need to scare you into listening. It lands cleanly—even if what it says is inconvenient.
Intuition usually feels like:
simple clarity (often one sentence)
a grounded certainty without over-explaining
neutrality (less emotional charge)
calm expansion or clear contraction in the body
consistency over time (it repeats, but without panic)
Intuition doesn’t chase you. It waits for you to get still enough to hear it.
Anxiety vs Intuition: A Quick Comparison
1) Volume
Anxiety is loud, insistent, repetitive
Intuition will be quiet, precise, often with minimal words
2) Speed
Anxiety will be urgent with a rushed “right now” kind of energy to it
Intuition is patient, steady, “you have time” energy
3) Emotion
Anxiety is high charge (riddled with fear, dread, agitation)
Intuition will be low charge (supported by clarity, firmness, calm)
4) Thought Pattern
Anxiety will create chaos with “What if this happens? And then this? And then…”
Intuition will have soft but concise messages like “That’s not for you….. Call them…. Wait.”
5) Body Response
Anxiety will be jittery, tight, buzzing, nauseous, restlessness
Intuition is a grounded heaviness, open breath, clean stop/go
The “Body Truth” Test ( That Works Fast )
Put one hand on your chest and ask:
“Is this fear… or is this truth?”
Then notice:
If your body tightens and speeds up → likely anxiety.
If your body settles into a steady knowing (even if it’s a hard truth) → likely intuition.
Important: intuition can still feel uncomfortable. But it’s a clean discomfort—not chaos.
Anxiety feels like a storm. Intuition feels like a door quietly closing.
The “Next Step” Test
Ask each voice what it wants you to do right now.
Anxiety usually wants:
reassurance
control
immediate action to reduce discomfort
avoidance (cancel, ghost, delay, numb out)
certainty before moving
Intuition usually wants:
one aligned step
honest communication
a boundary
a pause
a decision rooted in self-respect (not outcome control)
If the “guidance” is basically “run” or “prove yourself”—that’s usually anxiety.
The 24-Hour Recheck ( The Most Reliable Test )
This one is underrated: time.
If you can safely wait, give it 24 hours and check again.
Anxiety changes shape. It spikes, dips, redirects, grabs new fears.
Intuition stays consistent. Same message, less drama.
If tomorrow it still feels like a simple truth—not a frantic storyline—you’re probably hearing intuition.
The Two-Voice Script
Do This in Your Notes App. Write both voices out. Don’t think—just let them speak.
Voice A (Anxiety): “I’m scared that…”
Voice B (Intuition): “What I know is…”
Read them back. Anxiety will sound like a courtroom argument. Intuition will sound like a boundary.
When Anxiety & Intuition Show Up …Together
This is common. Intuition delivers truth, and anxiety reacts to the consequences.
Example:
Intuition: “This relationship isn’t aligned.”
Anxiety: “But what if you end up alone?”
Intuition: “Take the job.”
Anxiety: “But what if you fail and look stupid?”
Intuition: “Say no.”
Anxiety: “But they’ll be mad and you’ll be rejected.”
In these moments, don’t assume the presence of anxiety means intuition is wrong. It may simply mean your nervous system is scared of change.
Your work now becomes:
Honor the truth. Regulate the fear.
A Grounding Practice to ‘Separate’ Them in 90 Seconds
When you can’t tell which is which:
Exhale longer than you inhale (do 5 slow breaths).
Name 5 things you can see (bring yourself to the present).
Ask: “What’s true right now—without the story?”
Anxiety lives in story. Intuition lives in truth.
The Bottom Line
If it’s urgent, loud, spiraling, and begging for certainty—it’s probably anxiety. If it’s calm, clear, consistent, and simple—it’s probably intuition.
And if you still can’t tell?
Choose the next step that supports self-respect:
the honest conversation
the clean boundary
the pause instead of the panic decision
the action you won’t regret because it’s aligned with who you are
Because intuition doesn’t usually say, “Hurry.”
It says, “Be true.”
Aligning with the truth - might feel scary - but is also packed full of so much freedom in the long run. Chose one truth each week that you are avoiding - start with the small things to ease your nervous system into the bigger ones. If you would prefer a guided approach - feel free to connect!
Your Soul Translator,
