Is It Your Anxiety Or Intuition?: 3 Simple Ways To Tell What Your Gut Is Really Saying

Anxiety and intuition can feel very similar, as doubt, fear, and dread are feelings that can stem from both emotions. If you’re finding it difficult to tell the difference between the two, licensed marriage and family therapist Natalie Moore and life coach Tammy Adams, say there are three strategies to help you recognize and navigate both emotions as they begin to surface.

1. Slow down and breathe.

During an interview with HuffPost published on April 22, Adams shared that it’s important to hit the pause button and slow down when anxiety and intuition kick in. According to the life coach, taking a deep breath will help you to “create space to examine your initial reaction.” Adams explained that intuition often emerges when you allow yourself to be perfectly still, dialing into your emotions. On the other hand, anxiety tends to rear its ugly head in times of urgency.

“Intuition and anxiety can sometimes feel similar, but they come from very different places within us,” Adams explained. “Intuition is usually quiet and steady. It’s a gentle, grounded sense of ‘knowing’ that isn’t wrapped up in fear or urgency. It often feels calm, clear, and neutral, like an inner guide offering insight without pushing or panicking you.”

Anxiety, on the other hand, can feel downright “overwhelming” and at times, even “chaotic” she added.

“It often feels urgent, chaotic, or fear-based like your mind is racing to prepare for every worst-case scenario.”

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