How to Tell If It’s Your Intuition or Anxiety

Ever get a gut feeling and wonder, “Wait… is this my intuition warning me? Or am I just spiraling into anxiety again?”

You’re not alone. For sensitive, intuitive people (and, let’s be real, just about everyone in a tough emotional spot), it can be hard to tell the difference. Intuition and anxiety both come from within—but one is calm clarity, the other chaotic noise.

Let’s break it down.

What Is Intuition?

Intuition is your inner knowing. It’s the soft, subtle whisper that calmly nudges you toward a truth before your mind can even catch up.

It usually feels like:

• A quiet “knowing” without logic

• A gentle push in a certain direction

• Peaceful but persistent guidance

• A sudden “aha” feeling that feels right

It’s grounded. It’s not frantic. It doesn’t flood you—it flows through you.

What Is Anxiety?

Anxiety, on the other hand, is fear dressed in urgency. It’s noisy, frantic, and often comes with physical symptoms like:

• Racing thoughts

• Tight chest or short breath

• Catastrophic “what if” spirals

• A need to act now or else

Anxiety feels like an alarm going off, but half the time it’s because your emotional smoke detector is oversensitive.

Key Differences Between Intuition and Anxiety

Intuition

Calm, clear, and centered

Anxiety - Loud, chaotic, overwhelming

Persistent and gentle

Urgent and panicky

Neutral tone (not emotional)

Emotionally charged

Doesn’t always make sense

Obsessed with making sense

Fades if not acted on

A Quick Grounding Check-In (To Tell the Difference)

When you get a strong feeling, pause and ask yourself:

1. Did this come out of nowhere, or did I overthink myself into it?

2. Does this feeling bring calm knowing—or panic?

3. If I distract myself for 10 minutes, does it fade (anxiety) or return clearly (intuition)?

4. Would I give this advice to someone I love? (Anxiety often sounds irrational when said out loud.)

Examples in Real Life

Intuition: You feel uneasy walking into a restaurant. Nothing obvious is wrong, but you just know you shouldn’t stay. You leave. Later, you hear there was a disturbance nearby.

Anxiety: You send a text and don’t get an immediate reply. Your heart races. You replay every word. You panic that they’re mad. Your nervous system spirals… but nothing ever happened.

How to Strengthen Your Intuition (and Quiet Anxiety)

• Meditation – Even 5 minutes a day brings clarity.

• Journal your first gut reaction before overthinking kicks in.

• Practice decision-making from a grounded space, not fear.

• Limit stimulants (like caffeine or doomscrolling) that trigger anxiety.

• Spend time in nature to re-attune to natural rhythms.

• Ask your guides for confirmation—and wait for the calm answer.

Your intuition is always available—but anxiety shouts over it. Learning to tune in rather than freak out takes practice, patience, and presence.

If you’re not sure what you’re feeling, that’s okay. Pause. Breathe. Ground. Listen.

Intuition doesn’t rush you—it reminds you. And it will always wait until you’re ready to hear it.

With Love,

Michelle 💜