Why do I feel anxious when things are going well?

Feeling anxious when life is going well is a common but confusing experience that can make you feel like you're sabotaging your own happiness. This Anxiety disorder often stems from a managing fear that good things won't last, leading you to constantly scan for potential problems or wait for the other shoe to drop. You might have learned from past experiences that happiness is temporary or that good times are often followed by disappointment or loss. Sometimes this Anxiety disorder reflects imposter syndrome - feeling like you don't deserve the good things happening to you or that you've somehow fooled people into thinking you're more capable than you are. Psychological trauma can also create hypervigilance where your nervous system stays alert for danger even when you're safe. Your brain might interpret the unfamiliar feeling of contentment as a threat because it's not used to feeling secure. Some people develop superstitious thinking that being too happy will invite disaster, so they preemptively worry to try to protect themselves from future pain. The Anxiety disorder might also come from feeling guilty about being happy when others are struggling. Practice staying present in good moments rather than projecting into an uncertain future. Remind yourself that you deserve good things and that enjoying them doesn't make you selfish or naive. Challenge catastrophic thinking by focusing on what's actually happening now rather than what might happen later. Consider whether this pattern developed from specific past experiences that might benefit from processing with a therapist.