Off-Label
Off Label is an AI-hosted podcast by Dr. Steve Rondeau’s digital twin. It explores the limits of DSM-based diagnosis and the promise of brain-informed psychiatry. From mislabeled symptoms to overlooked patterns, we examine how mental health can evolve beyond outdated frameworks toward something more precise, personal, and real.
Off-Label
Stuck, Foggy, and Misunderstood: The Hidden Side of Anxiety
Episode Description:
Not all anxiety races. Some of it drags.
In this episode, we explore a lesser-known phenomenon: cognitive slowing under load—a pattern where people experience mental fog, delayed reactions, and reduced processing speed in high-stress situations. Often confused with ADHD or early cognitive decline, this slow form of anxiety is frequently overlooked in traditional diagnostics.
We unpack:
- Why some anxious individuals don’t look anxious—they look slow
- The difference between overwhelm, sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT), and executive dysfunction
- How brain load, not just emotion, drives performance breakdowns
- Treatment approaches that work—including CBT, lifestyle changes, and brain-based assessments
- Why this matters for education, mental health, and everyday functioning
If you’ve ever felt mentally stuck or misdiagnosed—or if you’re a clinician trying to make sense of hard-to-categorize patients—this episode may shift how you see anxiety altogether.