.st0{fill:#FFFFFF;}

What Is High Functioning Anxiety 

 March 28, 2021

By  counselingwithnatalie

High functioning anxiety is more common than one may think and also you may not realize you have it. About 40 million adults deal with an anxiety disorder, and of that 40 million approximately 18% of the population is in the category of high functioning anxiety. It may be something that no one else is able to realize but, on the inside, you are able to feel it. It may be different from other anxieties because high functioning anxiety propels you forward rather than leave you frozen with fear of something. On the surface you may appear very calm, but on the inside, you are stressing but so driven to get the work or task done.

There are different types of anxiety, but someone with high functioning anxiety typically does not show any outward symptoms. One may not have panic attacks that cause physical symptoms, but one may have silent anxiety attacks. This is when you may not have shortness of breath but have the emotional symptoms, including feeling a loss of control. As stated earlier, fear may be what always drives someone to always work or keep working harder. Some may have a lot of success in their work life, but this then affects their personal life or the things they enjoy. This is because they become so invested in doing the best in work that they do not have time to do any other activities that would make them happy and be with friends. These people do not have the energy to be able to maintain a healthy relationship or be able to take care of their physical and emotional health. This will then cause some attacks because they may burn out, and not take the time that is needed to relax and rest. High functioning anxiety can also be the result of chemical imbalances, life events, or a combination of both. This is due to the results of life circumstances combined with a biological predisposition to anxiety.

How to tell if you have High Functioning Anxiety:

  1. People-pleasing.
  2. Enduring long periods of hard, until burn out, then procrastination.
  3. Overthinking of not doing enough or fear of failure.
  4. Poor sleep.
  5. Racing thought, difficulty being able to relax.
  6. Overly busy because the fear of saying no.
  7. Use of alcohol and substance to cope.
  8. Anxiety is the only thing driving you to complete the tasks.
  9. Seem all put together but on the inside struggling.
  10. When the routine is disrupted it cause an upset.

Many people are not able to see the basic physical symptoms that anxiety is able to bring but a primary care provider may identify the signs of chronic stress, including high blood pressure, heart problems, poor immune system, digestive problems, muscle pain, and weight loss or gain.

The 10 symptoms are the main ones that someone may experience, or a therapist is able to see when trying to figure out the issues of what is happening. Many people who experience these symptoms typically do not think they are a “bad thing,” but they can cause great mental strain. Pushing oneself to a place of burnout can affect one’s present mental state, relationships, and is not a lifestyle that is sustainable, long term. There are a few things that one can do to be able to cope through these issues and help oneself prevent such dire consequences from happening.

The first step to progress is being able to recognize your symptoms. Many symptoms appear in the form of overdoing, overthinking, and over performing. So if this is you, ask yourself, “why am I feeling like this?” and see if you can identify any underlying insecurities, fears, or concerns. The next thing is being able to cope with your fear. It is so important to reflect and acknowledge this fear and not allow it to take control of your emotions or actions. By acknoweldging some of these fears, you will be able to reconnect with your body and true self. Other ways of coping include taking deep breathes, stretching, walking, working out, and any other activity that helps bring a sense of joy and gives you a break from the stressors of life.

Next is having a mantra that you are able to use every day that will help you be okay with who you are. Examples include, “Who I am right now is good enough for me” or “I am doing my best.” These types of thoughts allow you to help rewire your thought patterns and help you to begin to deeply believe that you are doing enough and are content with who you really are. Next is the ability to learn how to intervene on your behalf. This will help you realize when you are getting really anxious or something is causing it and intentionally making the decision to step away from the stressor, take a breather, and return to the situation in a calmer state. Lastly, and something that is just as important as any of the other coping skills listed above is ensuring that you have a strong support group around you. This will help you not feel like you are not struggling alone.

High functioning anxiety is very common but usually undiagnosed because many people do not realize the symptoms or severity of the situations. It is helpful to now be able to realize how it is and how much strain it puts on yourself. After walking through these steps, you will notice that you are able to better cope with your anxious states and do things for you; things that allow you to take the time that you need to refresh and heal from the stress of life.

Written by Jessica Moskal, Content Contributor

References
The Characteristics of High Functioning Anxiety
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-high-functioning-anxiety-4140198

6 Daily hack that help manage High-Functioning Anxiety
https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/hacks-high-functioning-anxiety#4.-Have-a-mantra,-and-use-it-every-day

High Functioning Anxiety: The 10 Symptoms
https://www.specializedtherapy.com/10-signs-of-high-functioning-anxiety/


Tags

Get in touch

Name*
Email*
Message
0 of 350
>