Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions in the world. As such, it impacts people differently. Some might experience symptoms of anxiety that are downright debilitating. Others experience high-functioning anxiety, allowing them to (for the most part), continue to go through daily life without letting their symptoms take control.
While high-functioning anxiety isn’t recognized as an official clinical disorder, that doesn’t make it any less real or valid. What does it look like, and how can you know if you’re dealing with it?
The Problem With High-Functioning Anxiety
On the surface, high-functioning anxiety might not sound that bad. If you’re able to work, maintain friendships, and stay connected with your family, what’s the problem?
Anxiety is anxiety. Because high-functioning anxiety doesn’t often get recognition, it’s a hidden problem. The people dealing with it have to live with many of the damaging effects of anxiety each day, often without others knowing.
Think about the last time you had a terrible headache but you still went to work, or still attended your child’s baseball game. You were able to function, but it didn’t mean you weren’t struggling.
What Does High-Functioning Anxiety Look Like?
On the outside, no one might suspect you have anxiety. You’re successful, and you appear to have it all together. You might even seem calm to everyone else.
On the inside, it’s a different story.
High-functioning anxiety typically results in constant overthinking, the need for reassurance, and even a fear of failure. You might recognize that there’s a problem, but you’re too nervous to take a day off work or even bring it up to someone in your personal life because you’re worried they won’t believe you or that they’ll assume the worst.
The Positive Side
There are some potential “perks” to having high-functioning anxiety. It can drive you to be more successful and to do your best. People with this type of anxiety are often outgoing, hard-working, and very loyal. They’re passionate, punctual, and like to plan.
Of course, all of those perks come with a cost. Everything else might think you have it together, but beneath the surface, it can feel like a constant struggle to keep up with your own worries. If you’ve ever been called a people-pleaser if you have a hard time enjoying the moment, or if you have the inability to say “no” when you’re asked to do something, those could all be signs of high-functioning anxiety that might not seem all that harmful, but can make it difficult to rest, relax, and reset.
What Can You Do?
If any of these signs of high-functioning anxiety sound familiar, recognize that you don’t have to keep hiding your anxious thoughts away forever. They might help you get ahead in your career, but it’s not worth it to feel like you can’t ever relax.
Make a commitment to your mental health and practice self-care. Sometimes, lifestyle changes like exercising, getting more sleep, and practicing mindfulness can help you manage your anxiety.
However, if you can’t seem to find a coping strategy that works, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. It’s not uncommon for people with high-functioning anxiety to turn down invitations to socialize. Don’t let those thoughts cause you to isolate yourself. Feel free to Contact Us for more information or to set up an appointment.
Together, we’ll get to the root cause of your anxiety. Often, it stems from childhood or other past experiences that shaped the way you think or how you might see yourself. Understanding those causes can help you move forward without the need to keep your feelings beneath the surface.