What is High-Functioning Anxiety?
What it Looks Like
With high-functioning anxiety, it’s typically less debilitating. It pushes you through your day rather than causing you to freeze. On the outside, you appear to be highly driven and often successful in work and life. On the inside, however, your anxiety is riding high.
At work or school, you probably show up early, and your projects are completed on time. Your appearance does not show your anxiety on the inside. Your hair is well-kept, and your clothes are on point.
In your personal life, you are generally the first one to help your loved ones. You never want to be perceived as a bad friend or family member. When it comes to a social schedule, you prefer to keep it booked.
The Pros
There are undoubtedly benefits of high-functioning anxiety. Few things slip between the cracks because of hyper-vigilance. Being organized and detail-oriented can help you achieve success. Additionally, you are probably an excellent multitasker because you keep so many balls in the air simultaneously. Others will see you as active, passionate, and dependable, turning to you when something needs to get done.
The Cons
While the pros of high-functioning anxiety might seem desirable, they come at a cost. It takes a lot of energy to maintain high-functioning anxiety, and burnout can happen swiftly. If that anxiety turns into a diagnosable condition, it will interfere with your ability to function in your daily life.
If you talk a lot, especially when nervous, it could be related to your anxiety. You may also have nervous habits or repetitive behaviors that are your anxiety working its way out.
If you fear disappointing people, it can cause people-pleasing behavior. This can also drive a need for reassurance. You worry so much that you can’t always enjoy the present moment or find yourself intimidated in certain situations.
Just like with general anxiety, you may also experience insomnia, overthinking, racing thoughts, fatigue, and difficulty relaxing.
Causes of High-Functioning Anxiety
High-functioning anxiety stems from a number of things, including:
Stress in your personal life
Stress in your work life
Physical issues
Medications
Financial issues
Burnout
Abuse
What triggers one person may not be the same trigger for another person. The common denominator tends to be pressure to succeed and an experience with trauma.
General anxiety can shift to high-functioning as a result of your upbringing. When you have the mindset that it’s human nature to experience challenges, and they only will make you stronger, you have a better advantage in coping with the stress to continue through your daily tasks.
How to Manage Your Anxiety
High-functioning anxiety is still a type of anxiety, and while you may be able to function “normally,” there will come a time when it becomes a burden.
Self-awareness is one of the most important things to work on, especially because you may not make the association between symptoms and life stresses. You need to take red flags seriously as a sign to address your anxiety.
You also need to have boundaries for that over-achiever nature you work with. If you don’t keep yourself in check, the pressure will build and spiral into worsening stress. Examples can include:
Shortening your workdays
Scheduling allotted times for certain activities
Carving in time to focus on mindfulness and exercise
If you think you may be dealing with high-functioning anxiety and would like to learn more, contact us today.