High-Functioning Anxiety Explained
Experiencing anxiety is a normal part of the human experience. In moderation, it can be a helpful motivator that keeps us focused on what we need to accomplish. The problem with anxiety is when it is experienced too often.
Generalized anxiety disorder(GAD) is one of the most common mental health disorders in the world. Millions of people in the United States alone experience it, and that number is slowly on the rise. When anxiety becomes chronic, it can impact virtually every area of somebody's life.
If we envision a scale, one end is people with chronic anxiety, and the other is people who don't regularly deal with anxiety symptoms. Then, in the middle are those who are considered to have high-functioning anxiety.
What Is Anxiety?
Even though most people understand what anxiety is, it will be useful for this post to go over it in more detail. People who experience chronic anxiety can go through any combination of the following symptoms:
Uncontrollable or negative thoughts
Excessive worries
Fearing the worst possible outcome
Racing heart
Clamminess
Rapid/shallow breathing
Muscle tension
Nausea
Stomach aches
Headaches
Restlessness
Panic attacks
Anxiety can negatively impact the way someone functions at school, at work, and in their relationships. It's like your brain and body are always in overdrive, and you can't do anything to help calm things down. GAD and other anxiety-related disorders can be clinically diagnosed by a medical professional.
What Is High-Functioning Anxiety?
Don't let the name fool you; high-functioning anxiety is still anxiety. However, unlike GAD, it is not something that can be diagnosed. Someone with high-functioning anxiety can still have all of the symptoms listed above, but it doesn't impact their life as profoundly as someone with chronic anxiety. That does not mean that it isn't affecting them, though.
To the outside world, it might seem as if there are no issues. However, underneath the surface, anxiety is still boiling and causes issues.
Signs of High-Functioning Anxiety
One of the effects of high-functioning anxiety is it causes someone to have perfectionist tendencies. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be the best you can be. However, this can cause someone to have unrealistic expectations for themselves as well as others.
In addition to the signs we listed above, someone with high-functioning anxiety may:
Have problems saying no to other people.
Take on more projects than they can handle at one time at work.
Never feel satisfied that they are doing or have accomplished enough.
Have major doubts about themselves or the skills that they possess.
Belittle themselves for any mistake that is made.
How To Deal With High-Functioning Anxiety
If any of that resonates with you, there may be a good chance that you are dealing with high-functioning anxiety. Even though it may not be debilitating, you still deserve to find relief from it.
Accept Mistakes
You are likely harsh on yourself when you make a mistake, or something doesn't go as planned. Life is far from perfect, and there is nothing wrong with that. Managing high-functioning anxiety needs to start with the acceptance of mistakes. You're human and not everything will go smoothly all the time. Give yourself some grace to accept that.
Don't Listen To Your Inner Critic
It tries to convince you that you aren't worthy. That you aren't good enough or skilled enough to accomplish what you need to. Anxiety has a nasty way of trying to tell you lies about yourself. Don't listen to this voice. In the end, the only purpose it serves is to drive your anxiety levels through the roof.
Therapy
High-functioning anxiety may not be a diagnosable mental health condition, but it can still impact your mental health. When it is left to its own devices, there may be a chance that it can turn into chronic anxiety.
No matter what kind of anxiety you have, you deserve to find relief. Reach out to learn more about stress therapy and how it can benefit you.
