What does an anxious person actually look like? Are they well-put-together, confident, and organized? While this isn’t the image we typically conjure of anxiety disorders, someone with high-functioning anxiety is able to meet the demands of their lives and work without seeming stressed. But under the surface, they’re struggling.

What is High-Functioning Anxiety?

High-functioning anxiety doesn’t present itself in the way we typically think. Unlike its more noticeable counterpart, people grappling with high-functioning anxiety often seem outwardly composed, successful, and in control. However, behind closed doors, these same people grapple with perfectionism, a highly critical inner voice, and perpetual uneasiness.

Those with high-functioning anxiety may excel in their professional and personal lives and seem to navigate stressful situations easily. However, the persistent fear of failure and the need for constant validation drive them to overachieve while setting impossibly high standards for themselves.

Someone with high-functioning anxiety might be:

• Detail-oriented
• Highly driven
• Outgoing and personable
• Proactive
• High achieving

However, behind the mask, they’ll still experience the same symptoms present in anyone with an anxiety disorder. These can include:

• Feeling on edge, tense, or worried
• Impending sense of doom
• Restlessness and irritability
• Excessive sweating
• Racing heart rate
• Headaches
• Gastrointestinal issues
• Sleep disturbances
• Dizziness

Who is at Risk for High-Functioning Anxiety?

While anyone can have high-functioning anxiety, it’s more commonly seen in:

• Women
• Those with a family history of anxiety disorders
• Those with insecure attachments from childhood
• Those whose parents were strict and had high expectations
• Those with highly stressful careers or life circumstances

Day to Day Life with High-Functioning Anxiety

Despite their ability to function at a high level, people with high-functioning anxiety have deep issues with their overall mental health. The chronic stress and pressure they impose on themselves can lead to anxiety disorders, depression, and physical health problems like high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, or a lowered immune system. They may feel isolated and emotionally exhausted due to a constant need to maintain appearances and meet impossible-to-achieve standards.

It can also be hard for someone with high-functioning anxiety to reach out for help. They might be more reluctant to share their internal struggles because it’ll break the illusion that they have it all figured out.

Getting Help

• Acknowledge the issue: Recognizing the signs of high-functioning anxiety is the first step to healing from it. By developing self-awareness and acknowledging their tough emotional experiences, a person can begin the process of coping with their hidden anxiety.
• Set realistic expectations: It’s important to start shifting the focus from perfection to progress. Once realistic expectations are set, it’s easier to celebrate the little wins and understand that setbacks are a natural part of life. This can help remove some internal pressure.
• Learn mindfulness techniques: Incorporating mindfulness practices and meditative techniques into daily routines can help manage anxiety in all its forms. Mindfulness involves noticing sensory experiences, thoughts, and feelings without judgment. Mindfulness allows people to stay in the present moment, quit overthinking, and learn to be calm in times of stress.
• Embrace vulnerability: Part of why it’s so difficult to live with high-functioning anxiety is its secretiveness and perceived shamefulness. By creating a culture that values vulnerability and open communication, it’s easier to come forward with mental health struggles.

Are You Struggling with High-Functioning Anxiety?

If these traits and symptoms resonate with you, you may be living with high-functioning anxiety. It’s important to talk to a mental health professional who can develop a treatment plan that works for you. It may involve a combination of medication and therapy. A therapist can help you uncover the root causes of your anxiety, deconstruct past experiences, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and calm your critical inner voice.

To find out more about how therapy can help you heal from high-functioning anxiety, please reach out to us.