What is High-Functioning Anxiety?
Anxiety is an extremely common issue affecting more than 40 million adults in the United States alone. It’s something that people experience as part of their daily lives, often struggling with it in situational trigger moments.
Sometimes, however, people have anxiety that might not be as noticeable, if at all, to those on the outside. You may be one of them. When this occurs, it is called high-functioning anxiety. Let’s take a closer look at some of the signs of high-functioning anxiety.
Symptoms of Anxiety
High-functioning anxiety is under the umbrella of anxiety and shares many common symptoms. No matter which type of anxiety you have, you may experience irritability, concentration issues, difficulty with decision-making, trouble sleeping, fear of failing, and fatigue.
The biggest difference comes from how you manage those symptoms. It’s not uncommon for a person suffering from high anxiety to be unaware of their own symptoms. Most often, people in your circle or those who work closely with you don’t notice your symptoms either. Those with high anxiety are good at hiding what’s going on internally.
Perfectionism
High-functioning anxiety strays a bit from general anxiety when it comes to perfectionism. Generally, with anxiety, you become anxious and avoidant in fear of failing or making some type of mistake.
For those with high-functioning anxiety, almost the opposite is true. You tend to say yes to responsibilities and deliver results without mistakes. Your anxiety causes fear of failure and in turn, leads to perfectionist behavior.
Overcommitment
High-functioning anxiety still induces fear, but your worry comes with the thought of saying no to someone or something. Where typical anxiety leads to avoiding additional responsibilities, social gatherings, and in some instances work, school, and daily activities, high-functioning manifests a bit differently.
You’re a silent sufferer. You’ll say yes to that work outing. Taking on extra projects at work is “no issue.” As the daily responsibilities stack up, you handle them without asking for assistance. This internal fear of disappointing anyone keeps you going, but often at the expense of your well-being.
Catastrophic Thinking
With all this internal buildup and the fake-it behavior on the outside, the anxious energy has to go somewhere. It’s not uncommon for high-functioning anxiety sufferers to have racing thoughts and catastrophic thinking.
You may lose sleep at night because you can't shut your brain off. To make matters worse, rather than your spiraling mind going from zero to 100, it goes from zero to 1,000. Your thoughts may be stuck on making a mistake at work, worrying that you'll get fired over it. Or you had a small conflict with a significant other and now you assume you’re ending your relationship. There is no middle ground in the anxiety thought process.
High Success and Achievement
While high-functioning anxiety sounds like a negative, some benefits are worth highlighting. One of those is being a high-achieving individual.
This type of anxiety gives you the drive and motivation to tackle your big, scary goals. Rather than being avoidant, it results in having a big and outgoing personality. You know how to interact in social situations and handle yourself under pressure. You're more inclined to have passion for your life.
Organizational Skills
Those with high-functioning anxiety are often great with organizational skills. You have a strong ability to plan and focus on the details. This coincides with that perfectionist behavior as well. Your anxiety and fear of failure have led to adaptations in your work methods that allow you to channel that energy into productive habits.
If any of this sounds familiar to you, you may be dealing with high-functioning anxiety. While there are some benefits, it often comes with drawbacks to your mental health and well-being. We’re here to help. Schedule an appointment for counseling for professionals with us today.
