Anxiety may be a normal part of life, but although most of us experience a healthy amount of it now and again, for others it is a mental disorder that can interfere with many aspects of their lives. In fact, it is one of the most common mental health conditions that affect millions of adults.
Despite this, many people still have the wrong idea about anxiety. You might imagine panic attacks and withdrawal from the world, an inability to function normally. But not all anxiety is like that. The mental disorder affects people in different ways, and one of the manifestations of anxiety is what is known as high-functioning anxiety.
People with high-functioning anxiety appear to function well on the outside, and not only accomplish tasks normally but may also be quite achievement-oriented and highly motivated. Contrary to the usual expectations of anxiety, those who are high-functioning typically do not avoid situations that may trigger their anxiety. A desire to manage their fears may lead them to try to achieve more.
But although they might seem just fine to others, people with high-functioning anxiety are struggling on the inside. They may be motivated to do better in different aspects of their lives, but they are still plagued with racing thoughts and a feeling that they are not doing well enough. Internally, they still suffer from the same symptoms of the disorder, which may include fear, excessive worry, rapid heart rate, gastrointestinal distress, irritability, and strong feelings of impending doom.
If these descriptions fit you to a T, you might be suffering from high-functioning anxiety. Here are some other symptoms you might identify with.
1. You always keep yourself busy.
People may see you as someone who does not like to be idle and who is happier when constantly busy. Your schedule is always packed and you like to keep moving. But this is all because you need activities to keep your mind off other things. You dread being alone with your own thoughts.
2. You tend to be controlling and strict with yourself.
You set strict routines for yourself and feel the need to be in control of the things that you do. This makes you feel like you are more in charge of your life. Even small mistakes such as putting on the wrong pair of shoes or being a little late for an appointment can trigger your symptoms of anxiety.
3. You are an overachieving perfectionist.
You have unrealistic expectations of yourself, in practically every aspect of your life. You strive for perfection and are afraid that you would not be able to achieve the goals you have set for yourself. And should you be unable to meet your own expectations, you sometimes feel like you are a failure.
4. You feel unexplained aches and have repetitive habits.
Your anxious mental state can affect your physical self. You might find yourself feeling unexplained aches and pains, such as in your neck and shoulders, or discomfort in your stomach. You may have developed ticks or repetitive habits such as chewing on your fingernails, tapping your foot, or counting your steps. These may be signs of the anxiety you are trying to suppress.
5. You have poor sleeping habits.
Instead of getting a good night’s rest from your constant activity, you have difficulty getting to sleep. You may spend many an unquiet night as your daily anxiety disturbs your sleep.
6. You are afraid of letting other people down.
High-functioning anxiety may turn you into a people-pleaser. You tend to engage yourself in negative thoughts that you might not be doing good enough. You constantly worry that you are letting other people down and that you might drive them away.
7. You are not easy to read.
Others may see you as someone who barely expresses an emotion. They may think you are indifferent, when in fact you are just trying to keep your anxious feelings to yourself. You attempt to control your emotions to be able to remain logical and act rationally.
8. You do not know when to stop.
Because you set impossible standards on yourself, you find yourself being unable to say no to more things than you can handle. You tend to stretch yourself too thin. You may end up getting yourself swamped with work, social plans, or other commitments just because you feel the need to make others happy and are afraid of letting them down.
If you can identify with these signs of high-functioning anxiety, the first step in managing it is to recognize and accept your symptoms for what they are. When you realize that your reactions are unreasonable, you may be on your way to overcome them.
Embracing a healthy lifestyle with a good diet and regular exercise can help you improve your state of mind and boost your self-esteem. You may want to engage in healthy activities such as yoga or meditation.
Practicing mindfulness strategies can help keep you grounded in the present instead of imagining worst-case scenarios of future events. Another way to develop skills to change your irrational thinking is cognitive-behavioral therapy.
If you feel that you can not handle your condition on your own, do not be afraid to seek professional help. Mental health experts can offer the right treatment for you to help you manage your anxiety. Having a support group who understands what you are going through can also go a long way in improving your quality of life.
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