High Functioning Anxiety
Do you come across to others as someone who can “get things done”? Have you been told you’re an overachiever? Do you overthink a lot of things? Do you feel like you need to be moving, doing or producing? Are you often left feeling mentally and physically fatigued?
Many of the descriptors I mentioned are viewed as positive and often praised by others. And while these traits can be positive in lots of ways, the reality is underneath all of the thinking, doing and second-guessing is someone who might be dealing with anxiety. This type of anxiety is referred to as “high functioning anxiety.” How can this be more difficult to recognize than other types of anxiety? I am glad you asked…
Just as I previously mentioned, high functioning anxiety is often praised and therefore we are conditioned to believe our behavior as a result of the anxiety is “good.”
Here’s how you might be channeling your anxiety in socially acceptable ways:
You are very productive
You have discovered how you can mask it with/to others
Others might point out how wonderful you are with respect to the way you channel your anxiety
You have seen it work for you in spite of the ways it may be unhelpful
If you really think about it, the exhaustion may be in the idea that there are many desirable aspects to living in this way and you receive positive reinforcement for your behavior. Underneath, you feel the need to, always be on, high achieving, overthinking situations, and all the while there can be a deep sense of not being good enough. All of this driven by the underlying anxiety
The repeated predicting and replaying of negativity in your thoughts may be promoted by your anxiety and in contrast your anxiety can also promote your negative thoughts. Simply stated, your critical and judgemental inner voice can continue to press on your self-worth. Examining which is at play for you...
Engaging in treatment with a therapist is an effective means to working through all of the suggestions below in examination of your anxiety.
What can you do to address your anxiety?
Replace negative or unhelpful thoughts with an affirmation. (Examples of negative or unhelpful thoughts): “I shouldn’t need to ask for help about this.” “I should be more prepared for this situation.” I should have accomplished more.” “I never feel like I am getting anywhere.” “I can’t ever get ahead.” I don’t deserve… Why can’t I ever…?
Giving yourself permission to engage in consistent self-care activities. (Keeping a night time routine and getting enough sleep, exercise and/or movement you enjoy, keeping a daily journal, putting on a favorite music playlist and listening until your heart’s content, doodling/drawing or coloring in a color book, meeting up with friends for lunch, date nights with your significant other)
Pursuing education about the topic. (Talking openly about it… Researching other articles, diving into some self-help materials to more fully explore the topic.)
Utilizing supports available to you. (Friends, co-workers, intimate partners, etc. It can be helpful to have loved ones who can be on this journey with you and have an emotional investment in you finding joy in life and being the best version of you, for you.
Committing to time every day to work on one aspect of your mental health. (Actually carving out time to journal, engage in counseling, be involved in a support group, taking time to meditate or read at the same times each day)
Being realistic about how you can balance work, school, parenting, and any other “adulting” responsibilities. (Are your expectations of yourself realistic? Is the pace you currently keep leaving you feeling like you are on a roller coaster? Can you let some things go and get back to it later or simply say “no”?)
If you’re interested in further exploring how your anxiety is impacting you and how you can find new strategies to better manage symptoms, counseling may be a great option for you. The bottom line is, anxiety is highly treatable. If you’ve ever considered therapy or think it might be a good time to begin, the therapists at The Counseling Collaborative would love to connect with you.
For additional information about high functioning anxiety, check out this article.