High-functioning anxiety is not an official diagnosis, but describes those who to the outside world, seem to cope well with life. They are often successful in many areas of their lives; high-performing, achievement-oriented, perfectionistic and highly motivated.
Instead, high-functioning anxiety typically refers to someone who experiences anxiety while still managing daily life quite well. Generally, a person with high-functioning anxiety may appear put together and well- accomplished on the outside, yet experience worry, stress or have obsessive thoughts on the inside.
These include feeling anxious and worrying more days than not for at least six months and other signs such as restlessness, trouble sleeping, muscle tension, and irritability. These problems need to cause clinically significant distress or impairment to warrant an anxiety disorder diagnosis, per the CDC.
Anxiety triggers our natural fight or flight response. Individuals with high-functioning anxiety tend to get stuck in the “fight” mode, whereas those with low-functioning anxiety prefer the “flight” mode.
Medication can also be beneficial treating high functioning anxiety. Usually, antidepressants—selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), anti-anxiety medications—benzodiazepines, and beta blockers are prescribed to decrease anxiety symptoms.
While it isn't a formal diagnosis, don't underestimate the toll this condition can take on mental health. Here's what to know about high-functioning anxiety and tips for how to manage it.
These mental symptoms include: Having a hard time relaxing. Feeling tired all of the time. Having a hard time concentrating.
Test anxiety might look different from student to student, but the following is a list of possible symptoms you might experience: Physical symptoms: Headache, nausea, excessive sweating, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, lightheadedness, and feeling faint.
Be open to listening.
A person with high functioning anxiety may struggle to communicate what they are thinking or even appear emotionally unavailable. Allow them to discuss what they are worried about and try to encourage them by reminding them of their strengths.
The severity of an individual's anxiety can generally be classified as either mild, moderate, severe, or panic-level, the last of which usually qualifies as panic disorder.
Difficult experiences in childhood, adolescence or adulthood are a common trigger for anxiety problems. Going through stress and trauma when you're very young is likely to have a particularly big impact. Experiences which can trigger anxiety problems include things like: physical or emotional abuse.
Depression and anxiety are different conditions, but they commonly occur together. They also have similar treatments. Feeling down or having the blues now and then is normal. And everyone feels anxious from time to time — it's a normal response to stressful situations.
According the National Health Institute of Mental Health, about 40 million adults deal with an anxiety disorder at any given time, and approximately 18 percent of that population fall into the high-functioning category.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Being overly concerned or excessively worrying about everyday problems like health, family, money, disasters, and trouble at work. Can be difficult to relax, you may startle easily, and have difficulty concentrating.
The 5Cs are competence, confidence, character, caring, and connection. The anxiety dimensions are Social anxiety, Physical symptoms, Separation anxiety, and Harm avoidance.
This technique asks you to find five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. Using this with someone who feels anxious will help to calm them down and reduce their feelings of anxiety.
First, you may want to start with a simple deep breathing exercise called the 5-5-5 method. To do this, you breathe in for 5 seconds, hold your breath for 5 seconds, and then breathe out for 5 seconds. You can continue this process until your thoughts slow down or you notice some relief.
It's worth talking to a doctor if you can't bring yourself to leave the house because you fear something bad might happen. If you worry so much that you find yourself with physical sensations, like shaking or hot flashes, a doctor, and perhaps anxiety medication, can help.
feeling tense, nervous or unable to relax. having a sense of dread, or fearing the worst. feeling like the world is speeding up or slowing down. feeling like other people can see you're anxious and are looking at you.