What does high functioning anxiety look like?

High-functioning anxiety is a type of anxiety that is often unnoticed because people who have it appear to be calm and successful on the outside. However, on the inside, they feel anxious, stressed, and self-doubt, which leads to excessive worrying and overthinking. They may find it hard to relax and feel a constant pressure to achieve perfection in their work, relationships, and personal life.

Some of the signs and symptoms of high-functioning anxiety include difficulty managing stress, overworking, work-life balance struggles, exhaustion, physical health problems, sleep difficulties, difficulties relaxing, and perfectionism.

It is possible to break free from high-functioning anxiety by seeking support, developing greater self-awareness, practicing self-compassion, working on your mindset, prioritising self-care, and learning coping strategies that work for you.

While it may be unrealistic to eliminate anxiety altogether, it is possible to manage high-functioning anxiety so that it no longer negatively impacts your wellbeing, physical health, relationships, social life, and performance.

Do you ever feel like you are constantly battling to keep it together, even though from the outside, you appear calm, collected, and successful? If so, you may be experiencing high-functioning anxiety.

This type of anxiety can be challenging to recognise because many individuals who experience it tend to look like they have it all together. However, within oneself, there is persistent worrying, self-doubt, stress, and overthinking that keeps them up at night. Those with high-functioning anxiety fear failure and success, find it hard to relax, and feel constant pressure to achieve perfection.

Managing high-functioning anxiety starts with recognising the signs and symptoms, including difficulty managing stress, excessive worrying, comparison and self-doubt, overworking, and struggling to establish a healthy work-life balance. Over time, anxiety can manifest physically, leading to symptoms such as muscle tension, headaches, stomach aches, and more. However, with the right support, it is possible to break free from high-functioning anxiety.

If you are struggling with high-functioning anxiety, know that seeking support is a sign of strength and not a weakness. It is essential to approach high-functioning anxiety with realistic expectations and remember that it is normal to experience anxiety occasionally in response to certain stressors or challenging situations.

With greater self-awareness, self-compassion, and coping strategies, you can learn to manage high-functioning anxiety so that it no longer negatively impacts your wellbeing, physical health, relationships, social life, and performance.

If you are looking for support to manage high-functioning anxiety, consider following @therapywithnicola on Instagram for helpful tips and advice. You can also book a complimentary introductory discovery call for 1:1 support. Remember, you don't have to do it all alone, and seeking support is a sign of strength.