Do you think anxiety is pulling you down and not letting you reach your full potential? Do you feel frustrated that you cannot take more risks because you get overwhelmed? Anxiety never fits in with your life. SO, how can you get rid of it or manage it?

This blog post by Make It Happen Hypnotherapy (MIHH) will give you the best answer. You will know: What high-functioning anxiety is? How does it affect you? And what are the treatment methods you go for?

Definition of High-Functioning Anxiety

High-functioning anxiety is a subtype of anxiety disorder. You may have it all; you may be doing great at work, relationships, and personal achievements. However, you may be feeling extremely doubtful and worried about everything all the time.

31.1% of adults in the U.S. have any anxiety disorder at some time in their lives.

Importance of Recognizing and Understanding High-Functioning Anxiety

It helps you find out the root causes of your worries and get treatment. Your condition can get worse and worse if you ignore your symptoms.

Different Types of Anxiety Disorders

1. Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Generalised Anxiety Disorder makes you worry constantly and too much about various aspects of your life, i.e. work, health, relationships, or even everyday situations. If you have GAD, you may become overwhelmed by worry. As a result, you may have physical symptoms i.e. muscle tension, restlessness, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.

Thing is, your situation may not be as bad. You may fret over a potential car accident when actually… a car passed by your car in the fast lane. It can make you so apprehensive that you may not be able to do anything all day long.

2. Social Anxiety Disorder

Social Anxiety Disorder or social phobia happens when you start being extremely afraid of social situations. You may fear judgement, embarrassment, or scrutiny by people. 

This fear can make you become isolated. You may avoid social interactions, public speaking, or situations where you may be the centre of attention.

You may feel sweating, trembling, rapid heartbeat, nausea, and blushing too. Social anxiety can practically end your social life and possible promotions, too.

3. Panic Disorder

You get sudden panic attacks if you have Panic Disorder. You may have episodes of intense fear or discomfort along with physical symptoms i.e. chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, and feelings that a great danger is about to come. 

Panic attacks can get full-blown within minutes. They might be triggered by hurtful situations or may even be unexpected.

You may always be on the lookout for another panic attack. This can make you avoid getting out of the house or talk to people. What’s more, panic disorder can coexist with other anxiety disorders or mood disorders which can make things more complicated.

4. Specific Phobias

It is an extreme and often misplaced fear of some things, situations, or activities. Common phobias are: 

Fear of heights (acrophobia) 

Fear of flying (aviophobia)

Fear of spiders (arachnophobia) 

Fear of enclosed spaces (claustrophobia) 

Fear of needles (trypanophobia), etc.

You may go to great lengths to avoid triggering situations if you have a phobia. It can have disastrous effects on your daily life. You may not meet anyone, leave your work and go into financial ruin, or any such circumstances if you don’t get professional help immediately.

Each type of anxiety disorder comes with its own symptoms. Also, they have different treatment methods. One size doesn’t fit all. So, you must understand these symptoms to get the most suitable treatment.

10 Symptoms of High-Functioning Anxiety

• You Overthink and revisit past hurtful events and compare them with your future.

• You cannot relax or have inner peace… even if you are doing something you love.

• You are a perfectionist and fear failing or making mistakes.

• You may always have muscle tension, headaches, or stomach problems.

• You cannot fall asleep or stay asleep because of “racing thoughts” or restlessness.

• You want other peoples’ approval too much… because you are always uncertain if you did your best or not.

• You always over-prepare to avoid unexpected situations or surprises.

• You cannot say no or set boundaries. It can overwhelm you or burn you out.

• You are always worried about one thing or another…even when everything seems to be going well

• You are always composed and confident outside. However, you are anxious or overwhelmed from the inside.

Causes of High-Functioning Anxiety

Biological Factors: You may develop anxiety disorders genetically. Or, your brain chemistry might get dis-balanced somehow. These factors can develop high-functioning anxiety.

Environmental Factors: If you underwent trauma, abuse, bullying, dysfunctional upbringing for too long… you may develop high-functioning anxiety.

Personality Traits: Your personality can make you pathologically anxious, too. If you are: a perfectionist, pessimistic and critical, controlling, a micromanager, or have an ingrained sense of responsibility… you can develop high-functioning anxiety.

Effect of High-Functioning Anxiety on Your Life

Effects on Personal and Professional Life: High-functioning anxiety can make you very stressed, burned out, unable to make correct decisions, procrastinate, and incapable of maintaining work-life balance.

Relationship Dynamics: Relationships may be strained due to communication barriers, emotional withdrawal, excessive reassurance-seeking behaviour, and difficulty expressing vulnerability.

Physical Health Implications: Untreated high-functioning anxiety is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disorders, weakened immune function, and other stress-related health issues.

Diagnosis of High-Functioning Anxiety

Challenges in Diagnosis:

Diagnosing high-functioning anxiety can be challenging due to the discrepancy between outward success and internal distress, often leading to under-recognition or misdiagnosis.

Screening Tools and Assessments:

Various psychological assessments and structured interviews are used by mental health professionals to assess the severity and impact of high-functioning anxiety.

Seeking Professional Help:

For accurate diagnosis and personalised treatment planning, seek support from qualified mental health professionals, such as therapists, counsellors, or psychiatrists.

Treatment Options

Therapy Approaches:

Therapeutic interventions, including cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based therapy, and exposure therapy, are effective in addressing underlying cognitive and behavioural patterns associated with high-functioning anxiety.

Medication Options:

In some cases, prescription medications such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications may be prescribed to alleviate symptoms of high-functioning anxiety and improve overall well-being.

Lifestyle Changes and Self-Care Strategies:

Adopting healthy lifestyle habits, practising stress management techniques, setting boundaries, engaging in regular physical activity, and prioritising self-care activities can help individuals better manage high-functioning anxiety.

Prioritise Your Mental Health Today with MIHH

At Make It Happen Hypnotherapy (MIHH), we are committed to providing compassionate and practical support for anyone struggling with high-functioning anxiety. Through our specialised hypnotherapy techniques and personalised approach, we empower our clients to overcome their challenges and live fulfilling, anxiety-free lives.

If you or someone you know is grappling with high-functioning anxiety, reach out NOW. Together, we can make anxiety a thing of the past and pave the way for a higher, brighter, more resilient future.

In a Nutshell

Living with high-functioning anxiety presents unique challenges, but with the right tools and support, you can learn to manage your symptoms, cultivate resilience, and thrive in both your personal and professional lives.