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Many people can function well at work and in relationships but still have nagging worries or thoughts of disaster. The anxiety may not interfere with your life, but it can still impair function. Here we look at what you can do if you have high-functioning anxiety.
What is high-functioning anxiety?
High-functioning anxiety is not an official diagnosis but describes people who outwardly function well in work, school, and relationships despite experiencing significant anxiety symptoms.
In healthcare settings, the problem might be better described as a mild to moderate anxiety problem, where people are not so limited by their symptoms and do not avoid too many things.
People with high-functioning anxiety may seem successful but may still have difficulties with worry, fear and other anxiety-related symptoms.
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Symptoms of high-functioning anxiety
With mild to moderate anxiety problems, people can still function relatively well in everyday life. You may have a job and close relationships but may still experience difficulties where you worry a lot about things other people don’t think about as much, and you may try to compensate for your fears by over-performing. Read more at the bottom of this page.
Anxiety can be linked to anxiety disorders such as social anxiety and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), but it can also be a stress problem or develop into the sleep disorder insomnia. It is important to get an assessment by a professional such as a psychologist to get the right treatment. Some characteristics of high-performance anxiety are:
- Excessive worry: Constantly worrying about the future, and planning or overanalyzing situations.
- Perfectionism: Thoughts of having to perform perfectly in all situations, often driven by the fear of failure or being judged.
- Overcompensation: Working extra hard to hide their anxiety, which can lead to high performance but also exhaustion.
- Need for constant busyness: Difficulty relaxing and the need to always be busy to avoid anxious thoughts.
- Social anxiety: Feelings of anxiety about social situations and how others perceive you.
- Sleep problems: Difficulty falling asleep or sleeping through the night due to worrying thoughts.
- Physical symptoms: Can also be related to stress and include muscle tension, stomach problems, rapid heartbeat, and fatigue.
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Can high-functioning anxiety be treated?
All anxiety problems can be treated, regardless of your level of functionality. Often the anxiety has some impact even if it doesn’t limit your life completely. The main recommended treatment for anxiety problems is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which involves an individualized analysis of situations and thought patterns. CBT works on the feelings, thoughts and behaviours associated with anxiety and changing behaviours and thought patterns to reduce suffering and improve quality of life.
Another treatment for anxiety problems is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which focuses on values and how to live by them. Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) works on self-compassion and feelings of shame, which can negatively drive performance.
Treatment of mild to moderate anxiety is usually done in primary care. More severe problems, where you are often more limited in your function, are treated at a specialist level. Treatment in primary care can be between about 4-10 sessions, and at Lavendla, we have several psychologists and qualified therapists who can help.
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The first step to seek help
If you recognize the symptoms, it is good to seek help. Improving your quality of life is possible, even if you are functioning well externally. Our service offers contact with psychologists and therapists who are ready to support you through your journey. We make the hard things easier.
12 FAQs about High-Functioning Anxiety
What is high-functioning anxiety?
High-functioning anxiety is not an official diagnosis, but describes people who outwardly function, despite experiencing significant anxiety symptoms.
Is high-functioning anxiety a diagnosis?
You can have mild, moderate or severe anxiety. High-functioning anxiety is usually a milder form of anxiety because the symptoms do not interfere with daily life.
Can high-functioning anxiety be treated?
Any type of anxiety disorder can be treated, no matter how much it affects your daily life.
What are the symptoms of high-functioning anxiety?
Anxiety can mean worrying a lot about different things, such as what others think, how you perform and whether you have done enough. The symptoms can be linked to social anxiety, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), stress issues and sleep problems.
If I have trouble sleeping, is it high-functioning anxiety?
Worry can lead to the development of sleep problems, but if these problems persist long enough, you can develop insomnia, which is the medical term for sleep problems.
How is high-functioning anxiety treated?
High-functioning anxiety is treated like any other anxiety disorder, using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
Can exercise affect anxiety problems?
Yes, any kind of exercise can be helpful, but you may also need psychological help.
I stress a lot, do I have anxiety?
Stress and anxiety can have similar symptoms, but people usually don’t avoid things as much as those who are stressed. You can have a lot of performance-based thoughts and behaviours in both conditions.
I worry about everything, why do I do that?
In Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), you often worry about a variety of things, and it is possible to get help.
How does social media affect high functioning anxiety?
Social media can amplify anxiety by creating a sense of inadequacy as individuals compare their lives with others. This can cause people to put pressure on themselves to perform which can reduce their quality of life.
I feel exhausted, is it anxiety?
Being tired can be a symptom of anxiety if, for example, you are afraid of failure and overperforming, but in the case of stress-related problems, there may be other driving forces. If you have symptoms of fatigue syndrome, you should be assessed by a doctor first.
Where can I turn if I need help?
Through our website, you can book an initial session with a therapist or psychologist to describe your problems and start planning a treatment. We can help you make the hard things easier.
Step-by-step treatment for high functioning anxiety
Here is a summary of how health anxiety could be treated using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). There is help available and this gives you an idea of the steps you may take in therapy:
- Assessment of symptoms: The first step is for a psychologist or qualified therapist to help you evaluate your situation and history. You may also be asked to complete assessment forms.
- Psychoeducation and objectives: You will learn about your anxiety and how it affects you both physically and psychologically. They work on analyzing situations and setting goals for treatment.
- Tools for changing behaviours and patterns: You will work on identifying and changing patterns of thinking that are linked to your health anxiety. Together with your therapist, you can work with different tools to overcome health anxiety. You will be given homework to practice between sessions.
- Follow-up and evaluation progress: Your psychologist will support you throughout the process. At the end of treatment, you will receive a plan to continue practising and to maintain your progress over time.
Feel free to book a first session with one of our psychologists or therapists to see how we can help you. We make the hard things easier.
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