What is High-Functioning Anxiety?

Anxiety is the most common mental health issue on the planet. It’s the top reason why anyone seeks medical care. Despite such prevalence, there are countless causes of high anxiety that go unreported and thus, undiagnosed. This could be due to a lack of awareness or the stigma. But there’s another reason why the anxiety count skews low. High-functioning anxiety is a thing.

As the name implies, you can meet the criteria of an anxiety disorder yet figure out how to disguise the distress. In fact, you can do this so well that you become the go-to person in your family or friend group. How is this possible?

A Few Basics About Anxiety

It’s a natural emotion designed to keep us safe. If humans didn’t get anxious, then no one would be left to read this post. However, our anxiety-related mechanisms can short-circuit. In situations like this, we lose at least some of our ability to discern real from perceived threats. We also overreact in a big way.

Not that long ago, humans lived much riskier lives. Being hyper-cautious about, say, predators was warranted. Today, we experience the same wariness for fear of looking silly on social media. A delicate neurological balance is askew; we will display symptoms to prove it. Meanwhile, some folks struggle with the above but have mastered the ability to mask the dysfunction behind a carefully constructed wall of hyper-efficiency. Those people are dealing with high-functioning anxiety.

What’s Different About High-Functioning Anxiety?

In the oft-mentioned battles between fight and flight, most people with anxiety may opt to avoid, dissociate, or shut down. Those with high-functioning anxiety will stand their ground. In other words, if they can behave in a way that appears to be the opposite of anxious, they’ve staved off the dread of being judged, observed, or embarrassed. You’d probably be shocked to learn who has high-functioning anxiety in your life. As mentioned above, they might appear to be the calmest and reliable people you know.

At the same time, life with high-functioning anxiety is a double challenge. You’re dealing with the rampant scourge of out-of-control anxiety. You’re also working, all day long, so as not to let anyone know. Here are just two of many of the frustrating characteristics of high-functioning anxiety:

You’re Exhausted

Every single day, you hear an anxious inner voice running your life. On its own, this is enough to cause mental fatigue. On top of that, you’re committed to the non-stop effort to prove that voice wrong. This is mentally exhausting, especially since people so often come to rely on you. You say yes to every request for help because, well, if you don’t, they may figure out your secret. It’s like a very dysfunctional superhero movie.

You Wish Someone Would Nurture You

You feel better about yourself because you help others by hiding your needs. Meanwhile, you resent others because they ask for your help, but since you hide them so well, they never validate your needs. You want to be heard and nurtured, but that would risk being exposed as less than perfect. While you garner as much self-respect as possible as a helper, it’s not enough.

Just Because You’re High-Functioning Doesn’t Mean You Don’t Need Help

To outside eyes, you’ve got it all together. In reality, no one has it all figured out, and we could all use some support. Anxiety counseling is an ideal method for someone with high-functioning anxiety. You get to show vulnerability and get help in a private setting. Once you’ve found a compatible professional, you’re set up for weekly sessions that address your current patterns and needs.