What is High-Functioning Anxiety? (& 3 Ways to Manage It)
When you’re dealing with high-functioning anxiety, it can be hard to reconcile the way you appear on the outside with the way you truly feel on the inside.
Even though you’re doing everything you need to, and doing it well, you might be struggling to get through the day.
Here at KMA Therapy, we know that just because your life looks fine on the surface, it doesn’t mean that you feel okay.
Just because your anxiety isn’t interfering with your ability to complete your daily tasks, it doesn’t mean you don’t deserve support to feel better.
After reading this article, you’ll know how to recognize high-functioning anxiety and learn three ways to help manage it.
What is High-Functioning Anxiety?
High-functioning anxiety is when you are experiencing high levels of anxiety, while still managing the tasks of your daily life well.
Even though high-functioning anxiety isn’t a clinical diagnosis, experiencing high levels of anxiety can still have a negative impact on your quality of life.
What Does High-Functioning Anxiety Feel Like?
When you’re experiencing high-functioning anxiety, you may feel constantly “on edge.”
Even though you’re managing to keep things afloat at work and at home, you feel like you’re never quite able to relax.
On the outside, you appear calm and collected - but internally, you’re planning a step ahead, trying to anticipate every little thing that could go wrong.
Specific Signs of High-Functioning Anxiety include:
- Irritability
- Perfectionism
- Clenching your jaw
- Trouble falling asleep
- Difficulty concentrating
- Muscle tension or headaches
What Can Cause High-Functioning Anxiety?
A wide range of factors can contribute to high-functioning anxiety, whether you’ve experienced it for a while, or it’s something new in your life.
Causes of High-Functioning Anxiety include:
- Financial stress
- Difficult life events
- Intense fear of failure
- Relationship challenges
- Family history of anxiety
- Stress at work or at home
Even though high-functioning anxiety may not be affecting your ability to complete the tasks of daily life, you still deserve support to start feeling better.
3 Ways to Manage High-Functioning Anxiety
Making small changes in your daily life can often help ease the weight of high-functioning anxiety.
Dedicating some time in your day to care for yourself, and making your well-being a priority, can help lessen the symptoms you may be experiencing.
Here are 3 ways to lessen feelings of anxiety:
1. Manage Your Lifestyle
Giving yourself a solid foundation to start from can help you manage your anxiety.
Things like nourishing your body with healthy foods and improving your sleep can be a great place to start.
Exercise also has many benefits for your mental health including boosting your mood, improving your self-esteem, and reducing feelings of anxiety and depression.
Any form of exercise is beneficial, so try:
- Downloading a workout app
- Watching a dance workout video on YouTube
- Putting on your favourite podcast and walking around the block
2. Explore Coping Strategies
Finding ways to cope with your anxiety can make it feel easier to manage.
While the lifestyle tips from point one are a great way to begin coping with anxiety, there are other ways you can begin to feel better.
Read 7 Unconventional Ways to Handle Anxiety for seven anxiety management tips you may not have seen before.
3. Seek Out Professional Help
Even though you’re managing to keep things together, that doesn’t mean you have to deal with anxiety alone.
An anxiety therapist can help you explore what’s causing your anxiety, figure out coping strategies, and help you figure out how to live a more fulfilling life.
Read How to Find a Therapist for Anxiety to learn more.
When Should You Seek Help for Anxiety?
If you feel like you could benefit from professional support, know that you deserve to seek it out.
Whether you have an anxiety disorder or not, anxious feelings can negatively impact your quality of life, and you could benefit from seeking professional support.
Signs it's time to see a therapist for anxiety:
- Poor quality of sleep
- Changes in your appetite
- Changes in your social life or isolation
- Feeling very distressed or overwhelmed
Ultimately, you know yourself best. If you feel like you could benefit from talking to a mental health professional about anxiety, it can help to reach out to one.
Next Steps for Managing Anxiety
After reading this article, you know how to recognize high-functioning anxiety, and when it may be time to seek out professional help.
Here at KMA Therapy, our experienced therapists are here to help you manage your anxiety and live a more fulfilling life. For over 14 years, we’ve helped our clients learn new ways to cope with anxiety and stop it from taking over their lives.
Book an appointment today, or connect with our caring team to learn more.
Visit our Anxiety Therapy page to learn more about support for anxiety here at KMA Therapy.
If you’re not yet ready to book an appointment, check out these articles to keep learning:
