What is high functioning anxiety?
High functioning anxiety is a chronic, ongoing feeling of anxiety that goes on for months or even years. Individuals with high functioning anxiety can usually manage their life and career well while constantly feeling an impending doom hovering over their heads.
Is it different from anxiousness?
Very much. This is different from feeling anxious occasionally. Unlike anxiousness, high functioning anxiety needs to be treated professionally. If left untreated, it can increase stress levels and even affect the person’s physical health over time.
Since, we help our clients deal with and manage high functioning anxiety, here are some sneaky signs we notice all the time:
Signs of high functioning anxiety:
1. Insomnia and resulting fatigue
People with high functioning anxiety tend to have difficulty falling asleep. Their thoughts take over and restrict them from being able to fall asleep. Over time that causes fatigue and affects the mental and physical wellbeing of that person.
2. Constantly thinking ‘What if?’
If you catch yourself thinking ‘What if’ questions very often, to the point that you cannot think straight, relax or sleep well, you know you are suffering from high functioning anxiety.
3. Ruminating over the past
Constantly reminding yourself of past mistakes and incidents. This is a major sign and cause of high functioning anxiety. It is imperative that you let go of the past to be able to deal with your anxiety better. Therapy can help you with this.
4. Inability to completely relax
Signs like foot tapping or curling hair. Even fidgeting with the objects around you without intention is another sign of high functioning anxiety.
5. Overworking and procrastination
It is the human body’s reaction to experiencing high levels of stress caused by high functioning anxiety. When you work too much at once and then cannot get yourself up from the couch the next day, consider speaking to your therapist about anxiety disorders.
6. Muscle tension and shallow breathing
Signs like muscle pain, inability to take regular deep breaths and even a rapid heartbeat are some physical symptoms of high functioning anxiety. Individuals who go through this for a long period of time tend to develop weaker immunity and eventually other health disorders. All of this can be prevented and even cured by learning to manage their high functioning anxiety effectively.
7. Stomach issues
Nausea, improper digestion and gastrointestinal issues are a tell-tale sign of high functioning anxiety. When your body undergoes chronic stress, it is forced to focus on survival mechanisms. Hence, other systems like the digestive system get negatively impacted. While not all gastrointestinal issues are related to anxiety, they are a common sign we notice in individuals with high functioning anxiety.
If you do notice yourself experiencing any of these signs, we urge you to take action on managing your high functioning anxiety.
While that takes time and professional help, here are some short-term solutions you can work on in the meanwhile
Easy to implement solutions for high functioning anxiety
1. Focusing on the facts
People with anxiety tend to believe their false overthinking more than the facts. Which is why the habit of focusing on facts helps a lot when it comes to dealing with high functioning anxiety. The simple practice of shifting one’s perspective and focusing more on actual facts can help in managing high functioning anxiety.
2. Yoga
Movement like Yoga which improves energy flow in your body and balances your hormones is crucial. Since Yoga is slow as compared to regular cardio, it doesn’t spike cortisol or raise an already risen heartbeat.
Hence, individuals with high functioning anxiety are suggested activities like Yoga to manage their emotional health and wellbeing better.
3. Meditation
The practice of quieting down, closing your eyes and listening to yourself helps a lot in managing high functioning anxiety. While it will take time and effort, daily meditation helps a lot in solving and dealing with high functioning anxiety and its symptoms effectively.
4. Therapy
We want to mention that it is absolutely possible to live a happy life while managing high functioning anxiety. Therapy helps with this immensely. You do not have to deal with it alone.
Book an appointment with us here to learn how you can solve it.
Let’s create a happy, anxiety free life for you!