It’s time for that thing. That meeting at work, the social event, the job interview, telling someone ‘no’... that thing that makes your heart race, your stomach plummet and makes you run hot and cold. You feel restless. You start overthinking and analyzing everything and every possible outcome.
Sound familiar?
You likely have High Functioning Anxiety.
So what is High Functioning Anxiety? It’s a very real type of anxiety that doesn’t necessarily meet the criteria for a “formal” anxiety diagnosis but impacts us enough to cause unnecessary stress and discomfort. It can get missed altogether as people with high functioning anxiety can appear very successful, “put together” and calm on the outside, while feeling very much the opposite on the inside.
Many have a busy social life, are well-liked and perform well. People with high functioning anxiety are often described as overachievers, people-pleasers, good students, good athletes, good employees, good friends. They show up early to work, get shit done, and they meet expectations...but the inside doesn’t match the outside. Inside is a fear of failure, fear of being found lacking in some way, fear of being judged. It can be overthinking everything, laying in bed at night replaying the same conversation over and over again, criticizing yourself for what you said or did, fearing others will find you lacking in some way. These fears can keep you frozen and unsure at times, but generally drive you to perform well and meet expectations.
But sometimes the ability to perform well has a downside. Sometimes it’s relationships - friends and loved ones don’t understand why you work so much, or resent you for it. You may even feel like you can’t really be yourself around others because you’re worried about their reactions, or find yourself constantly trying to anticipate what someone is going to do or say next. Sometimes it’s a physical cost such as lack of sleep, weakened immune system, irregular or poor eating habits, etc.
If any of this sounds like you, you’re not alone; 48 million people a year struggle with anxiety, and many fall into the high functioning type.
And it is treatable.
You can absolutely learn how to manage your anxiety so it stops hijacking your brain and having a negative impact on your life. You can be successful and have great relationships without the ball of anxiety that seems to have taken up residence in your stomach. Book a free initial consult call to learn more about how I can help you.
DISCLAIMER: This website is for educational and entertainment purposes only; it is not therapy and is not a replacement for therapy. Reading this website does not constitute a provider-client relationship. Consult your licensed physician or licensed mental health provider regarding advice, questions and support for your mental health. Information found on this website should be used only in conjunction with working with a licensed mental health professional or physician. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, call 911 or 988. Nothing found on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional, psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Denver Therapy LLC and Ashley French, LPC assume no liability for an actions taken or decisions made in reliance upon, or in response to information contained on this website. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.