Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time. Whether it’s nerves before a big presentation, running a marathon, or asking out your crush, feeling anxious is normal. But, how can you tell if you have high functioning anxiety? Occasional feelings of nervousness are normal and can even help us perform under pressure. However, having underlying anxiety all the time can negatively impact your mental, physical, and emotional health.
Anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and PTSD, can affect daily life and make it difficult to achieve goals and lead a fulfilling life. High functioning anxiety, unlike other anxiety disorders, may drive a person’s success and productivity. But this success may be fueled by a fear of failure, letting people down, or not being liked.
People with high functioning anxiety may exhibit traits like being successful, high-achieving, involved in their communities, and always willing to help others. However, they may also display negative traits such as overthinking, developing nervous habits, and struggling with mental, physical, and emotional fatigue.
It can be challenging to recognize high functioning anxiety, both for the person experiencing it and those around them. Seeking help is important, as living with constant stress can lead to burnout and other health issues. If you think you may have an anxiety disorder, you are not alone. Seeking help and support is an important step in managing your anxiety and improving your overall well-being.
