Anxiety’s effect on humans is palpable. We can see its detrimental impact on our friends and families from the moment it takes effect. We take note of their sweaty palms, shaky voices, future uncertainty, and stolen smiles immediately. When someone is being impacted by anxiety, it is almost impossible not to notice.
But there is another form of the disorder that is far more inconspicuous. This silent condition impacts some of the world’s highest achievers- highly skilled professionals, prestigious academics, and gifted students alike. It flies under the ray, undetectable by most. This is because it is concealed by their achievements, hidden behind rows of golden trophies and plaques.
High-Functioning Anxiety is an unofficial form of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). While it is unrecognized by the American Psychiatric Association within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the term has gained popularity among many professionals in the field. High-Functioning Anxiety differs from Generalized Anxiety Disorder because its symptoms do not impair people’s daily lives to the same extent, despite including anxiety’s crippling effects. People who suffer from High-Functioning anxiety are still able to perform at a high level and may appear to be completely unaffected, yet this is all a facade.
This article will examine the 10 most significant signs of the disorder, as well as how to combat it.
Sign 1: A Habit of Perfectionism
High-Functioning Anxiety and perfectionism go hand in hand. Individuals with this disorder hold themselves to high standards. They push themselves to work hard, sometimes much too hard, and achieve the very best. Even when they seem to attain the impossible, they still aren’t satisfied.
They critique their work harshly, ridiculing themselves for making even the smallest of errors. This way of thought keeps them awake at night. It leaves them staring at their ceiling, worrying if they did everything correctly. Did I sound professional enough in that email? Was that project really completed to the best of my ability? These are the types of questions that haunt them.
Excessive perfectionism can quickly become unhealthy. One way to combat this is to recognize when you are spiraling and redirect your thoughts elsewhere. Therapy specifically tailored towards anxious thinking can also be beneficial.
Sign 2: An Intense Fear of Failure
People experiencing High-Functioning Anxiety embody the motto “Getting to the top is hard, but staying there is harder”. They live with incessant fear of failure. It is what their thoughts ruminate on most frequently. They fear losing the momentum of achievement they have worked tirelessly to build and have come so far with.
Everyone experiences fears about failing at some point in their lifetime, but people with High-Functioning Anxiety endure it constantly. It occurs to such a high degree that it impairs their everyday life. They overthink projects, exhaust themselves with tiny details, and always feel as if they haven’t done enough.
Sign 3: Thriving Within High-Pressure Environments
Those with High-Functioning anxiety can be found where the stakes are high. They operate within tight deadlines, work for long hours, and perform essential or even lifesaving tasks. While they may appear to be handling the stress well, behind closed doors, they struggle.
This type of anxiety is also extremely common in academic settings, most specifically in “gifted” students’ classrooms. It haunts many high-achieving students, who seem to have it all figured out. They are top of their classes, have stacked resumes, are an active part of sports organizations, but beyond all of this, they are deeply stressed. Despite maintaining their high standing, they still struggle to manage their anxiety.
Sign 4: Have Surprisingly Low Self-Concept
Those with High-Functioning have lower-than-average self-esteem as their anxious thoughts can quickly become self-critical. They question both their own value and that of their work. These people don’t feel capable of performing, sometimes even experiencing a sense of impostor syndrome.
This fact can come as a shock to most because of how successful and confident they may project themselves to be, but this is all an act to conceal their deeply rooted worries and insecurities. They can be very skilled at hiding their pain. Additionally, since their symptoms do not reflect the stereotype image of anxiety, they often are ignored.
This insecurity is caused, in part, by the high-pressure environments that they often operate in. When there is so much pressure weighing down on someone, they can easily crumble. Victims of High-Functioning Anxiety experience this pressure to an umpteenth degree as they are hyper-aware of it. This mindset can be dangerous.
Sign 5: Outgoing, Sociable Personalities
High-Functioning Anxiety can be completely contradictory. While some may assume that those undergoing any kind of anxiety disorder may achieve less and be less apt to social interaction, this is surprisingly not the case. High-Functioning Anxiety is most common in high achievers with extroverted personalities. While it does not directly cause anyone to become more social, the two traits are related.
Those suffering from the condition have high achievements. This achievement takes them very far in both their professional and personal lives. They climb to the top not just with their quality of work, but with wit and charm. They are the type of people who enjoy conversation, and anyone who interacts with them can tell. It makes them very pleasant to talk to.
Sign 6: Predisposed to Trait Anxiety
Trait anxiety is a personality characteristic categorized by excessive worry, intrusive thoughts, and being deeply impacted by any negative experiences. It is not a fleeting experience but rather something more enduring, and it is a trait that if acquired, makes people more likely to develop any kind of anxiety disorder, including High-Functioning Anxiety.
Trait anxiety is linked to High-Functioning Anxiety. Those who are aware of their condition of trait anxiety should take additional care to prevent the further transformation into High-Functioning Anxiety. This can be done by adequately managing symptoms through either therapeutic techniques, medication, or both, with the assistance of professional guidance.
Sign 7: Difficulty Receiving Criticism of Any Form
Offices, classrooms, and other environments where individuals with High-Functioning Anxiety can be found are full of criticism. Whether it’s a constructive comment from a supervisor on an up-and-coming project or feedback from a professor on how to strengthen a weak point in an essay, criticism is often constant and unavoidable. People with High-Functioning Anxiety handle this type of feedback poorly. It strikes them deeply, injuring their already weakened self-concept.
While negative feedback is extremely damaging, any type of positive feedback has little to no effect on those with the disorder. They are not flattered by the praise of a positive comment, to them it’s simply expected.
Dealing with this synonym can be challenging, but there are strategies that can be used to cope with criticism. Firstly, it’s important to recognize that criticism is not a comment upon the quality of your character, just the quality of your work. Fortunately, this can be used to your advantage! The advice can be helpful for improvement.
Sign 8: Existence of Other Mental Health Illnesses
Beyond High-Functioning Anxiety, there are many other mental health conditions like Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Depression, Eating Disorders, Borderline Personality Disorder, and more. These conditions rarely exist in solitude. When a person is struggling with one, they often are also affected by another. High-Functioning Anxiety can cohabitate with other disorders.
If someone is well achieved, but also has another condition such as Major Depressive Disorder, they are more likely to develop High-Functioning Anxiety. The symptoms of one disorder can make anxiety even more potent and thus further lead to mental health challenges.
Sign 9: Experiencing Negative Behavioral Changes
Experiencing anxiety of any kind is quite impactful and can produce changes in behavioral patterns. Those with enduring High-Functioning Anxiety may be specifically prone to anger and fatigue, among other negative emotions.
This is due to a plethora of reasons. Excessive worry can lead to sleepless nights, where people awaken agitated and irritable. The stress of anxious thoughts and constant fight-or-flight mentality can also leave people feeling exhausted. Overall, there is more of a consequence to this kind of anxiety than just the time wasted worrying or the mental stress of perceived impending doom.
Sign 10: Struggling with Physical Symptoms
While High-Functioning Anxiety differs from Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in many ways, it does share some similarities. For both conditions, anxiety can manifest outside the mind within the body with a host of negative symptoms. These symptoms can have a detrimental impact on someone’s mental health and thus their everyday life.
Anxiety makes itself known physically in a variety of forms. Someone undergoing an anxiety disorder or even just a period of intense stress may experience sweaty palms, an elevated heart rate, dizziness, or even issues with sleep. Some individuals deal with all these symptoms, while others are confronted with a few of them. Panic attacks are another common symptom. They can be extremely frightful and may require additional support.
These symptoms feel especially scary because many people falsely assume anxiety can only affect you mentally. Even though it’s a mental condition, High-Functioning Anxiety can have ramifications on both your physical body and health.
Treatment & Healing
High-Functioning Anxiety, despite being unrecognized in official psychological literature, is a mental health condition that affects high achievers. People with this condition suffer from anxiety-like symptoms, despite their success. They struggle with excessive worry and doubt about both themselves and their work. This anxiety contributes to many consequences in their daily lives.
There are many signs of the disorder, as discussed above. Some of these signs include more typical symptoms like panic attacks and racing hearts, or lesser-known effects like an inability to process criticism.
If you are currently suffering from High-Functioning anxiety, your struggle is valid and you are not alone. Anxiety therapy treatment is possible! Oftentimes, the best remedy is to seek the help of a trained professional.
