After a long day of work, every other person would want to make dinner and crash into their couch or into their bed to relax for the night. But you’re not like every other person. You know how much work you have. You know how many people depend on you, which means you can’t just let it sit there until the next business day.
Instead of relaxing when you get home from a long day at the office, you set up shop in the comfort of your own home and get right back to work. You answer emails and work on projects, budgets, and presentations well into the nighttime. Before you know it, it’s past midnight, and you haven’t eaten, showered, or gone to bed.
You didn’t get everything done that you wanted to, but it was more than you would’ve accomplished if you didn’t log back on after hours. Despite your late night, you spring out of bed in the morning, worried that you’ll sleep past your alarm if you even slept at all.
You were one of the last people to leave the office the night before, and you’re one of the first people in the office in the morning. While these may seem like qualities of a highly successful and hardworking individual, they could also be indicators of a larger issue: high-functioning anxiety.
Let’s learn more about the signs of high-functioning anxiety and who it impacts.
The Signs
When we think of someone who is struggling with anxiety, we may think of someone who appears to be on edge, nervous, or restless. High-functioning anxiety isn’t always an easily recognizable condition. Someone with high-functioning anxiety may even come across as extremely organized, confident, and hardworking. These are some of the most common signs of high-functioning anxiety:
Imposter Syndrome
Someone with high-functioning anxiety may appear like everything is fine on the outside, but on the inside, they may be struggling. Despite their performance and accomplishments, they may feel like they’re not worthy enough or aren’t as good as their counterparts.
Need for Control
Someone with high-functioning anxiety may have a hard time delegating tasks. They may feel like things won’t be done the right way unless they do it themselves. Even the thought of passing along some of their workload to a coworker may cause them added stress, panic, or dread.
Perfectionism
Strive for progress, not perfection. In the case of someone with high-functioning anxiety, they won’t stop until all of their work is perfect. This strive and desire for perfectionism can actually hinder their performance. It can also cause them to miss deadlines and lose sleep. Mistakes are what help us grow and become better. For someone with high-functioning anxiety and the desire to be perfect, a minor error could cause a huge hit to their self-esteem and self-worth.
Who it Impacts
High-functioning anxiety can impact anyone just like any other variation of anxiety. Several believed factors can put someone more at risk of developing high-functioning anxiety. These are some of the most common causes:
- Family history
- Negative life events
- Physical health issues
- Substance use or abuse
- Personality traits
Next Steps
High-functioning anxiety is completely treatable. If you or a loved one is struggling with high-functioning anxiety, there are certain lifestyle changes that you can make on your own end to try to reduce or minimize some of the symptoms. If your signs and symptoms don’t seem to be getting any better, it may be time to reach out for additional support. Don’t delay in getting the help you need and deserve. Reach out to us today to set up a consultation for anxiety therapy.