What is high-functioning anxiety?

High functioning Anxiety is an experience many of our clients have, yet many don’t have the language to articulate what it is and how it’s impacting them. Chana Ross had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Ellen Wong, ND, to talk all about High Functioning Anxiety, what it is and strategies to address it.

Here are some of the key takeaways from this fantastic conversation:

What comes to mind when you think about someone who is experiencing Anxiety?

Usually we think about someone whose symptoms are consistent with a generalized anxiety disorder. There are multiple questionnaires that must be completed by the client before a diagnosis of anxiety is made. Within these questionnaires, there is always one question, in one shape or form, that asks if anxiety interferes with everyday life and work.^[2] In order to receive a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder, a critical element Doctors consider is that your anxiety must INTERFERE with your ability to function on a daily basis.^[1] People with High Functioning Anxiety tend to fly under the radar because this question glosses over all the people who have high-functioning anxiety.

People who are experiencing High Functioning Anxiety use their anxious feelings to propel them forward in their world. Meaning, as opposed to people who’s anxiety prevents them from getting their daily tasks done, people with high functioning anxiety tend to perform more in order to address their anxious feelings. They are partially excelling and achieving as much as they are because their anxious feelings drive them to do more and be more. People experiencing high functioning anxiety tend towards perfectionism and significant internal pressure to get more done in addition to experiencing persistent negative self-talk.^[3] When we think about people who get a lot done, we don’t usually associate anxiety with them. We see them as people who are the OPPOSITE – they seem to have it all together.

That is often why women with high functioning anxiety don’t get proper help.

If you think you have high functioning anxiety, you may notice that your anxiety propels you forward rather than leaves you frozen in fear. On the surface, you may appear to be a successful, together, and calm personality who excels at work and life. However, the way you feel on the inside may be very different.

There are 3 components to High Functioning Anxiety

Emotional Side –

feeling worried all the time even if things are going well. Fear of failure, fear of rejection.

Behavioural Side –

perfectionism, overthinking, constant need to be moving and doing something. People pleasing, nervous habits, fidgeting.

Physical –

difficulty sleeping, feeling anxious in your body, symptoms

All of these aspects need to be addressed when talking about High-Functioning anxiety.

Want to learn more? Watch the full video here: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CO3M5GWg_5X/

References

1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text rev. American Psychiatric Association Publishing; 2022.
2. Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JBW, Löwe B. A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166(10):1092-1097. doi:10.1001/archinte.166.10.1092
3. Limburg K, Watson HJ, Hagger MS, Egan SJ. The relationship between perfectionism and psychopathology: a meta-analysis. J Clin Psychol. 2017;73(10):1301-1326. doi:10.1002/jclp.22435