“High-functioning anxiety” is a term that’s popped up a lot lately, especially online. While it’s not an official diagnosis, it describes those who appear to have it all together—often high-achieving, proactive, and outwardly calm—yet are quietly battling anxiety under the surface. They might seem organized, reliable, or even perfectionistic, but anxious thoughts can take a toll beneath the surface.
If you’re dealing with high-functioning anxiety, you might be pushing through each day, but at what cost? The constant need to be “on” can lead to issues like insomnia, irritability, or physical symptoms like muscle tension and fatigue.
- Constant Worrying – Persistent, racing thoughts about daily tasks, future events, or possible mistakes.
- Perfectionism – Setting unrealistically high standards and fearing failure or mistakes.
- Overthinking and Second-Guessing – Reviewing past decisions and future plans repeatedly.
- People-Pleasing – Difficulty saying “no,” often taking on too much to avoid disappointing others.
- Difficulty Relaxing – Finding it hard to unwind or be fully present, even during downtime.
- Insomnia – Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep due to anxious thoughts.
- Physical Tension – Chronic muscle tightness, headaches, or other stress-related physical symptoms.
- Fear of Failure – Intense pressure to succeed, often paired with a fear of falling short.
- Need for Control – Difficulty delegating tasks or trusting others to get things done.
- Irritability – Feeling on edge or easily frustrated due to stress and anxious thoughts.
- Procrastination Paired with Overachievement – Putting off tasks due to anxiety, then rushing to complete them perfectly.
- Being unable to function at home -while being on top of things at work.
- Exhaustion – depending upon caffeine, nicotine, or other habits to energize or relax you.
How Therapy Can Help
Therapy provides a space to dive beneath that calm surface and explore what’s driving your anxiety. Together, we can uncover the stressors or internal patterns that fuel anxious thoughts and develop strategies to manage them more effectively. By tackling these root causes, therapy can help you move from merely coping to truly thriving.
If you’re ready to break free from anxiety’s hold, I offer counseling in Tyler, Texas, and virtually across the state. Reach out for a consultation, and let’s work on turning down the volume on that inner critic so you can experience a calmer, more fulfilling life.
