To others, you appear driven, successful, and highly motivated. But on the inside you feel on edge, pressured, and stressed out. People may praise you for your punctuality or hard work ethic. What they don’t see is the anxiety you feel that drives these traits and the insurmountable pressure you put on yourself to achieve in different facets of your life.

Although not formally recognized as a mental health diagnosis, high-functioning anxiety refers to people who struggle with anxiety internally but still excel in daily life. Others may not even know that you’re battling anxiety because they see that you’re always on your A-game. You’re also functioning well at work, school, socially, etc. Even though this drive can be seen as a positive, it can leave you feeling depleted and exhausted.

You don’t have to fight your anxiety alone. 

It is possible to leave the exhaustion of it behind while still being successful in the areas of your life that are most important to you. My name is Elizabeth Chambers, and I am a specialized anxiety therapist in Orlando, FL. As someone who has struggled with high-functioning anxiety myself, I particularly enjoy educating others on what high-functioning anxiety is and helping my clients overcome it.

Positive Traits Associated with High-Functioning Anxiety

People who experience high-functioning anxiety are often complimented by others for the very traits that their anxiety is driving. 

Those who have this type of anxiety are often described as:

• High-achieving: you strive to be the best in many aspects of your life

• “Type A”: people may have described you as having a Type A personality before

• Organized and detail-oriented: you’re known for your checklists, organized workspace, or detailed calendar

• Timely and prompt: you’re always on time or early when it comes to meetings, appointments, deadlines, etc.

• Ambitious and motivated: you have a strong internal drive and you’re always pushing yourself to succeed

Although these traits can be wonderful assets to you in the areas you value, they can also lead to challenges that interfere with your mood, thoughts, or self-esteem.

Challenges of High-Functioning Anxiety

It is often difficult for those with high-functioning anxiety to allow themselves to take a break. Because of your constant pursuit of success, you may feel obligated to constantly be in motion or working on your next project. 

Challenges that you may experience are:

• Feeling tired and exhausted: rarely allowing yourself to take a break leads to a constant sense of being tired

• Trouble relaxing: even in your downtime, your body seems to be tense and your brain is focused on the next task you can accomplish

• Perfectionism: you put so much pressure on yourself to be “perfect”, which leads to your harsh inner critic coming out when this impossible standard isn’t met

• Difficulty saying “no”: even though your plate is already full, you tend to take on added responsibilities which leads to further exhaustion from trying to keep up

• Trouble sleeping: your brain may keep you up or wake you up because of thinking of your never-ending to-do list

• Fear of failure: because you have consistently been praised for your success, the thought of possible failure or setbacks sends you reeling

Getting Help for High-Functioning Anxiety

Because of the positive traits that come with high-functioning anxiety, you may have been hesitant to get help. For example, out of fear that the anxiety is what has made you successful. You may also feel that you’re not “deserving” of help because of how much you have achieved and how well you appear to be functioning.

Finding help for your anxiety does not mean that all the characteristics that have contributed to your success will disappear. Instead, your anxiety therapist will help you work through the challenges that come with high-functioning anxiety. While also helping you find balance and calm.

Your counselor can help you:

• Make a plan to carve out time for your own self-care and relaxation

• Teach you new skills to help you manage your anxiety

• Help you challenge your inner critic

• Develop more moderate standards for yourself in place of perfectionistic standards

• Get to the root of where this high-functioning anxiety came from to help you move forward

Interested in Anxiety Therapy in Orlando, FL?

If the traits and challenges described above resonate with you, know that you don’t have to navigate through healing from high-functioning anxiety alone. Our therapists at Mindful Living Counseling Orlando are here to help. Our highly trained team will help you gain tools that work for you and heal the roots where your anxiety started, leading to a calmer and more fulfilling life. To get started with one of our anxiety counselors:

1. Fill out our New Client Consultation Form

2. Schedule a consultation call with our Client Care Coordinator

3. Begin healing from anxiety!

Other Therapy Services Offered at Mindful Living Counseling in Orlando, FL

Our therapists at Mindful Living understand that anxiety is one challenge you may struggle with. But, there may be others. This is why we offer a variety of therapy services. Our therapy services include Trauma therapy, EMDR therapy, Eating Disorder Therapy, Toxic Relationship Therapy, and Teen Therapy. We also offer Guided Meditations. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out!