What is High-Functioning Anxiety? Sneaky Signs You May Have It

When you think about someone dealing with anxiety, what do you picture? A nervous wreck unable to handle daily life without therapy and medication? This portrait of anxiety doesn’t tell the whole story.

The reality is anxiety manifests in many different ways. One side of anxiety that often gets overlooked is high-functioning anxiety—people live seemingly ordinary lives yet suffer from overwhelm and paralyzing feelings that they’ll never be able to accomplish it all. 

People with high-functioning anxiety survive and even thrive in the workplace and at home. But just because you’re getting through the day doesn’t mean you aren’t struggling. 

While high-functioning anxiety doesn’t come with a specific medical diagnosis and prescription medication, recognizing the signs and treating the symptoms can significantly improve your quality of life. In today’s blog, I’ll explore how we define high-functioning anxiety and how to know if you have it.

High-Functioning Anxiety vs Generalized Anxiety Disorder

It’s estimated that more than 40 million adults in the United States have some type of anxiety disorder. That means almost 20% of adults live with anxiety every day. 

Does that number seem really, really high? 

It might seem wild, but a lot more people than you think struggle with anxiety. However, not everyone in this group can be diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (what we typically think of when we think about anxiety). Instead, many people have high-functioning anxiety, which is much harder to recognize.

What’s the difference?

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) refers to people who experience ongoing worry and anxiety and have difficulty controlling those feelings. People with GAD may find that their symptoms interfere with regular daily activities. There are even physical symptoms such as a pounding heart or sweating more than usual. 

GAD can activate the flight response. In a stressful situation, someone with this disorder might remove themself from the situation or altogether avoid activities that cause these feelings. 

On the other side, people with high-functioning anxiety are often able to confront situations despite their feelings of fear and worry. A person might push themself even harder to fight off those feelings and gain control, rather than running away from the problem. Because of this, people with lower anxiety levels lead completely functional lives. More than that, they’re often overachievers!

Maybe they can get through the workday, squeeze in an after-work cocktail, and even find time to plan the PTA meeting. But trust me, all that productivity comes at a cost. Sooo many people are able to grit their teeth and carry on with no idea they’re living with high-functioning anxiety. You might be one of them!

Signs You Might Have High-Functioning Anxiety

If you have high-functioning anxiety, you might be highly organized, detail-oriented, outgoing, and proactive. You also may feel some of the negative consequences of anxiety, like burnout, an inability to relax, or feelings of inadequacy. You might find yourself overthinking, dwelling on past mistakes, or worrying about the future. Sounding familiar? Here are some sneaky signs you have high-functioning anxiety.

You Always Say Yes

Can you bring snacks for the soccer team this week? Yes, of course. Would you mind driving me to the airport? Sure, I can rearrange some things and make it work. Do you want to go for drinks after work? Yeah! Are you sure you don’t mind organizing the company retreat? Really, it’s no problem.

People with high-functioning anxiety are often “yes-men” for several reasons. They might worry about disappointing others or missing out on a fun experience. They may feel pressure to please other people at any cost or worry they aren’t doing enough. Can you relate?

You Apologize Too Much

Has anyone ever told you to “stop saying sorry?” You read all the ladyboss articles about standing your ground and only saying sorry when you mean it. Still, it just slips out. Do you frequently find yourself wondering if something you said came out the wrong way or if you’ve somehow inconvenienced someone? This mental run-around can be a sign of high-functioning anxiety.

You’re a Perfectionist

If you’re the last to finish a test or refuse to leave the “paint your own” pottery studio until your children drag you out, you might have high-functioning anxiety. Anxiety can cause you to stress out about small details and focus too much on the result rather than the process. You might be afraid to make even a tiny mistake and overly criticize your work. A little anxiety pushes us to be our best selves, but too much can cause you to burn out. 

You’re Not Getting Enough ZZZZZs

Too little sleep is the most common physical sign that you have high-functioning anxiety. When you have high-functioning anxiety, sleep is often at the bottom of your to-do list. After all, there are only so many hours in a day and so much work to be done! You’d rather stay up a little bit later to finish a project. Even when you go to bed, you lay awake with your mind racing. You might also wake up early to get extra work done. Learning ways to deal with your anxiety can help you wind down at the end of the day and make self-care more of a priority.

Now What?

I can almost hear the gears turning in your head. If some of these signs are hitting a little close to home, you might be one of the millions and millions of people living with high-functioning anxiety.

Here’s the good news— once you figure out how your anxiety impacts your life, it’s easy to make positive changes and find useful ways to cope. 

AND, you’re not alone! When you’re a part of Women Out Loud, you’ve got a whole trusted sisterhood in your corner. This community was designed for women like you— the chronic overthinkers and worriers who deserve to be seen by women who get them! 

Learn more about what Women Out Loud can do for you by visiting my blog or contacting me directly. We'll be here cheering you on when you want to join this sisterhood!