what is high-functioning anxiety?

HAPPY NEW YEAR CHERUBS!!!

I hope that you had an amazing start to the year, but along with the new year comes a lot of new anxieties and getting back into the routine of work and school.

With that being said, today we are going to be discussing high-functioning anxiety and how it affects those who deal with it.

First, we're going to start by discussing anxiety in a general sense:

did you know that there are different types of anxiety? according to HHS.gov there are five types of anxiety disorders:

• generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)--this is your most basic form of anxiety. characterized by chronic anxiety, lots of worry and tension, even when there isn't anything that actually provokes such feelings.

• obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)--most people wouldn't consider OCD an anxiety, but it is one of the most specific types. characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts and/or repetitive behaviors (obsessions and compulsions). often performing "rituals" to ease obsessive thoughts only allow temporary relief and not performing them increases anxiety.

• panic disorder--one of the most intense forms of anxiety. characterized by unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms such as chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath.

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)--most commonly associated with army/military veterans or active duty. characterized by anxiety that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened.

• Social Phobia (or social anxiety disorder)--the most common type of anxiety. characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations.

so, you might be thinking, "you didn't mention high function anxiety?" i'm getting there, don't worry!

high functioning anxiety is not necessarily an anxiety condition because like the name, you are usually high functioning and your anxiety doesn't get in the way of your daily tasks.

according to Medical News Today, "people with high functioning anxiety may be good at hiding their symptoms from others and appear calm and confident." Those with this type of anxiety usually have mild, atypical, hidden and brief but recurrent symptoms. These people may appear to be a functioning individual but on the inside they may feel worried and overthink and have no ability to relax.

the most important to remember when experiencing high functioning anxiety is that "all anxiety symptoms can have significant and long-term impacts on a person's health and relationships." So, you might think that your anxiety isn't affecting your life, but in the long-run, it really does. It's not something that you should put off and not worry about. Many times, high-functioning anxiety can become worse and more severe.

so what causes high functioning anxiety?

because of the lack of research on this "not really anxiety" disorder, there aren't scientifically supported causes of this disorder. but, if we are basing it off of general anxiety disorder and other anxiety disorders causes can be a combination of: genetics, personality, exposure to stress, other health issues, and drug or alcohol misuse.

if you think that you have high functioning anxiety, there is most likely a chance that you have high functioning depression as well. these two disorders often come one in the same, unfortunately.

the best thing that you can do for these disorders is to recognize your symptoms and monitor them to make sure they aren't becoming more straining to you or your daily tasks. While high functioning anxiety cannot be diagnosed because it is not a recognized disorder, you are still able to get help.

the most generic forms of help are: primary doctors who decide if there are any medical conditions underlying to cause such anxiety, therapists, and medication. If you think that you are at a point of needing assistance, it is up to you to make the call.

info above summarized from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/high-functioning-anxiety#contacting-a-doctor

the most important thing to remember is that it's okay to not be okay. you're allowed to ask for help without being ashamed of it.

remember to be kind to your mind & i'll see you in a few days.

xx loryn