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by Dr.Meghna varma

High functioning anxiety : hacks to survive

Super busy. Controlling. High achievers. Perfectionists. Over-thinkers. Driven by details & order. As much as they seek to hide their symptoms, to calm their racing thoughts, fears & worries that take over their minds, bodies & lives - they are unable to turn it off or put it on pause. Living in a constant state of 'what if', hidden behind their extroversion, power & success and a nervous energy pushing them to earn more, achieve more, succeed more & be more.

This is High Functioning Anxiety personified.

It is a type of anxiety disorder that affects high performing individuals who push themselves beyond physical or mental limits. It differs from other types of anxiety in the sense that instead of leaving you frozen in fear & worry, high functioning anxiety propels you forward.

While it is not considered a mental health diagnosis, it has a signicant impact in the life of the person experiencing it & may cause varying degrees of impairment.

Traits of Individuals with high functioning anxiety:

Characteristics of individuals with high functioning anxiety that are often seen as positive:.

Outgoing personality

Orderly

Detail oriented

Puntual

Proactive

Active

Outwardly calm & composed

Loyal

High Achieving

Unlike other types of anxiety disorder, the struggle in case of high functioning anxiety lies underneath the veil of success. So despite being seen as 'highly successful' or 'high functioning', people with this disorder may experience the following.

Being a people pleaser
Living in constant fear of letting others down
Overthinking
Nervous habits like biting lip or cracking knuckles
Obsessive need to do repetitive things like rocking back & forth or counting stairs
Avoiding eye contact
Insomnia
Tendency to dwell on negative thoughts or past mistakes
Mental & physical fatigue
Inability to relax or enjoy the moment

Why people with High Functioning Anxiety do not seek help?

They do not want to lose that nervous energy that pushes them forward to achieve bigger things.
They worry that it will signicantly impact their work if they are not constantly driven by fear.
They seem to believe that since they are successful, they do not need help for anxiety.
They may think that everyone struggles the way that they do & that it is normal.
They never voiced out their internal struggles & the silence only just reinforced the fear.

Life Hacks for Surviving High Functioning Anxiety:

Don't let anxiety be the driving force behind your success, taking you on a terrifying & relentless ride with many highs but even more lows. Here are a few pearl drops of wisdom from Dr Meghna Varma, the best psychotherapist in Hyderabad, to help you survive this type of anxiety:

Recognise & accept your symptoms
Find a mantra that works for you
Practice Progressive Muscle Relaxation Techniques
Practice good sleep hygiene