Coping with anxiety on a day to day basis can be extremely difficult. Anxiety differs from stress in many ways. Stress is often a good motivator to accomplish goals and remove ourselves from unfavorable situations. However, anxiety operates differently and can manifest not only mentally and emotionally, but through physical symptoms as well.

What Is High Functioning Anxiety?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, around 40 million adults in the United States between the ages of 18 and 54 suffer from some form of anxiety. As many as 30% of people who do not seek help but suffer from anxiety are often those who are misdiagnosed or are unaware that they could be suffering from anxiety.

This is because many people who experience symptoms of anxiety are actually going through what is known as high-functioning anxiety. Many people who suffer from high functioning anxiety are often able to go about their lives, seemingly outperforming and meeting deadlines well ahead of time. Such people can be extremely social and energetic and may come across as those who almost never need help.

However, this is an indication that perhaps not everything is alright. If you experience the following symptoms on a daily basis, you may actually be suffering from high functioning anxiety.

Not Being Able To Sleep

People who suffer from high functioning anxiety often find it difficult to switch off their brain and go to sleep. The constant worrying can lead to physical as well as mental exhaustion but the high functioning anxious individual is unable to pull themselves out of the cycle of fatigue, overbooked schedules and not being able to get proper sleep.

The Quest To Perfection

Individuals with high functioning anxiety are often extremely detail oriented and push themselves to strive for absolute perfection with every single task. Although this is a valuable trait to own in moderation, for a person with high functioning anxiety, it can lead to excessive agitation, irritability and an unquenchable desire for perfection.

Not Being Able To Relax

A high functioning anxiety individual can be on the most relaxing exotic tropical vacation and still feel like they’re on the edge, worrying about something. Due to the constant worrying, they may find themselves to be mentally exhausted all the time and feel the need to be occupied with a task at all times.

Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms

Since the high functioning anxiety individual is unable to relax, they tend to engage in numbing behaviors such as indulging in excessive shopping, binge watching TV or indulging in the use of substances like alcohol or drugs. Decades of psychiatric studies have shown to concur that anxiety and substance use disorders typically co-occur.

Pushing Yourself Beyond Limits

People with high functioning anxiety are often high achievers and tend to push themselves beyond their tipping point in order to prove themselves to others. They are typically hard on themselves and do not feel satisfied with their achievements and engage in a never-ending spiral of negative self-talk.

Focusing On Control

Since anxiety stems from a feeling of helplessness and lack of control, individuals who suffer from high functioning anxiety tend to engage in behaviors and actions that will allow them to have all the control they can get in a situation. They may even revert to taking care of tasks on their own even when the job can be delegated.

If you identify with these symptoms, it may be a good idea to explore the help hypnosis can provide for treating anxiety.

Rekha Shrivastava is a professional hypnotist who has worked with clients suffering from anxiety, ADHD, depression, phobias and even issues of low self esteem. As a certified hypnotist, Rekha Shrivastava offers online sessions via Skype and FaceTime to her clients, globally.