Do you think you might have anxiety or know someone who does if not
What's the first image you have and you imagine someone with diagnosed anxiety?
The popular comical image may have popped into your head with the frazzled jittery expression unkempt hair and profuse sweating
the truth is
There are some people who go on to be successful and accomplish great things in spite of their battle against this mental illness
This is known as high functioning anxiety
High functioning anxiety isn't a diagnosable condition
And so it can be difficult to identify because those who have it don't appear anxious
However, the calm appearance doesn't make it any less real serious or painful for those who have it
Wondering now if you might fit in with this category
Here are 12 things. You may not realize you're doing because of your high functioning anxiety
1 you turn down things you actually want to go to
You eagerly await events and get-togethers with friends, but when the day finally comes you often decide not to go at the very last minute
sound familiar
Even though you were looking forward to it for so long
You've talked yourself out of attending because the thought of going out leaves you wracked with worry and dread
- you dislike having to meet new people
When someone says to you, there'll be so many new people you can network with. How do you really feel?
Mingling and social functions just isn't your thing not due to shyness or introversion. You just don't want to meet new people
Sticking to your close-knit group of friends is comfortable and happy for you
Introducing yourself or being introduced to someone else makes you feel self-conscious and worried about making a good first impression
This worry is so intense that it sucks any enjoyment or intrigue out of meeting
Someone new 3 you're uncomfortable with slow responses
The moment you send someone a text or leave them a voice message
Do you start counting the seconds waiting for a response and the longer you wait?
The more you feel anxious you overthink about why they haven't replied yet and somehow take it to mean that you did something wrong
Take a breath they probably like you just fine and their phone might be on mute
For you get very little sleep
We hear eight hours of sleep is required
Can you remember the last time you got eight hours of sleep? We mean all at once not spread out over a few days
You may be able to look at anxiety as the reason
it may wake you up early and keep you from having a deep and relaxed sleep and
Also keep you up at night with thoughts racing through your mind
Being shortchanged on both ends is why sleep deprivation is such a common complaint amongst those of us who suffer from high functioning anxiety
Five you fixate on the tiniest details
Is there any little thing you think about that's keeping you up at night and depriving you of sleep
Like how you said you to to the waiter when they told you to enjoy your meal?
Or maybe why that person replied to your long text with simply, okay?
Logically, you realize this isn't going to hugely impact your life. The waiter won't remember you and that other person was probably just busy
Still you examine it this fixation is a common feature for people with high functioning
Anxiety you tend to obsess over trivial things
Especially social interactions you analyze everything and spend hours and hours wondering what it could all mean and why?
Six you get hung up on old conversations
Speaking of social interactions. Do you find yourself playing back old social scenarios in your head thinking about different actions?
You could have taken or Not Taken
Things like maybe I shouldn't have texted him or maybe I should have given that witty reply
High-functioning anxiety makes you overthink every single social interaction
You've ever had big or small and it's not unusual for people who struggle with it to get hung up on the past
regardless of how long ago it was
7 your unforgiving to yourself
Do you feel upset at yourself when you make a mistake?
Mulling over it and scolding yourself for months even years
Well high functioning anxiety can often resemble perfectionism
With one of its most problematic characteristics being that it turns us against ourselves whenever we mess up
Your anxiety makes that mistake bigger in your point of view than it was in reality. So getting over it feels difficult
Eight you constantly compare yourself to others
It's normal to occasionally compare yourself to others but those with high functioning anxiety. Take it to an extreme
Are you overly concerned with how you measure up against your peers? Do you constantly worry that you're not fulfilling your full potential?
No matter how much you accomplish. Do you never feel like it's enough. If so, you might be struggling with high functioning anxiety
9 you're a constant people pleaser
Do you work hard to make others feel happy, even if it comes at the cost of your own well-being
Do you feel like you'll never be good enough until you attain?
Everyone's approval if you have high functioning anxiety
you may have convinced yourself that the only way others will ever accept you is if you go above and beyond what everyone expects of
You all the time?
10
You need to keep yourself busy all the time
Now we're not talking about creating great Renaissance artworks or intricate business plans
We just mean busy not necessarily productive
If you're not busy you feel Restless and tense. So you try to occupy yourself with just about anything during your nails. Yes
Alphabetizing your games. Okay, cleaning your perfectly working computer fan with a toothbrush
It's sure the truth is you don't mind doing anything as long as it helps distract yourself from your thoughts and worries
11 you get very anxious whenever you think about the future
What does the future mean to you for many in the future is the light of possibility something to eagerly look forward to?
then for some it can feel like Scrooge and that last spirit of Christmas who looked like the Grim Reaper if
You're not feeling hope but terror and dread for what's to come
This could be a sign of high functioning anxiety anxiety can paralyze you with fear about the unknown and what's not in your control
it can keep you from truly living your life to the fullest because you always expect the worst to happen and
12 you always focus on the worst-case scenario
Do you like to prep by prep? We mean do you say to yourself? Okay, so this is the worst possible outcome
I'll be ready for it. If I'm ready for it. I can handle anything else. Do you then continue to expect the worst-case scenario?
The might be high-functioning anxiety laying the plans
This might lead people to misjudge you as a pessimist because ultimately you may try to share with them your preparations
Where you see anticipating and being proactive they see a downer
Unfortunately being so prepared often doesn't allow you to just enjoy the moment
Do you relate to any of the things listed here living with high-functioning anxiety is never easy?
But most people may not see the emotional toll it can have on a person if you're starting to feel overwhelmed with your anxiety
There are many professional certified resources to reach out to
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Thanks so much for watching