High-functioning anxiety is a non-medical term and isn’t recognised as an anxiety disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5). It refers to people who suffer from anxiety but can still go about their everyday lives. If you have high-functioning anxiety, you might find it hard to spot as you might still be able to socialise and go to work. But the good news is that there are many things you can do to prevent it and reduce your symptoms.
Experiencing occasional anxiety or fear is a normal part of life. But anxiety disorders usually manifest as intense, excessive, and persistent worry or fear about everyday situations and the future.
Anxiety disorders are prevalent in the UK, and the number of people suffering from anxiety more than doubled in the past 10 years, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This number grew from 8.2 million cases in 2013 to 19 million in 2020.
High-functioning anxiety doesn’t affect your work performance or social life, making it more challenging to recognise and diagnose. But anxiety symptoms can still affect your health, wellbeing, and quality of life.
Women are also more likely to experience mild, moderate, or severe anxiety symptoms than men.
There are many symptoms of high-functioning anxiety that can affect your mental and physical health.
Mental symptoms of high-functioning anxiety include:
Physical symptoms include:
High-functioning anxiety might also affect your behaviour, like:
Emotional (affective) symptoms include:
If you experience these symptoms, you should speak to your GP to rule out any underlying health issues.
The causes of anxiety disorders aren’t fully understood. But your genetics and stressful or traumatic situations can lead to symptoms. Anxiety is linked to certain medications and substance abuse too.
Sometimes, anxiety might indicate an underlying health issue, and its symptoms can be the first sign that something else might be happening.
Some health conditions linked to anxiety symptoms include:
If you think you have anxiety or high-functioning anxiety, the most important thing is to get help early by speaking to your GP. This is because high-functioning anxiety can become harder to treat over time, and your symptoms might worsen.
While the symptoms of high-functioning anxiety can be highly unpleasant, a combination of lifestyle changes can help manage your symptoms. Some of these include:
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