What is high function anxiety? After some in-depth research, I identified closely working previously in a very high pace corporate world, realised that so many people just function, unaware of the crisis their body and mind is in.
High functioning anxiety is a term used to describe individuals who experience anxiety but are still able to function well in their daily lives. We know that the norm would be accepting that this is very prevalent in men, but in particular, this term has gained recognition in recent years as more women have come forward to discuss their experiences with anxiety. According to research, high functioning anxiety can be especially prevalent in women.
One study conducted in 2016 found that women who scored higher on measures of perfectionism were more likely to experience high functioning anxiety. Another study from 2018 found that women who reported higher levels of stress were more likely to exhibit high functioning anxiety.
Women with high functioning anxiety may experience symptoms such as racing thoughts, feelings of overwhelm, and physical symptoms such as headaches and stomach aches. They may also be highly self-critical and have a strong need to control their environment.
Despite the challenges of living with high functioning anxiety, many men and woman are able to maintain successful careers, relationships, and other aspects of their lives. However, it’s important to note that ignoring or minimising symptoms of anxiety can lead to burnout and other negative outcomes.
Alarmingly, HFA is not a diagnosis and not an anxiety disorder recognised by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which provides diagnostic criteria for mental disorders. There is little clinical information on it but mental disorder professionals all over the world all say same things. Generally, a person with high-functioning anxiety may appear put together and well- accomplished on the outside, yet experience worry, stress or have obsessive thoughts on the inside.
According to Sasha Hamdani, M.D., a psychiatrist at the Psychiatry Associates of Kansas City, Kansas, “A person with high-functioning anxiety is fully functional and usually successful. They’ll perform well at their job, handle all of their finances, balance their home life, maintain relationships, but they’re still struggling with anxious feelings and thoughts.”
A list of significant symptoms:
- Being extremely organized.
- Demanding control over situations.
- Being a perfectionist.
- Nail-biting.
- Bouncing legs.
- A harsh inner critic or unrelenting standards.
- Disproportionate irritation or anger when things don’t go as planned.
- An inability to delegate tasks or trust that others will complete tasks effectively.
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