High Functioning Anxiety isn't an official mental health condition— yet.
You won’t find it in medical textbooks. Although the American National Institute of Mental Health suggests that 18% of people suffer from it. That’s the 18% who are aware of it.
More often than not, if you show the symptoms it’s generally assumed you’ve Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
Still, the term high-functioning anxiety (HFA) has found its place in our mental health vocabulary. It describes that despite the levels of anxiety you’re experiencing internally, you can function (sometimes to an astonishing level) professionally and personally.
And hypnotherapy for High Functioning Anxiety is a way of dealing with this.
What are the 12 signs?
You might be experiencing high-functioning anxiety if:
1. Fear of criticism. You dwell on even the slightest criticism, worrying that you might have a deeper flaw in your character or abilities. Your self talk is also likely to be critical or negative.
2. Perfectionism. Nothing, NOTHING, is quite right. You lose sleep over, say, the slightest formatting error.
3. Need for control. You need to have everything in hand. Delegating? Forget it. You ned to own everything.
4. Acute stress. You feel intense stress all the time. It feels the norm. You might even have forgotten what cal feels like.
5. Overthinking. You overcook everything. Go over and re-run conversations and meetings. You analyse every word, every gesture, every expression.
6. Imposter syndrome. You’re an achiever, even an overachiever, but you still feel like you’re somehow fooling everyone and sooner or later your colleagues or loved ones will discover you're not as competent as you seem.
7. Excessive sweating. It’s not just your mind that goes into overdrive, your body can too. You sweat more than usual, especially in non-stressful situations
8. Headaches or migraines. When you feel under pressure to perform - as is often the case for those coping with high-functioning anxiety) - it might appear as recurrent headaches. These are tension headaches or maybe migraine
9. Light-headedness. Usually you’re so focussed on your anxiety and achieving you’ve overridden your body and be experiencing dehydration or hunger, - or your body’s reacting to waves of anxiety.
10. Muscle tension. Your shoulders are constantly tight. It feels like they're always up to your ears. It could be your anxiety tensing you up, keeping you in fight and flight.
11. Sleeplessness. You turn the light out, but your mind still races. In your head there are endless to-do lists, or replaying scenarios and conversations in your head.
12. Restlessness. Even after a full day's work, you feel you need to do more. You worry that something was missed or overlooked.
How do people with High Functioning Anxiety act?
Well, you try and appear normal. You’ll do anything to appear as if everything is under control. “Nothing to see here”.
What is the sneaky red flag of high-functioning anxiety?
Just a little thing but … you have the capacity to over-apologise for the smallest things. With High Functioning Anxiety you may apologise for things that aren't your fault, or take responsibility for someone else's mistake. This behaviour can lead to you taking on even taking on more work. This can cause you to feel stretched too thin.
So check in with yourself. Is this you? Recognise these signs?
Working together, what we’d be looking at is the following:
Working out where this started. Childhood? Your parents? Maybe you saw your parents come home stressed from work and thought this was ‘normal’ - how adults should act.
Challenging your inner critic. Your inner voice is currently being your own worst enemy. And you feel over sensitive to others. Say, if someone you know walks past you and blanks you, no reason to be upset. They may well be deep in thought - you are NOT the problem. Don’t take it on.
Stop taking other people’s behaviour personally. If other people around you at home or at work are grumpy, curt or silent. That is their choice. Yet again, you don’t have to take this on board.
Set boundaries. You say ‘yes’ when you really should say ‘no’. You’re trying to please. We can work on your assertiveness. This isn’t arse-iness as some people think. It’s you setting boundaries so you don’t resent yourself.
Set a specific time for worrying. Come on. Get it out. Get it off your chest. Write it all down if you want. Look at it. Really?! IS it that bad? Think what’s the worst that could happen? Now, time’s up. Move on. Yes you can. Really!
Start the day with three positive thoughts. And say them out loud. Believe them. For example, “Everyday I will grow more peaceful, stronger and confident.” “Stand up straight, shoulders back, look the world in the eye.” Think of them, believe them and own them.
And what would hypnotherapy do?
Hypnotherapy for High Functioning Anxiety is all about looking at how you currently think feel and act and deciding that you can calmly leave anything that harms you well and truly behind you.
And who am I to help you?
I’m James Thomas. My company (there is only me) is called The Gentle Mind. Why? Because I believe you’re better version of yourself when you’re calmer, more relaxed. You can let go of old habits and be a new improved version of yourself. Easily learn new skills. I’ve worked with seven year olds up to 87 year olds. Smokers. Vapers. Addicts. Over eaters. Board-level executives. If you’re out of sorts I can get you to see how to be kind to yourself. That's what hypnotherapy for High Functioning Anxiety is for.
Call me on 07787563099 or email me at jamesthomas@thegentlemind.co.uk I’m in Leeds, York, Lincoln and Louth.
