A common misconception about anxiety is that it has to be crippling and overtake a person’s life for it to be serious. Too often, someone with high-functioning anxiety thinks their problems aren’t that bad because anxiety has not overtaken every area of their lives. However, consistent anxiety at any level is harmful to a person’s mental and even physical health. San Diego Coastal Mental Health recognizes this and provides a program that teaches people how to deal with high-functioning anxiety. Our residential program provides an ideal opportunity to learn to minimize the impact anxiety has on a person’s life. Our goal is to help people function without anxiety being a part of the picture. Life is too short to let anxiety run it for you.
Learn More About Our Anxiety Treatment Programs Near San Diego.
What is High-Function Anxiety?
To understand how to deal with high-functioning anxiety, let’s begin by defining it. Anxiety disorders are quite common among Americans, with an estimated one-third of adults developing one at some time during their lives. High-functioning anxiety causes a person to feel a great deal of stress. It can surface as part of their career, education, social life, home life, or any combination of these. However, when someone is said to be “high-functioning” with their anxiety, they often succeed at covering up their levels of anxiousness. As a result, family, friends, and co-workers often don’t recognize that the individual has a diagnosable anxiety disorder.
Someone with high-functioning anxiety often feels their levels of anxiousness rise and fall. For example, a situation that might have triggered their anxiety one day might not be as difficult to face another time and vice versa. The individual works hard to conceal their anxiety, but typically has at least some of it on an ongoing basis.
What are the Symptoms of High-Functioning Anxiety?
Someone with high-functioning anxiety exhibits symptoms that may be noticeable to others but still do not make it clear that they are signs of an anxiety disorder. Common symptoms include:
- A need for control: The individual reduces their anxiety when they feel they have control over an event.
- Perfectionist: The individual places great importance on performing perfectly and being seen as perfect by others.
- Feeling like an imposter: The person feels they aren’t successful and does not deserve praise from others.
- Unexplained medical symptoms: Anxiety often causes headaches, body aches, insomnia, nausea, and diarrhea.
- Putting off things: People with anxiety often procrastinate activities because they are afraid they won’t do them in a way that is up to their standards.
- Overthinking: This is an attempt to control both current and future situations, but can actually cause anxiety instead of alleviating it.
How to Deal With High-Functioning Anxiety
Someone who wants to learn how to deal with high-functioning anxiety has options they can practice anywhere. While it’s recommended that someone with an anxiety disorder gets professional help, they can include these tips to help them rebalance their lives.
- Don’t try to ignore feelings of anxiety. Acknowledge you are feeling them but that you do not have to react automatically to them.
- Count your victories: Each time you overcome anxiety, bypass an attack, or make some sort of progress, make sure you give yourself credit for it.
- Develop positive self-talk. Tell yourself that while the anxiety may be palpable, it’s not a logical reaction and you have the power to stop it.
- Take care of yourself. Regular sleeping patterns, healthy eating, and an exercise routine all go a long way to reducing anxiety.
- Lean on others. Talk to family members and friends who can provide a willing ear to listen to you. You can also join a support group and receive peer support.
How is High-Functioning Anxiety Treated?
When a person enters a treatment program to learn how to deal with high-functioning anxiety, they will get the option to attend several types of therapy. Anxiety disorders typically respond well to individual therapy, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Other types of therapy that help treat high-functioning anxiety include:
- Group Therapy
- Holistic Therapy
- Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing Therapy
- Red Light Therapy
- Psychiatry
Each type of therapy offers ways for a person to learn to develop healthy coping mechanisms and reduce their symptoms of anxiety. Lessons learned in treatment can be used long after it concludes. Finally, prescription medications can greatly minimize symptoms of anxiety and are available during residential treatment.
Find Treatment for High-Functioning Anxiety in San Diego
Do you want help learning how to deal with high-functioning anxiety but don’t know what program is right for you? Perhaps you’ve tried getting treatment before but didn’t get the lasting results you deserve. San Diego Coastal Mental Health created a program for people who struggle with high-functioning anxiety that meets their specific needs. Our residential facility feels more like a home and is located in beautiful Southern California. We provide multiple types of therapy that help people identify their triggers and develop healthy coping skills. We also discuss any prescription medications that can help alleviate the symptoms and provide them as needed.
For more information, contact us today. Our friendly admissions staff is happy to answer your questions and get you started on a life with less anxiety.
