On TikTok, the hashtag “highfunctioninganxiety” has been viewed about 180 million times. Although this idea is not new, the term is widespread.
John T. Meyer, a psychotherapist in Cambridge, Massachusetts, explains that “high-functioning” is not defined clinically, but generally refers to someone who performs well at work or school. It is said to refer to This means that people with high-functioning anxiety can excel at work despite their poor mental health.
“When people say 'high functioning,' they are saying, 'I do a great job of raising my family,' or 'I do a great job of going to church.' “It's not,” he says. “It means 'I'm doing a great job at work.'”
Some experts believe the term's recent popularity may be due to the pandemic.
“The focus on mental health has become even more important since COVID-19,” said Irina Gorelick, a psychologist at Williamsburg Therapy Group. “And people are much more aware of signs that may have been subtle before.”
Here are three signs that you may have high-functioning anxiety disorder.
A racing heart, sweaty palms, and irritability are all possible signs of high-functioning anxiety.
“Some people find that they can't tolerate as much coffee as they used to,” Gorelick says.
Think of high-functioning anxiety like a mask, Gorelik says. Performing well at work is a way to cover up for how much you're struggling inside. This requires a lot of mental effort, so when a friend texts you to grab a beer after work, you don't have the energy.
“Things that are arbitrary, things that society deems unnecessary, tend to be ignored,” she says.
Depending on how much you deviate from your daily routine, you can also exhibit high-functioning anxiety. Maybe you're sleeping more or less, or eating too much or too little.
If you “notice that things are different from your norm,” it could mean your anxiety is higher than usual, Gorelick says.
Just because your bills are paid and your last performance review was excellent doesn't mean your mental health is good.
“Your anxiety is still affecting you in some way, but it's more subtle,” Gorelick says.
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