9/21 - 7 Signs You Might Be Experiencing High-Functioning Anxiety
7 Signs You Might Be Experiencing
High-Functioning Anxiety
Why looking “fine” on the outside doesn’t always mean feeling "fine" on the inside
When people think of anxiety, they often imagine panic attacks, visible worry, or someone who struggles to function in daily life. But for many, anxiety looks very different.
It’s possible to be thriving at work, managing a busy household, smiling at social events—and silently battling overwhelming anxiety the entire time.
This is often called high-functioning anxiety, and while it’s not a formal diagnosis, it describes a very real experience.
What Is High-Functioning Anxiety?
High-functioning anxiety is when someone outwardly appears successful, calm, and capable, but internally feels constant pressure, worry, or tension. These are the people you know that look like they have it all together and are masterfully managing a hectic life & work schedule with ease & grace. Instead of shutting down, this form of anxiety often fuels people to overachieve, stay busy, and “perform” well—making it easy to overlook.
The truth? Just because someone seems fine doesn’t mean they’re at peace.
Signs You Might Be Experiencing High-Functioning Anxiety
1. You’re Always Busy—But Can’t Relax
You fill your schedule and keep moving, but downtime makes you restless. Stillness feels uncomfortable because that’s when your thoughts catch up. You may even feel guilty if you sit down to relax, thinking there must be something more you "should" be doing or "could" be doing. You might now even know how to relax, at this point.
2. You Struggle With Perfectionism
You hold yourself to impossibly high standards, and mistakes feel catastrophic—even when others barely notice. Your anxiety pushes you to do better, be better, even though you're likely performing above others anyway. You expect a lot from yourself and have a hard time accepting anything less than your best.
3. You Overthink Everything
From replaying conversations to second-guessing decisions, your mind rarely takes a break. For some people, this makes it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. Sometimes it causes you to be distracted during other activities, as you are replaying previous conversations all the time. For those who notice this sign of anxiety, you may also notice you have a lot of headaches or feel fatigued.
4. You Appear Calm, But Feel Tense Inside
People may describe you as put-together, but under the surface you’re battling racing thoughts, tightness in your chest, or constant “what if” scenarios. Because you often hold yourself to impossible standards, you are constantly "on the go" or trying to improve on what's already great. But you also strive to make sure you look like everything is always under control, even if you feel like a tornado on the inside.
5. You Rely on Achievement for Worth
You may be highly successful, but your accomplishments rarely bring lasting relief. Instead, you immediately move to the next goal. If you rely on achievement for your self-worth, and nothing changes when you achieve your goal, you may find that you are always working toward the next goal, hoping to satisfy that need to feel worthy.
6. You Struggle to Say No
Because you don’t want to let anyone down, you overcommit—even when it leaves you exhausted. And because you rely on achievement for your self-worth, you have a hard time declining when people ask for your help, your expertise, your time, or anything else. You know you can't realistically take on anything else, but you also feel compelled to say yes.
7. You Hide Your Anxiety From Others
You smile, crack jokes, and keep up appearances, but rarely let people see how much effort it takes to hold it all together. This is so common among people who suffer from high functioning anxiety. For all the reasons listed above, you desperately don't want people to know you're struggling. You want to give the appearance that all is well. So you hide your difficulties from everyone and hold all the stress in. And this may cause medical or mental health issues that you'd be best to address.
Why It’s Easy to Miss
High-functioning anxiety often gets overlooked because it hides behind productivity. From the outside, you might look like the “strong one” who manages it all. But that doesn’t mean you’re not struggling.
Left unaddressed, this kind of anxiety can lead to burnout, physical health issues, strained relationships, and deep loneliness.
What Helps
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Acknowledge It. Simply naming that what you’re feeling is anxiety is powerful.
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Challenge Perfectionism. Ask yourself: Is this “good enough” actually enough?
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Build Rest Into Your Routine. Treat rest as non-negotiable, not a reward you earn.
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Talk About It. Sharing your experience with a trusted friend, partner, or therapist helps break the isolation.
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Seek Professional Support. Therapy can provide tools to manage anxious thoughts and help you build a healthier relationship with achievement.
Final Thoughts
High-functioning anxiety can make you feel invisible—like your struggles don’t “count” because you’re still performing well. But your feelings are real, valid, and worthy of attention.
You don’t have to keep holding it all together on your own. Peace isn’t about doing more—it’s about learning to be present, kind to yourself, and safe in your own skin.
✨ If this resonates with you, know you’re not alone. Therapy can help you slow down, untangle anxious thoughts, and create space for true calm—not just the appearance of it.
If you're interested in receiving therapy to help you better manage your anxiety, please visit my website to schedule a free 15 minute consultation - www.brittaniedmillslmft.com.
I provide online individual and couples counseling throughout California, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Florida.
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