Is high functioning anxiety impacting you at work?

As a licensed therapist and anxiety expert, I have seen firsthand the impact anxiety can have on women in the workplace. And, those with high-functioning anxiety often experience unique struggles that can be particularly challenging in their professional lives.

High-functioning anxiety can consist of an intense drive for perfectionism, a constant need to be in control, and very high expectations. While this drive and desire to be successful and do well can certainly be helpful in the workplace (and in our lives) these can also lead to self-criticism, feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy, burnout, and feelings of overwhelm. Can you relate?

And it’s more difficult for you to even share that you may struggle with chronic worry or anxiousness because, on the outside, you look like you have it all together and usually others are in awe of you and think in some way that you’ve figured out how to balance everything so well. And let’s face it, it’s hard to admit you’re struggling.

And this can lead to increased stress and feelings of isolation and shame.

But wait, it’s not all bad!! And there’s hope because there are ways that you can learn how to overcome these challenges that

One of the most important starting places is to be radically honest with yourself about the struggles. With high-functioning anxiety, we tend to dismiss our feelings and experiences and try to just PUSH through. So the first step is really about acknowledging how things have really been going and how you’re really feeling inside.

Monitory your energy day to day. This is a great step you can take to tune more into how you’re doing consistently. Women with high-functioning anxiety tend to take on so much and then they explode or “can’t take anymore.” So really being able to check in and see how where you’re energy level is. This is a perfect place to start to notice and say, okay….I need to give back to myself now or practice some self-care or boundary-setting.

Lastly, if quiet time seems too stressful b/c of your overactive mind, that’s okay but try to create some time for yourself when you’re just not doing anything. Maybe you’re really engaging in a tv show or listening to some chill music. That way you’re starting to create some space for you to learn how to relax and rest which is such an important aspect of overcoming high-functioning anxiety.