On the surface, people with high functioning anxiety may appear to have their lives together. However, this isn’t the case, they just do an effective job of concealing their stressful and anxious thoughts.
If you wonder if you may be experiencing high functioning anxiety, we’re here to help by offering some advice on how to naturally ease symptoms of high functioning anxiety. Take a break from scheduling your car with Access Global, and let’s get into it.
What is High Functioning Anxiety?
We often associate anxiety with someone who is constantly on edge, and you can easily tell that they’re overcome with fears or nerves. High functioning anxiety is different, as it’s not easy to spot in someone else. Psychologist Adam Borland describes high functioning anxiety as “an individual who, despite feeling anxious, seems able to effectively manage the demands of day-to-day life.”
If this sounds like you, here are some tips to help you manage and effectively cope with high functioning anxiety.
Practice Mindfulness
Practicing mindfulness is an excellent way to overcome high functioning anxiety. In fact, mindfulness practices are often now recommended in clinical settings to help people overcome anxiety and stress. When you practice mindfulness, you’re training yourself to not be so reactive to the thoughts and emotions you have. Instead, you learn to view them objectively and non-judgmentally, which makes it easier for you to handle complex and stressful thoughts and feelings when they arise.
Get Your Body Moving
Exercising is a great resource to overcome negative symptoms of high functioning anxiety. When we engage in physical exercise, our bodies release hormones that make us feel happier and more at ease. The next time you’re feeling anxious, try going for a short, 20-minute walk to release some of that negative energy. You’re sure to feel better in no time at all.
Get Creative
Did you know that there’s a method called art therapy to help treat symptoms of anxiety and depression? There’s a good reason for this as getting creative can help you get more in touch with your imagination and helps get your focus on the moment in front of you instead of being overcome by irrational or compulsive thinking. If you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, allow yourself some time to do something creative like painting, dancing, or writing poetry.
Face Your Fears
Anxiety is often the result of thinking about things that have yet to happen. We become fearful of the future as we know it’s not something we have much control over. This way of thinking is incredibly toxic, and it’s often because we fear feeling something in the future. That’s why it’s important to get to the root cause of your fears in order to manage high functioning anxiety. Facing your fears allows you to see where your anxiety stems from. Is it a lack of control? Is it fear of loss? There are plenty of things you may be fearful of, and learning how to be still when these thoughts arise is key to making it out of the downward and negative spiral of anxious thinking.
