It’s normal to feel anxious sometimes, especially in stressful situations. However, for some people, excessive and persistent anxiety can be challenging to manage and often interfere with daily activities. This could be a symptom of an anxiety disorder. It has been observed that in the U.S., about 6.8 million adults have experienced generalized anxiety, but the number of people likely to develop anxiety is much higher.
High-functioning anxiety is a subset of general anxiety that often goes undiagnosed or unnoticed. It occurs when a person has symptoms of stress, but instead of withdrawing from situations or interactions, they work hard to face their fears and knowingly mask the symptoms. If you are searching for professional treatment for high-functioning anxiety in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Las Vegas, Bespoke Treatment offers multiple treatment options.
What Is High-Functioning Anxiety?
High-functioning anxiety is not recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Instead, it is often seen as a generalized form of anxiety.
The term “high functioning anxiety” represents that people who exhibit symptoms of anxiety while maintaining high levels of functioning in various aspects of their lives tend to be successful in work and other activities, but internally, they have persistent internal stress, doubt, and fear not measuring up Those who rush feel extremely uncomfortable inside and struggle with significant criticism.
To an outsider, people with high-functioning anxiety appear to be distinct and manageable. They don’t seem to avoid or withdraw from life. They may have successful careers, participate in many volunteer or community activities, and have strong personal relationships. Beyond this façade, however, these people have a persistent sense of anxiety, fear, and heightened stress or feel overwhelmed.
High-Functioning Anxiety Symptoms
There are several emotional and physical symptoms associated with generalized anxiety. High-functioning anxiety reflects many of these, but some can be more pronounced.
In addition to general fear, anxiety, and stress, people with high-functioning anxiety can struggle internally with:
- Significant fear of criticism or self-criticism
- Fear of appearing inadequate or stupid in front of others
- Feeling on edge or on the verge of losing control
- Feeling a sense of impending doom
- An important concern
People with high-functioning anxiety may also experience physical symptoms, such as:
- Excessive sweating
- To feel unbalanced or light-headed
- headache or fever
- Intestinal inflammation, such as ulcers or ulcers
- muscular tension
- Heart palpitations
- Rubbery or jelly-like feet
- Sleep problems
- Numbness or tingling in the fingers or wrists
Who is at risk of high-functioning anxiety?
High-functioning anxiety can affect people of any age and gender, but some people are at higher risk for it. Women are twice as likely as men to experience chronic anxiety over their lifetime. This can be due to social pressures, gender roles, and relationship problems.
Other people at risk of developing high-functioning anxiety are individuals who:
- Have important stressors in their lives.
- Have a genetic predisposition to anxiety.
- Grew up in families that felt very insecure.
- Had guardians who were also concerned or had high expectations.
Effect of High-Functioning Anxiety on Daily Life
High levels of high-functioning anxiety can significantly affect different areas of an individual’s life, regardless of their external success and accomplishments. People with high-functioning anxiety tend to be overworked. They work extra hours, volunteer to make new arrangements, or try to perform every task perfectly. They look for clues about how society defines success and put pressure on themselves to achieve or exceed these often unrealistic expectations. This intense pressure can lead to burnout due to the constant desire to excel and the fear of failure.
People with high-functioning anxiety can also put their relationships at risk because they spend so much time focusing on other aspects of their lives. Criticism, even constructive feedback, can be especially difficult for people with high levels of anxiety. They may overreact to any criticism and harshly internalize it. They neglect self-care such as sleep, exercise, and nutrition and face physical health problems related to chronic stress.
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, it is advisable to seek professional help. Bespoke Treatment creates a healing atmosphere for individuals struggling with anxiety, allowing you to try the best treatment option with the help of mental healthcare professionals. If you are seeking anxiety treatment in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Las Vegas, contact Bespoke Treatment to schedule a consultation.
Treating High Functioning Anxiety
Just as with any other mental disorder, high-functioning anxiety can be treated and managed with therapy and other treatments. These are some of the high-functioning anxiety treatment options:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT is a form of therapy that aims to change negative thought patterns and behaviors by teaching people to recognize and change distorted thinking patterns and develop coping skills to manage their anxiety
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Act)
ACT focuses on helping people acknowledge their thoughts and feelings without judgment and act on their values and goals
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
This includes helping the person focus on the present moment to reduce anxiety and teaching mindfulness techniques such as deep breathing and meditation.
Medication
Antidepressants
Antidepressants are medications commonly used to treat depression and anxiety. They alter the levels and interactions of neurotransmitters in the brain that regulate mood and stress. There are many different types of antidepressants, including SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, NASSAs, and SARIs. Sometimes antipsychotics are also prescribed; Antidepressants and antipsychotics must be taken daily, often have side effects, and are ineffective for all individuals.
Buspirone
Anxiety is treated with buspirone. It belongs to a class of drugs known as anxiolytics, which work by helping reduce stress and improve symptoms such as restlessness, difficulty concentrating, and irritability. Buspirone is thought to work by regulating certain chemicals in the brain that regulate mood and anxiety.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs used to treat anxiety disorders, as well as insomnia, seizures, and muscle weakness They work by increasing the activity of a neurotransmitter called GABA in the brain, which helps reduce anxiety and it is soothing.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
TMS is a non-invasive brain stimulation that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate neural activity. The FDA approved it for the treatment of depression in 2008, and there is a growing body of research showing that TMS is effective in treating anxiety disorders as well. With Bespoke anxiety treatment plans, we offer Express TMS, a particular type of TMS that can be completed in just a few minutes per session.
Ketamine Treatment
Ketamine is a medication that is being increasingly used as a treatment for depression and anxiety. It’s known for its ability to promote neuroplasticity and make permanent adjustments inside the brain chemistry, which could lead to long-lasting results.
In 2019, the FDA approved the esketamine nasal spray (called Spravato). At Bespoke Treatment, we offer a range of ketamine treatment methods, including infusions, Spravato, intramuscular shots, and rapid-dissolve tablets.
Neurofeedback
Neurofeedback, or biofeedback, is a non-invasive process that uses real-time feedback to help a person learn to self-regulate their brain activity. It measures brain waves with sensors located on the head, and then it gives feedback to the person via visual and auditory displays.
Then, the person can learn to manage their brain activity through changing thoughts and behaviors in response to this feedback. Numerous studies have proven neurofeedback to be a promising treatment for anxiety disorders.
Bespoke Treatment Helps You Overcome Anxiety
At Bespoke Treatment, we start with a comprehensive assessment to learn about your symptoms, lifestyle, and overall health. After diagnosing your condition and understanding your needs, we then design a treatment plan for high-functioning anxiety to reduce your symptoms and help you manage your negative mood. Our treatment for high-functioning anxiety can include traditional medical and group therapies, as well as treatment options such as TMS therapy, ketamine treatment, and neurofeedback. If you are searching for a professional treatment for high-functioning anxiety in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Las Vegas, you can contact us, and begin healing.
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For quality anxiety treatment in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Santa Monica, reach out to Bespoke Treatment, offering multiple mental health treatment options to residents of California and Nevada.
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