7 Daily Hacks To Help You Manage High Functioning Anxiety

These are only a few of the ways you might describe yourself if you have “high functioning anxiety.” Although it isn’t a clinical textbook disorder, high functioning anxiety can still affect your mental and physical well-being if left ignored.

To help you control your anxiety and restore your sense of freedom, consider implementing a few of the following daily hacks:

1. Start to recognize your symptoms for what they are.

Anxiety loses some of its holds when we put it in the proper perspective. Recognizing anxious feelings as irrational or unreasonable is the first step to overcoming them.

2. Refuse to engage in any anxious thoughts. 

When we resist or deny anxiety, it only gets worse. But, on the other hand, acknowledging those worrisome thoughts isn’t the same as giving into them, and if we can perceive our anxious responses as optional, we can start to assert control over them.

3. Act before (over)thinking. 

Too often, anxiety allows us to talk ourselves out of going with our first instinct. Although the solution isn’t to be reckless or impulsive, when something feels right in your gut, try doing it without excessive reflection. Over time, the same approach feels more and more natural to do.

4. Embrace a healthy lifestyle.

Do your best to maintain a healthy diet, regular exercise, and practice other healthy habits like meditation or yoga. Not only will this help you calm your mind when anxiety takes over, but it’ll help you feel better about yourself and improve your confidence. 

5. Find trustworthy confidantes.

Identify the people in your life that you can share your innermost thoughts and feelings without worrying about judgment or restriction. Having even one trust, confidante can help enormously. And typically, loved ones are happy to support you and fill that role. 

6. Reconnect with your body.

Anxiety is just as physical as it is emotional. People with high-functioning anxiety tend to exist in their minds and find it tough to break the fearful thinking and feeling cycle. Getting in touch with your body is  A critical component of dealing with anxiety symptoms. Not only is it good for your health, but it relieves some of that tension as well. 

7. Create a mantra, and use it every day.

Practice talking back to that inner critic when it starts to tell you that you’re not good enough or that you need to do more. Here are a few ideas:

• “I am doing my best.”
• “I’m not perfect, but I love myself for who I am.”
• “I deserve to relax and take good care of myself.”

This tool is beneficial when it comes to dealing with a challenging aspect of high-functioning anxiety: perfectionism. Having a mantra feels empowering and can allow you to practice self-care and cope with anxiety at the same time.

Remember that small successes add up to significant changes. Having high functioning anxiety means you’re already an active participant in the world, giving you endless opportunities to win small victories in your fight to overcome anxiety. Anytime you challenge your anxiety and practice these skills, it is a step in the right direction. Over time those small victories will lead to genuine, sustainable progress.

Ask for help, and accept it when it comes your way. Mental health professionals can help you understand yourself and change your relationship with anxiety. High-functioning anxiety is highly responsive to treatment, and those who suffer from it can enjoy significant improvements if they put a real effort into recovery.

The bottom line

All of these daily hacks can be put together into your practical high-functioning anxiety toolbox. Whether you’re at work or home or out with a friend, you can use these skills to put yourself back in control.

Learning how to manage high functioning anxiety doesn’t happen overnight and can be frustrating at times. But if you put even a fraction of your overachieving energy into your wellness, you’ll soon reap the benefits.

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If you struggle with anxious, self-critical, racing thoughts and consider yourself an overthinker then don’t worry..I’ve got you…Check out The Overthinking Toolkit.