You’ve known for a while about your anxiety diagnosis, and you feel like you’re functioning at a pretty high level. Work is going well, and things at home are stable.
Living with anxiety isn’t great, but it’s possible.
Every day your brain is bombarded with all kinds of thoughts which, for anyone else, would be crippling. For you, it’s just another day with the same hurdles. You’ve learned to live with your anxiety and how your brain works.
Yet, there’s a part of you that knows you’re just getting by.
Is there a way for you to deal with your anxiety in a more productive way?
Here are five powerful tips that you can use for managing high-functioning anxiety and getting more out of your life.
1. Understand Your Anxiety Backwards and Forwards
The first tip for managing high-functioning anxiety is to understand your anxiety backward and forwards.
For example, by finding the answers to these questions:
- What are the things that trigger your anxiety?
- How has anxiety affected your life in the past?
- Which strategies work best for managing your anxiety?
Note that there is a difference between truly understanding your anxiety versus just getting by day-by-day. So, take some time to think about these questions and how they relate to you. Jot down your answers in a journal so you can refer back to them later.
2. Accept That You Don’t Have to Be Perfect
Oftentimes, people who have high-functioning anxiety also have a streak of perfectionism. On the one hand, this helps motivate them to strive to be their best. Yet, on the other hand, it also creates a fear of failure and being judged.
Does this sound like you?
Even though you are managing your high-functioning anxiety, the reality may be that you feel you are just one step away from “slipping up.” A better way of living with anxiety, instead, is to accept and be OK with not being perfect. That may sound like a very big thing to ask, but it doesn’t have to be.
You can use some reassuring thoughts to help you, such as:
- “Everyone makes mistakes”
- “I am a good person”
- “It’s OK to make a mistake”
- “I am not a failure”
3. Avoid Overcommitment
Another attribute that’s common for those that are managing high-functioning anxiety is overcommitment. You overcommit, for example, when you sign on or volunteer for way too many tasks or projects. It may not be impossible to get all the work done. And so, to fulfill your commitments, you often end up sacrificing other things in your life that you enjoy.
Why does this happen?
People living with high-functioning anxiety typically don’t want to disappoint others. So, of course, they are willing to take on writing that report at work or managing that fundraising drive for their child’s soccer team.
To better manage your high-functioning anxiety, though, stick to only a certain number of activities. And if you want to become involved in some other activity or help out with something else, it must replace one of your current projects, not add to it.
4. Incorporate Daily Movement
If you start to feel anxious, move! Physical activity is a great way to manage anxiety. This includes using it as a preventative measure, through daily exercise, as well as in the moment when your anxiety spikes.
For instance, let’s say that you are at work when you notice your anxiety level starting to creep up. Take a moment away from your workspace to walk up and down a few flights of stairs. Or keep a stress ball (or something similar) that you can squeeze in your desk when you can’t go for a walk.
Of course, make sure to consult with your physician first before participating in any new kind of exercise program.
5. Slow Down… and Relax!
When you have high-functioning anxiety, it can be really hard to slow down. Even relaxing is difficult. You want to be “productive.” Yet, that’s not possible all the time.
Having some “me” time may seem indulgent. But the reality is that you need to recharge your batteries and invest in some much-needed TLC.
Here are some ideas to slow down:
- Begin winding down an hour or so before bedtime, turning off electronic devices to read a book and start getting ready for bed
- Allow 10-15 minutes every day to meditate and practice breathing exercises
- Eat your lunch outside in the park rather than at your desk
- Play an instrument or listen to music
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Just because you think you are dealing with anxiety well doesn’t necessarily mean you are enjoying life. However, by implementing the above-mentioned tips, you can be more effective at daily managing your high-functioning anxiety and making the most of your time. That way, living with anxiety isn’t front-and-center but rather fades into the background.
If you are still having trouble though, don’t hesitate to reach out and contact me or read more about anxiety treatment by clicking on the link.
