High Functioning Anxiety

At first glance, Avery was a successful and even exceptional 5th-grade student. In the classroom, she consistently scored high marks on tests and assignments while contributing to class discussions. She is extremely active and talented in both cheerleading and dance, and her coaches are always impressed by her drive, focus, and determination to succeed. Her teachers and coaches praise her level of hard work and dedication, and Avery thrives for some time in these conditions. But at home, her parents see something completely different when asking her to complete her homework, eat dinner, and get to sleep. 

Avery begins to complain of headaches and insomnia, and her appetite becomes irregular. She has trouble concentrating when doing her homework, and her attitude declines — often becoming snippy or rude to her parents and brother. She is still the same talented, unique, and special young person who succeeds during the day, but she seems stressed and increasingly unhappy and anxious at home. 

What’s happened in Avery’s life? It’s a difficult question, and one that quickly leads to further difficult questions: Why does the same drive and intensity that once helped Avery succeed, now push her outside of her comfort levels? How much of that drive is too much, and at what point does it start to hamper her day-to-day life? For Avery (and many of her peers), the answer may lie in recognizing the signs of high functioning anxiety. 

WHAT IS HIGH FUNCTIONING ANXIETY?

For the time being, high functioning anxiety remains something of an informal term within the mental-health community. In fact, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (or “DSM-5”) — the professional codex of mental health diagnosis — does not currently list high functioning anxiety as an official anxiety disorder. Accordingly, there isn’t much corresponding research on this specific condition. Nevertheless, there are enough young people and adults with experiences similar to Brooklyn’s to warrant a discussion of the issue; sufferers who report that the same intensity and passion that once fueled them now seems to cripple them.

The signs of high functioning anxiety may be similar from one patient to the next. The term “high functioning anxiety” itself refers to an individual who experiences anxiety while still managing, succeeding, and even excelling at daily tasks. The child or teen may have struggled with anxiety for the majority of their life while nevertheless performing well at school, in sports, and in other activities. That is why it’s so hard for parents of children with high functioning anxiety, because often the child “hides” it well at school and then struggles in the evenings. 

 Sufferers of high functioning anxiety may be successful in their relationships and by all accounts, appear to be “doing great.” In actuality, though, the individual is plagued by their anxiety, even though their successes may (partly) stem from it. 

Ultimately, high functioning anxiety may be caused by dysautonomia, a condition in which the autonomic nervous system is in a state of dysfunction. In many cases, dysautonomia can be measured and tested to assist in developing a personalized treatment plan. In many cases, chiropractic care has been shown to improve these imbalances in the autonomic nervous system.

Let’s look at a short synopsis of high functioning anxiety:

• High functioning anxiety involves individuals who may be high achievers in daily responsibilities and expectations despite their anxiety (or possibly due to it).
   
• When anxiety becomes too much for these individuals to handle, it may lead to adverse responses and negatively affect their day-to-day quality of life in a big way
• The struggles that come from high functioning anxiety may be lessened by decreasing stress and tension on the nervous system 

WHAT ARE SIGNS OF HIGH FUNCTIONING ANXIETY?

As mentioned above, those that suffer from high functioning anxiety may appear to be successful in their day-to-day lives and activities. Because of this, it can be difficult to recognize or even codify the symptoms of high functioning anxiety. Yet some commonalities tend to exist among the symptoms — both those of the positive variety (indicating some measure of outward “success”) and the negative variety (indicating detrimental aspects). The criteria tend to fall along the following lines:

“POSITIVE” CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGH FUNCTIONING ANXIETY

• Organization
  One of the more common aspects of high functioning anxiety seems to be a predilection toward organization and neatness. Attention to detail and scheduling often indicate success at school, work, and other responsibilities. High functioning anxiety can, in many cases, actually promote these characteristics.
• High Personal Standards
  Do you or your child feel compelled to be perfect? Is this a blessing or curse in everyday life? Can it be turned on and off, or does it tend to adversely affect daily tasks? Those dealing with high functioning anxiety might find themselves faced with these or similar questions, because their anxiety may contribute to their success.
• Control
  It can be something of a debate as to whether or not control would constitute a positive or negative characteristic, as it can be something of a double-edged sword (like high functioning anxiety itself) in terms of social interaction and mental health. For the sake of this discussion, let’s assume that being able to exhibit some measure of control over daily stressors can be a powerful reinforcer for those living with high functioning anxiety.

“NEGATIVE” CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGH FUNCTIONING ANXIETY

• The symptoms and signs related to the negative aspects of high functioning anxiety may be too many to fully explore here. However, a non-comprehensive list is provided here:
  • Increased heart rate or blood pressure
  • Difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep
  • Headaches
  • Panic attacks
  • Changes in appetite
  • Nervous compulsive behaviors such as nail biting or bouncing legs
  • Stomach aches and constipation
  • Avoidant behaviors and procrastination
  • A tendency toward addiction and substance abuse
  • A general compulsion towards pleasing others and difficulty saying “no”

Again, these symptoms and outward signs of high functioning anxiety do not constitute a complete or exhaustive list. The detriments of high functioning anxiety may show outwardly in a variety of ways, including muscle tension, irritability, and escapism.

Another possible link to high functioning anxiety is a common childhood challenge called Sensory Integration Disorder. 

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF HIGH FUNCTIONING ANXIETY?

While the ultimate cause (or causes) of high functioning anxiety can be difficult to pin down, mental health professionals tend to agree on a few common factors. For one, family history and genetic factors seem to play a role in an individual’s inclination for high functioning anxiety. High-pressure life events or a stressful environment can also contribute, as the need to thrive and survive is augmented by the pressure to succeed. 

Yet another set of factors related to neurological health has gained footing in determining the causes of high functioning anxiety. These include subluxation, dysautonomia, and complications with the vagus nerve. 

Many of our PX Docs also find a few common links in the case history of children with high functioning anxiety. Things such as birth trauma and even colic show up in the very early history, and then constipation and frequent use of antibiotics and inhalers do as well. This again suggests a strong link between anxiety and things like the brainstem, vagus nerve, nervous system, adrenal glands, and the gut.  

We frequently observe these patients as “wound up and worn out” at the same time. The sympathetic dominance and drive help them succeed, but the exhaustion is what leads to emotional dysregulation and other struggles. 

DRUG-FREE CARE OPTIONS FOR HIGH FUNCTIONING ANXIETY?

The traditional approach to treating high functioning anxiety is similar to the methods of addressing anxiety in its other forms. Usually, this means therapy, medication, or some combination of the two. But today, most parents agree that medication should be the very last resort due to the long list of side effects, so they seek out many of the various forms of help discussed below first. 

Trusted forms of psychotherapy such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (or “CBT”), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (or “EMDR”), and trauma-informed therapy have all been shown to have marked effects on treating those who suffer from high functioning anxiety. 

A new and quickly emerging option for parents is neurologically focused chiropractic care, which seeks to get right to the root causes of subluxation and dysautonomia. Chiropractic adjustments seek to relieve pressure caused by the excessive sympathetic response, or “fight or flight” issues. 

For children dealing with high functioning anxiety, chiropractic adjustments can encourage vagal nerve tone and parasympathetic response, both of which promote improved digestion, rest, and emotional regulation. The discomfort and distress that the body feels when dealing with nervous system complications cannot be overlooked, as these factors may contribute to, or ultimately lead to, the challenges of high functioning anxiety. 

Luckily, several options, including pediatric chiropractic options, exist to help lessen this discomfort and provide families with care options beyond psychotherapy and medication.