When most people think about people who experience symptoms of anxiety, they picture someone who exhibits outward signs of nervousness.
They are used to anxiety manifesting itself through restlessness, panic attacks, stomach pain, sweaty palms, nervous speech, and other similar characteristics.
Many people also believe that individuals with anxiety have trouble making decisions, speaking up for themselves, or trying new things.
While this can all be true, it is important for people to be aware of the less obvious signs and symptoms of anxiety.
For example, someone who always is the first to speak up and suggest an idea might seem like they are too confident to be experiencing anxiety when, in reality, they are speaking up first to protect themselves from having to go along with an idea that someone else might propose that might make them uncomfortable.
As a parent, it is essential for you to know the symptoms of high functioning anxiety so that you can be well equipped to help your teen if they are struggling with this experience.
What is high functioning anxiety?
High functioning anxiety is a term that refers to people who struggle with anxiety but are still able to function well with school, work, and other areas of their life.
An individual with high functioning anxiety is able to go about their day without their anxiety crippling them with fear or preventing them from completing the tasks they need to get done.
Symptoms of high functioning anxiety
Because people with high functioning anxiety tend to be incredibly productive, hard working, and organized individuals, their struggles with anxiety often go unnoticed.
Here are some signs and symptoms of anxiety that are often overlooked:
Fear of failure
One of the most common signs of anxiety is a fear of failure. Here are a few ways this fear might exhibit itself in teenagers with high functioning anxiety:
Asking a lot of questions
If your teen is constantly asking questions in each of their classes at school, it might not necessarily be because they have an inquisitive nature.
Oftentimes, teens with high functioning anxiety ask their teachers several questions out of fear of making a mistake on their classwork or a homework assignment.
Rather than risk losing points or submitting homework that isn’t perfect, they will ask their teacher more questions than necessary.
Because students who ask a lot of questions are typically seen as good classroom participants or inquisitive students, this symptom of anxiety is often overlooked.
Having strong attendance records
If your teen never wants to miss a day of school, even when they are feeling really sick, it may be a sign that they are experiencing anxiety.
They may be anxious that their teacher won’t actually believe they were sick or that they will get so behind in their classes after missing a day that they won’t be able to catch up and get a good grade.
Paying close attention to details
Being organized is not a bad thing. However, if your teen seems to pay too much attention to detail and keeps everything meticulously organized, it could be a sign that they are anxious.
Some teens with high functioning anxiety keep extremely detailed organizers out of fear that they will forget to complete an assignment, study for a test, or attend a club meeting.
While they might seem put together because they are so organized, they are really trying to protect themselves out of a fear of failure and anxiety over potentially making a mistake.
Fear of judgment
Another common sign of anxiety is a fear of judgment. In teens with high functioning anxiety, this fear can present itself in a few ways:
Punctuality
Although showing up to places on time is a good thing, it can also be a sign that your teen feels anxiety about being judged for being late.
If your teen always wants to arrive early for school, practice, and appointments, it could be that they are trying to be proactive about avoiding judgment from others.
Busy schedule
If your teen always seems to be working on some project or heading to some extracurricular activity, it might be because they are afraid of saying “no,” and setting healthy boundaries.
Many teens with high functioning anxiety are afraid that they will be judged if they express a boundary or refuse to take on an extra task, which leaves their calendar full of events and activities.
Responding to messages quickly
While you might be happy when your teen responds to your texts right away, always being ready to respond to messages is a way for teens with high functioning anxiety to avoid being judged by friends and family members.
Sometimes these teens feel like if they don’t respond to messages quickly, their friends will think less of them and exclude them from group chats or group activities in the future.
To try and mitigate this, your teen may prioritize communicating frequently and quickly when they speak with others.
Fear of the unknown
Many people with anxiety wrestle with a fear of the unknown, which keeps them from wanting to take risks. Teens with high functioning anxiety may exhibit this fear through the following action:
Keeping a detailed schedule or itinerary
Your teen might seem like they are a natural born leader because they know how to best schedule their activities, and they always seem to have a plan.
However, planning everything they do out in advance may be their way of making sure they are prepared for the day and able to avoid unexpected events.
Surprises make them uncomfortable, so they avoid surprises by making sure that they have every moment planned to the best of their ability.
Even when it seems like they are doing just fine, your teen may be experiencing high levels of anxiety every day.
By learning to recognize these symptoms, you can help your teen develop the coping skills they need to better manage their anxiety.