High Functioning Anxiety Treatment

High functioning anxiety is a condition where an individual may experience symptoms of anxiety, but they are able to maintain a high level of performance and functionality in their daily life. In addition to the signs described above, some signs that you may have high functioning anxiety include: constant worry and overthinking, perfectionism even in situations where it may not be necessary, overcommitting on more tasks and responsibilities than you can handle, physical symptoms (such as headaches, muscle tension, gastrointestinal issues, or difficulty sleeping). Everyone experiences anxiety differently. If you think you may have high functioning anxiety, speak with one of our therapists for a proper diagnosis and treatment.

There is no single cause of high functioning anxiety, and it may be influenced by a variety of factors. However, generally speaking, anxiety and high functioning anixety are caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Some of the common risk factors for high-functioning anxiety include a family history of anxiety, medical conditions such as an overactive thyroid, stressful or adverse life events, family dysfunction and childhood trauma.

Therapy addresses more than just the symptoms of anxiety. Therapy is a self-reflective process that helps people with anxiety disorders identify, understand, and overcome their anxiety. By increasing your self-awareness and uncovering the underlying causes of negative patterns of thinking and behaving, therapy helps you develop healthier coping mechanisms and problem-solving skills and work through past issues your high-functioning anxiety may stem from.

Yes! Social anxiety relates to fears of being rejected, embarassed, and judged that leads someone to avoid or feel highly anxious in social situations. This type of anxiety makes it difficult for someone to form meaningful friendships and relationships and pursue better career opportunities that may involve assertiveness, public speaking, and management of people. Therapy can be highly effective for individuals with social anxiety because it provides a safe and supportive environment to address and overcome their fears and concerns related to social situations, develop coping strategies to navigate ther social anxiety, and address past issues that the social anxiety stems from.

If you have out-of-network benefits, your insurance may be able to reimburse you for approximately 50%-80% of each session after the out-of-network deductible is met.

Out-of-network psychotherapy coverage varies by carrier and policy. It can be confusing, but we’re here to help! If you aren’t sure whether or not you have out-of-network benefits, we can check for you. Just email your insurance card and date of birth to info@imagineemotionalwellness.com 

Meeting consistently and stably on a weekly basis will help build safety and trust, which is essential for the work to progress on a deeper level. Biweekly sessions impact the effectiveness of therapy. 

Often, meeting less frequently results in a ‘catch up’ type of session and does not allow for the time, space, and emotional capacity needed to address what goes on beneath the surface.

Depending on the level of our work, there are also times when meeting two or more times a week is appropriate, and that will always come from us talking and making that decision together.

Therapy can last any time between a year to many more, as long as you are still progressing from our work. The length of therapy depends on what you want and need, and what you want/need can be fluid and dynamic. 

Healing and personal growth is not strict or predictable. You can start off by wanting to address something very specific (e.g. “I want to feel less anxious”), but through our work together could realize a deeper meaning to these anxious symptoms (e.g. “I feel anxious because I am terrified of intimacy” to “I’ve had very familiar experiences of being emotionally suffocated when I was close to people”). Realizing these deeper long-standing issues may then shape the focus and length of treatment. 

Regardless of why you are seeking therapy and how long you hope to be in treatment, it is important to remember that your thoughts and input are invaluable to me, and the pace and length of treatment will always be a collaborative discussion.

Anyone who wants a space to explore and discover more about themselves can benefit from therapy. If you’re unsure, try asking yourself these questions:

• Am I content with the way I live my life?
• Is the way I live myself and relate to others congruent with what I authentically value , feel, and want?
• Are there areas of my life or self-development that I feel stuck in?
• Have I been trying the same things over and over again to feel better, expecting different results, but still feeling stagnant?

You may not need to know the full answer to these questions to try a few sessions. Sometimes, mulling this over aloud with a therapist can help you sort out your thoughts and answers. That’s also part of the therapy process!

Here are 3 simple steps.