The six little-known signs you are suffering without realising it

A licensed therapist has revealed the six signs you have high-functioning anxiety and ‘don’t even know it’.

JM, from the US, revealed people may be living with the mental health condition if they constantly have very high expectations of themselves and are in constant fear of ‘being a failure’.

High levels of anxiety affect your ability to concentrate, sleep, and carry out everyday tasks. 

The mental health professional recently shared unknown symptoms that many probably consider ‘normal’ in order to spread awareness.

‘Some signs include if you get a lot of things done but you constantly feel like you aren’t doing enough, or you have a hard time saying no because you’re afraid of disappointing others,’ he said.

1. You have a constant fear of disappointing or angering others

According to Healthdirect Australia, one of the main symptoms of anxiety is having difficulty managing your fears and worries.

While being aware of what people think of you is normal to a certain extent, constant fear of being perceived negatively could stem from a social anxiety disorder. 

2. You’re constantly planning for the worst case scenario 

People with anxiety generally feel unprepared for most situations, which is why they spend their time overthinking scenarios.

They plan out their reactions for all possible outcomes – including the worst one. 

3. You have a really hard time relaxing

Anxiety disorders often come hand-in-hand with physical and mental manifestations that make it hard to kick back and take a break.

If you find yourself with a frequently accelerated heartrate or lost in spirals of worrying about the future, it might be time to visit your doctor.

4. You struggle with making decisions because you’re scared of being wrong

People with high functioning anxiety shy away from making decisions – especially permanent ones.

Constantly overthinking has made them expect the worst out of situations, even if they are seemingly harmless. 

5. You have a tough time getting your mind to shut off at night

Anxiety can also manifest in various physical symptoms, such as panic attacks, shortness of breath, trembling, trouble sleeping, and more.

6. You procrastinate and you only get things done at the very last minute

There are several reasons an anxiety disorder might lead to procrastination, such as fear of being criticised for poor results or being scared of an unknown outcome.

It’s also possible that people put off tasks until the last moment because they feel inadequate or incapable.  

Many shared they had never known why they experienced such strange symptoms without a seemingly ‘obvious’ cause.

‘I’ve always suspected I’ve had anxiety but I didn’t know these were signs,’ a woman said.

‘Wow, I check all six boxes. I guess I need to call my GP,’ another wrote.

Others said they had never seen their personalities summed up so accurately.

‘Oh my god, you’re the first person that has described me to the fullest,’ one woman shared.

If at any time you feel that you may harm yourself, call an ambulance on triple zero (000).

You can also call Lifeline on 13 11 14, available 24 hours a day.