High-Functioning Depression
Low Self-Esteem
We are not born with self-esteem, but rather, it’s something that we develop throughout our life experiences. It’s tied to how we internalize our experiences. Your childhood and life experiences as an adult can affect you at a subconscious level.
What Is Low-Self Esteem?
Self-esteem is a measure of how someone values themselves. It determines how the individual perceives their ability to achieve in life.
What Causes Low-Self Esteem?
Self-esteem issues can stem from various sources and arise from many different issues, including past childhood experiences and health issues.
Childhood Issues
We are born with no inhibitions. About age two, we start to become aware of what people think of us. This awareness impacts our self-esteem.
That’s because our childhood experiences play a large role in how we develop. Here are some reasons you can develop low self-esteem in your childhood:
- Overly critical caregivers such as parents, teachers, or siblings
- Doing poorly in school
- Caregiver neglect
- Bullying
- Parental conflict in the home
- Childhood trauma
- The media
- Societal norms
Life Events
Low self-esteem can come from many different life experiences, including bullying, a negative social media experience, or an abusive relationship. Your belief systems can further lower your self-esteem around these events.
Chronic Illness
Living with a chronic illness can have a significant impact on a person’s self-esteem. For example, someone might still feel the need to maintain their usual responsibilities even though they could no longer do so. It can also lead to feelings of guilt or shame about their condition and a lack of motivation.
Mental Health Problems
Having a mental health disorder can cause other issues. Whether it is anxiety, depression, or PTSD, these disorders can change how you think about yourself and the world around you. They can cause low self-esteem, which will affect your relationships and well-being.
Signs and Symptoms of High-Functioning Anxiety
People with high-functioning anxiety may not recognize that they have an issue because it does not disrupt the daily routines like low-functioning anxiety. High functioning anxiety includes many symptoms. Do two or more of the symptoms below apply to you?
- Do you, at times, procrastinate and leave tasks to the last minute?
- Do you plan every minute of your day and get anxious when something changes?
- Are you unable to leave work undone to the point that you work late hours?
- Do you need constant reassuring that your work is good enough?
- Do you have trouble relaxing or having a good time without worrying about other obligations?
- Do you get stressed about work performance, though you nail it every time?
- Are you withdrawing from activities you usually enjoy?
- Do you get unexplained physical symptoms such as stomach issues, chest pains, headaches, or insomnia?
- Do you have racing thoughts?
- Are there times you procrastinate because you feel overwhelmed or trying to do things perfect?
If you recognize this symptom, get feedback from a trusted friend or partner.
Diagnoses
High-functioning anxiety disorder is not listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and lacks an official diagnosis. Stress can improve your productivity. However, if your anxiety exceeds an optimal level, it will hinder your performance.
Treatments of Anxiety
There are effective treatments to alleviate symptoms of anxiety. So if you struggle with anxiety, seek medical advice. Your doctor can recommend one or more of these solutions to treat anxiety.
Talk Therapy
Talk therapy or psychotherapy is when a person talks to a mental health professional about their problems and builds a healthier way of thinking. When you talk about your problems, it helps to relieve stress. The person who listens doesn’t give advice or tell the person what to do but instead allows them to find a new perspective on their problem.
Talk therapy is not just for people with mental health problems; it can also be used as a type of intervention for high-functioning anxiety. Here are some popular talk therapeutic solutions:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Solution-focused brief therapy (SFT)
- Behavior therapy
- Exposure therapy
Medication
Along with therapy, your doctor may prescribe a short-term anxiety medication such as Valium for sporadic anxiety episodes.
Self-Care
High-functioning anxiety sufferers often lack balance. Therefore, you must include self-care practices as part of your long-term treatment plan. Some easy-to-implement self-care tactics include activities such as:
- Exercising Daily
- Scheduling time off
- Getting enough rest
- Spending time with your loved ones
- Reading
- Eating healthily
Alternative Treatment
Another way to reduce symptoms of high-functioning anxiety is through practicing mindfulness exercises such as yoga or meditation. You can practice mindfulness exercises alone or with a therapist.
My Relax Session Specializes in Treating High Functioning Anxiety
My Relax Session, led by Stephanie Headen, LPC, focuses on treating women with high-functioning anxiety. Her clients are people who do not get the support they need because they are able to complete day-to-day activities. Whether you choose to have an in-person or virtual session, you will immediately get a sense of support and relaxation. She offers both talk and walk-and-talk therapy. She also offers alternative treatment options such as Alpha-Stim and massage therapy (coming soon) in conjunction with psychotherapy.
Is My Relax Session for me?
Highly motivated women age 18 and above may benefit from working with My Relax Session. Our treatment modalities may not be suitable to those who:
- Have had psychiatric hospitalizations (must discuss during intake session)
- Have suffered from suicidal or homicidal ideations within the last 12 months
- Untreated sexual trauma or abuse
- Suffer from a severe persistent mental illness and require a psychiatrist
Get the Tools You Need for High-Functioning Anxiety
Why should you suffer through your anxiety alone? My Relax Session, LLC, located in McDonough, Georgia, is here to give you the tools so that you can enjoy your life again. Contact us today.