“You Seem Fine!” – A Closer Look at High Functioning Anxiety (And How Hypnotherapy Can Help)

By Pippa Hancock Hypnotherapy

Do you ever find yourself racing through your to-do list, constantly busy, trying to keep up appearances — all while secretly feeling like you’re just barely holding it together inside? You’re smiling, you’re coping, you’re getting stuff done… but your mind never stops, your sleep’s a mess, and you feel like you're running on empty. If that sounds familiar, you might be living with High Functioning Anxiety.

It’s the kind of anxiety that doesn’t look like anxiety. In fact, to everyone else, you seem to have it all together. You’re the reliable one. The organised one. The one who never drops the ball. But inside, it’s a very different story!

What Is High Functioning Anxiety?

High Functioning Anxiety isn’t a formal diagnosis, but it’s a very real experience. It’s anxiety that hides behind high performance, productivity, and perfectionism. You're the person who meets deadlines early, remembers everyone’s birthday, and over-prepares for meetings… but also lies awake at night replaying that one awkward thing you said in 2012.

People with HFA often:

• Overthink everything (then think about it some more)

• Struggle to relax, even when things are going well

• Feel a constant internal pressure to do more, be more

• Set impossibly high standards — then beat themselves up for not reaching them

• Say “yes” to everything, then panic about having too much on

• Appear outwardly calm while feeling restless on the inside

The worst part? Because you seem capable and in control, people don’t always see the struggle. You don’t look anxious — but that doesn’t mean you’re not silently overwhelmed.

Why Hypnotherapy?

Now here’s where hypnotherapy steps in — a gentle, effective approach that turns down the volume on that inner pressure. Hypnotherapy works by guiding you into a deeply relaxed state, where your subconscious mind becomes more open to positive suggestion. In this space, we can begin to gently shift the beliefs and habits that keep you stuck in high-alert mode.

That might mean:

• Letting go of the need to be perfect

• Releasing the fear of failure or judgement

• Creating a calmer internal dialogue (no more shouting inner critic!)

• Learning to rest without guilt

• Feeling confident setting boundaries and saying “no” (politely, of course)

Unlike simply “talking it out,” hypnotherapy taps into the part of your mind where anxiety tends to take root — helping you feel more in control from the inside out.

To learn more about how I work with anxiety, visit my Anxiety Support page.

Lighten the Load — Without Dropping Everything

Living with High Functioning Anxiety can feel like carrying an invisible weight. You’re doing all the things… but it’s exhausting. The good news? You don’t have to keep running on anxious autopilot.

Hypnotherapy is a powerful way to help you feel as calm and capable on the inside as you appear on the outside. And the best part? It doesn’t require years of therapy or endlessly rehashing your worries — just a quiet space, a compassionate approach, and the willingness to try something new.

So if you’re ready to swap the stress for balance, and the overthinking for inner peace, I’d love to help. Book your free consultation call today and take the first step towards a calmer, more grounded you. (Sessions are available in-person and online.)

Pippa Hancock Hypnotherapy - Helping high achievers find peace beneath the pressure.