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Many people assume that anxiety looks like avoidance, panic attacks, or visible distress. But for countless high-achieving adults—especially in fast-paced cities like New York—anxiety can hide behind success, productivity, and exceptional performance. This is known as high-functioning anxiety, and while it’s often invisible to others, it can take a powerful toll on a person’s emotional, physical, and relational well-being.

For many New Yorkers, life after the pandemic has not meant a simple return to normal. Even as offices fill up and social calendars resume, a quiet undercurrent of anxiety persists. People report feelings of unease in crowded spaces, guilt about preferring solitude, and stress over lost time or shifting priorities. According to the American Psychological Association (APA, 2022), more than one-third of adults said returning to in-person interactions felt stressful.

From the outside, people with high-functioning anxiety seem to “have it all together.” They excel in their careers, keep up appearances socially, and often appear organized, reliable, and successful. But beneath the surface, they may feel overwhelmed, restless, and constantly driven by worry or fear of failure.