On the outside, you look like the “Denver Success Story.” You’re hitting your KPIs at your tech firm in the Highlands, you never miss a Saturday morning trip to the mountains, and your social calendar is full.
But on the inside, the engine is redlining.
This is High-Functioning Anxiety (HFA). In a city that prizes “doing it all,” HFA is often the invisible passenger for Denver’s high-achievers. It’s the anxiety that doesn’t stop you from succeeding—it actually propels you to succeed, but at a massive internal cost.
The “Denver Overachiever” Trap
In Denver, our culture often confuses anxiety with “ambition.” We see this daily at My Denver Therapy:
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The “Productivity” Shadow: You feel like if you aren’t doing something “epic” on the weekends (like bagging a 14er), you’re failing at the Colorado lifestyle.
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The Workplace Mask: You are the “reliable one” in the office who says yes to everything because the thought of a missed deadline or a perceived failure triggers a physical sense of dread.
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The Calmness Phobia: When you finally sit down to relax at a brewery or at home, you feel “itchy” or guilty, as if rest is a waste of time.
Clinical Signs You’re Redlining
High-functioning anxiety isn’t an official DSM-5 diagnosis, but it is a distinct clinical experience. Look for these signs:
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The “What If” Loop: Your mind is constantly playing out worst-case scenarios, which you “fix” by over-preparing.
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Physical Manifestations: You have “mystery” back pain, a clenched jaw, or digestive issues that doctors can’t quite explain.
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Procrastination-Cleaning: You can’t start a big project until your entire house/desk is perfectly organized (anxiety disguised as organization).
Strategies for the High-Functioning Denverite
To win back your peace, we have to move from Anxious Doing to Intentional Being.
1. The “Off-Grid” Hour
Denver professionals are notoriously “tethered.” Set a “Sloan’s Lake Rule”: Walk the loop without your phone. No podcasts, no work calls. Just the sensory experience of the water and the mountains. This helps lower your cortisol baseline.
2. Identify the “Driver”
In therapy, we look at what is driving your HFA. Is it a fear of inadequacy? A need for external validation? Once we identify the “Driver,” we can put you back in the driver’s seat.
3. Somatic Grounding in the City
When the “hustle” feels overwhelming in the middle of a workday, use the 5-4-3-2-1 Technique. Find 5 things you can see (like the Cash Register Building or a specific tree), 4 things you can touch, and so on. This pulls your brain out of the future and into the present.
Why Specialized Therapy is the Solution
General “stress management” isn’t enough for high-functioning anxiety. You need a therapist who understands the specific pressures of the Denver Metro professional landscape.
At My Denver Therapy, we specialize in helping high-achievers transition from being “driven by fear” to being “led by purpose.” We use a mix of CBT, Somatic Experiencing, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) tailored to your fast-paced life.
