How to Tell the Difference Between Stress and Anxiety
In today's increasingly fast-paced world, it's more common than ever for people to experience feelings of stress and anxiety, both very normal feelings we experience as humans. The two often hang out together in our mental spaces and physical bodies, often wreaking havoc and causing confusion between the two emotional responses - think, the three ghosts in the movie Casper (where are my children of the 90’s?!). While stress and anxiety can often be intertwined and share similar symptoms, they are distinct emotions that require different approaches for effective management. Understanding the difference can help us know what coping strategies to utilize and what we may need in the current moment or situation, promoting mental well-being and seeking appropriate support. It can also help us gain greater self awareness and a deeper understanding of what is “normal” for our own unique experiences and when it is leading to a more chronic, ongoing anxiety response that may need more tailored intervention.
Stress and anxiety are two very different things. While they both involve feelings of unease and apprehension, stress is a natural reaction to an external pressure or trigger. It's something that you feel in the moment. Anxiety, however, can come about for no obvious reason at all (you just feel anxious), and it can last for weeks or even months on end. It is our internal response to stress. If you're experiencing stress or anxiety regularly then keep on reading!
What is stress?
Stress is the body's natural reaction to situations that challenges your ability to cope. The most predictable thing in life is that it is unpredictable. Things can come at you fast and sometimes out of nowhere.
Common symptoms of stress include - irritability, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, headaches, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances.
Most people think stress is all bad but it actually can come from exciting life experiences too! Some common stressors that are experienced but many of us include moving to a different city, dating someone new or losing someone or something close to you or the death of a pet. Stress helps is there to help you respond to situations in order to maintain equilibrium and keep you safe.
You may notice problems arise when you experience chronic, or ongoing, stress. This ongoing stress wears down your immune system overtime due to the body working overtime to find balance. You may then begin to notice things like headaches, stomach aches, or getting sick frequently, alerting you that you need rest!
But stress is not the enemy and we need it! Stress is what help you perform well, giving you boosts of energy to get shit done. It helps you make important decisions in a short amount of time and it alerts you to things that are out of whack, so it's important not to ignore signs that your body is under too much strain.
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is a persistent and excessive worry about future events or uncertain situations. It's not the same as fear, although it can be associated with fear. It's also not the same as stress, but anxiety can be caused by stress. Symptoms of anxiety may include persistent restlessness, excessive worrying, racing thoughts, difficulty sleeping, and physical manifestations like rapid heartbeat or shortness of breath. It is a normal emotional response that can lead to ongoing issues when it becomes the body’s automatic response to stress. Anxiety can be caused by stress but not the other way around. It is the anticipation of a situation and our internal response to stress, If you have a lot of stress in your life but you’re not worried about it then you most likely aren’t anxious are responding to stress in a way that helps you move through it.
Click here to learn more about ways therapy can help anxiety.
Bottom line
While stress and anxiety may share some similarities, it can be helpful to remember that they are different feelings with distinct characteristics Stress is often a response to external pressures and tends to be temporary while anxiety involves persistent worry and can affect daily functioning. If you're feeling anxious, it might be time to take some action--but if you feel stressed out, don't worry! That's just part of life. You can always take steps toward reducing your stress levels so they don't get too high (like exercising or going outside). And always remember: You are not alone.
Therapy can help
If you feel like you’re getting stuck along the way or want more guided support, it may be time to seek a consultation with a therapist. Contact Real Well Therapy here or call 512-686-7009.
Want to learn more about how anxiety therapy can help you? Click here!
Don’t miss out! Sign up below for blog updates.
(Don’t worry, I won’t spam you or share your information).
Disclaimer: the information provided in this blog post is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or a substitute for professional consultation. If you are experiencing emotional distress, please reach out to a qualified mental health professional.
