Stress & Anxiety: What is the difference?
Is there a difference between stress and anxiety? While both are emotional responses, there are differences between them. However, many people will use these terms interchangeably with each other.
Both stress and anxiety have very similar symptoms. In both cases, someone may experience trouble with concentrating, sleeping, feeling irritable, or nervous. It is not uncommon for someone to say that they feel anxious over a test, job interview, or a meeting at work. While the symptoms of both are extremely similar, there are key differences that should be known.
Why? Knowing the difference between stress and anxiety can make a world of difference. It can help you determine if what you are feeling is just temporary or something that is going to be chronic. It can mean the difference between how well you can move on from stressful events.
What Is Stress?
Stress is the emotional response our bodies have to external factors. People can feel stressed over an upcoming job interview, presentation, test, or a big deadline at work.
The key thing to remember about stress is that it’s a temporary response. It’s our body’s response to something that is happening externally. As the event or situation subsides or completes, someone who is experiencing stress will feel as if the weight is lifted. From that point on, it is easy to move on. Life returns to normal and so does your body.
What Is Anxiety?
This is where there seems to be a lot of overlap between stress and anxiety. It is common for people to say things such as, “I am so anxious over this test,” or “I am really nervous for my job interview.” They are stressed, which is causing them to feel anxious, but it is just a temporary feeling.
Unfortunately, there are some people who never get over their anxiousness. In fact, for these people, the feelings of anxiety might not even be contributed to anything specific. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that approximately 19% of Americans over the age of 18 were diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in the past year. And, according to mind.org, an organization based in the UK, 1 in 6 people experience anxiety disorders and symptoms each week. Anxiety disorders are one of the most common health issues that people face.
For those who deal with chronic anxiety, it is more than just becoming easily stressed. They often have intense and excessive worries over everyday situations. These situations can be as common as running errands, going to a restaurant, or even driving.
There are many symptoms of anxiety that make it more than just feeling stressed. Some common symptoms of anxiety are:
Increased heart rate
Sweating
Fatigue
Difficulty sleeping/Insomnia
Avoidance of things that cause anxiety
A sense of constant, impending danger
The key difference between stress and anxiety is the amount of time they suffer from it. While someone can be temporarily anxious, it does not mean that they have an anxiety disorder. If you believe that you have something going on more than stress, you do have options.
When To Seek Treatment
You may be hesitant to reach out for help because you aren’t sure if you truly have anxiety or not. There’s a fine line between stress and anxiety, so that is completely normal to feel. You may benefit from anxiety treatment if you:
Feel as if your excessive worrying is interfering with work, school, or your everyday life.
You are experiencing panic attacks.
You are avoiding situations or people that trigger feelings of nervousness.
Learning to control your anxiety and not let it control you is something most people struggle with, but treatment can help. If you are ready to take back your life and feel free again, reach out to us.
