Difference between stress and anxiety

All of us have gone through stress at some given point in time, be it because of deadlines or pressure imposed. But at what point does this stress turn into something more daunting like anxiety? There exists a very thin line between stress and anxiety, both being emotional responses. Given that the symptoms of both stress and anxiety are interchangeable, it becomes important to understand both thoroughly so that you can decide whether you need to work on deep breathing or whether you need to seek professional help.

What is Stress?

Stress is the body’s response to some form of demand, change or threat. The response is completely normal and happens to all of us. The response could have a physical, mental or emotional component. Of course, while everyone goes through stress in their lives, it may manifest itself differently for everyone, thus leading to everyone’s response to stress being unique; some being more frequent and intense than others. What is important to note is that the main cause of stress is some external pressures or circumstances.

Of course, stress can be both good and bad. Eustress or positive stress produces feelings of excitement, meaning, fulfilment, stimulation from the challenge brought about by the stressor. In other words, it keeps one motivated and pushes them towards their goals. On the other hand, distress or negative stress is the overwhelming feeling we experience when our mental, physical and emotional resources are unable to deal with the stressor. Such overwhelming and chronic stress can often lead to depression, difficulty in sleeping, digestive issues and even physical pain.

Some common symptoms of stress are: frequent headaches, disturbances in sleep, gastrointestinal problems, rapid heart rate, irritability, poor concentration, amongst others. Once again, the symptoms of stress can vary uniquely by form and intensity.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety can be defined by excessive, persistent worries that do not subside even in the absence of a stressor. Anxiety generally leads to a very identical set of symptoms like stress, such as problems with concentrating, irritability, increased heart rate; both even go together in the sense that stressful events can trigger feelings of anxiety.

The problem arises when these feelings of anxiety impacts one’s life so significantly where in they are unable to engage in usual day-to-day tasks. High anxiety might prevent one from performing activities like going to work, meeting up with friends, or doing something new.

Few differences between the two

Keep in mind that the chances are high that you are experiencing a little both of both.

• Specific symptoms for an anxiety disorder

There are certain symptoms that are clear indications that you have an anxiety disorder, or at least that your problem is beyond just stress. For example, panic attacks- which are characteristic of panic disorder, which is a type of anxiety disorder. Another example would be experiencing very high levels of anxiety and stress in social situations- which is indicative of social anxiety disorder.

• Cause of stress is mainly external

While we may sometimes beat ourselves up with negative self-talk or with perfectionism, and cause stress for ourselves- this is triggered by something external like a project with high stakes or a lot of responsibilities. On the other hand, anxiety is usually internal. That is, if you remove the stressors but still feel distressed and overwhelmed, the chances are high that you are dealing with anxiety.

• Anxiety can cause dread or fear of events that are yet to happen

Stress is a response to something that is happening or a pressure that one feels. However, anxiety, being internal in nature, does not need to be a reaction to anything that exists in actuality. For instance, most people with an anxiety disorder experience a feeling of dread, apprehension or worry, when there is nothing coming up that could cause concern.

It is important to keep in mind that therapy is NOT just for anxiety. While both stress and anxiety are normal emotional reactions, their effects can soon become adverse. Stress as well can be overwhelming and can prevent you functioning, which is when professional help and treatment can be of great aid. That is to say, you need not have a serious anxiety-related disorder in order to seek help.