Stress vs. Anxiety: Yes, They’re Different
We’ve all had times in our lives that are bumpy, stressful and a major challenge – especially in recent times due to the economic downturn and the pandemic. It is all too easy to mistake stress and anxiety. On the surface, they may feel the same, but stress and anxiety are, in fact, two very different mental health issues.
Understanding the Difference
The fundamental difference between stress and anxiety boils down to a matter of timing. Stress is typically about the present, and a direct result of an actionable problem, whether this be an event, a challenging problem or stressful situation. Anxiety, on the other hand, is typically about the future and a general state characterized by feelings of worry, nervousness and elevated levels of fear due to the perceived potential of a crisis or disaster that could happen at some point in the future.
Stress
Stress is not necessarily a bad thing and can be managed in many ways, such as breathing exercises, quick changes to the environment (such as taking a break outside or changing activities) and so on. Stress motivates us to spring into action and can push us to stand up and tackle a difficult problem or be more productive in a specific area.
Some common signs of stress include:
• Increased heart rate
• High blood pressure
• Muscle tension
• Difficulty sleeping
• Restlessness
• Lack of motivation
Anxiety
Anxiety, like stress, can manifest physically, but unlike stress, it does not always have an actionable cause. Common physical symptoms of anxiety include:
• Increased heart rate
• Nausea
• Sweating
• Shallow breathing
• Dizziness
• Headache
Unlike stress, anxiety can feel like it is completely out of our control and is more of a mental and emotional battle. Anxiety can be crippling and can cause a person to feel overwhelmed and eventually lead to them shutting down. It can create an inner dialogue of negative thoughts, making it difficult to focus on anything else.
Highlighting the Difference
The key difference between stress and anxiety is in the timeline of events. Stress occurs in the present moment usually due to an actionable problem or event. Anxiety is about the future and may not have any actionable cause. While the physical symptoms may be similar, the underlying cognitive process of anxiety is very different from that of stress, and that is why simply addressing one problem at a time is often not enough.
Treating Stress and Anxiety
It is important to understand that the treatment for stress and anxiety can be very different depending on the cause, so it is important to accurately identify which issue is present.
Stress can be managed by addressing the root cause directly, such as using breathing exercises to calm down, or changing activities to break the cycle of stress.
Anxiety may require professionals such as therapists and counselors who can help address the underlying cause of the issue and provide support and guidance to the individual. This can include cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness based stress reduction, and other types of therapy designed to help manage anxiety.
Stress and anxiety can be like two sides of the same coin. However, it is important to remember that there are key differences between the two, and understanding the difference can help us to identify and address each issue more effectively. Stress is about the present and can often be managed by addressing the problem directly, while anxiety is about the future and may require intervention from a professional in order to manage it.
