Anxiety vs. Stress: 4 Major Differences
Anxiety tends to get mixed up with a variety of other mental health issues, but one of the most common is stress. While you can undoubtedly feel stressed and anxious simultaneously, there are a few key differences between the two issues. Why does it matter? Understanding the differences between anxiety and stress will make knowing what you’re dealing with easier. These two mental health struggles should be dealt with in different ways, starting with getting to the root cause of each one.
With that in mind, let’s look at four major differences between anxiety and stress, so you’ll have a better idea of how to effectively manage your symptoms and get the help you deserve.
1. Anxiety Is Ongoing, Stress Is Typically Temporary
Certain situations would cause anyone to feel stressed. Things like the loss of a job, financial issues, or even a busy schedule can overwhelm you with stress.
When you are stressed about something, once that situation is resolved, it will go away. Anxiety, once developed, doesn't just go away on it's own. If you are stressed because your paycheck, or lack thereof, will not pay the bills, then anxiety can develop over the consequences of not paying the bills.
2. Stress Is An External Process
Anxiety is mostly triggered by your own mind. That isn’t to say a particular situation or event can’t cause you to become anxious. However, when your mind races with “what ifs” and a fear of the unknown, it’s going to make things worse. On the other hand, stress is more of a response to external happenings. Instead, something external triggers your stress, and anxiety eventually becomes a response to it.
3. Anxiety Can Take Over Your Life
When you’re overly stressed, taking a break or time away from a situation can help you cool off. For the most part, though, you’re able to “push through” and continue with your normal daily routine when you’re dealing with stress. Anxiety often doesn’t allow that.
When you’re struggling with anxious, fearful thoughts, it can be completely crippling and debilitating. It can begin to creep into all areas of your life. From your career, relationships, friendships, and just getting through daily tasks. Anxiety can also lead to feeling so overwhelmed with the things you need to do, that it can cause you to procrastinate. Which just worsens the anxiety because then you are in a time crunch to get it all done.
4. Anxiety Causes Irrational Fear
One of the biggest signs that you’re dealing with anxiety and not stress is a constant worry over things that haven’t happened yet. Do you regularly feel a sense of dread, or are you apprehensive about everything even when there’s no real reason to be? That’s a major clue that anxiety is taking over your thoughts—and your life.
What Can You Do?
Stress and anxiety often go hand-in-hand. When you’re under stress, your anxiety can become worse. However, they are clearly two different things. Mistaking your anxiety for stress might make it harder to get a proper diagnosis or treatment. If any of the differences here trigger something within you and they sound familiar, don’t wait to reach out for help. Anxiety is often very manageable but rarely goes away on its own.
Feel free to contact me for more information or to set up an appointment for anxiety therapy. Together, we’ll discuss the things in your life that could be causing stress and the triggering things contributing to your anxiety. Once you better understand where your anxiety stems from, you can learn the necessary skills to manage your symptoms and take control of your thoughts and your life again.
