Understanding The Difference Between Stress And Anxiety

Category: Health

If you use the phrases, “I’m under so much stress” and “I’m feeling so much anxiety” interchangeably, you may not be distinguishing between stress and anxiety. The fact is, there IS a difference. Let’s take a look. Stress This is a response to pressure where the source is identifiable. Most of us experience stress on a daily basis. Some examples of stress are getting stuck in traffic, forgetting to stop at the store for milk, being late for work, and so forth. You feel this stress for a short period of time and then it goes away. If the feelings you’re having seem to fall into the “this too shall pass” category, then you’re probably under a bit of stress. Again, stress is something that has a source cause and goes away after some period of time – perhaps in a minute, a few hours, or a day or so. Anxiety This is a response to a perceived danger. Anxiety takes place when you worry (become anxious) about what might happen. For example, if you worry about the traffic, or stopping at the store, or that you might not get to work on time, that’s anxiety. This is about the perception, not the event itself. Actual anxiety is not something that comes and goes; it is something that persists for months or even years. When you are fearful or apprehensive – and that feeling persists – you may be suffering from anxiety. The condition of anxiety is a true mental health issue.