Stress vs. Anxiety: What’s the Difference?

Stress is a natural response to perceived challenges or threats. We all encounter stressful situations and do our best to cope with them.  

But when persistent or chronic, it’s hard to determine if it’s stress or an anxiety disorder. In this post, we’ll define what stress is and examine the difference between stress and anxiety.  

Defining stress  

Stress is the body’s way of preparing to face difficult situations, often referred to as the “fight-or-flight” response.  

When stress affects us, our brain sends signals to release hormones like adrenaline and cortisol in our body. These hormones help us prepare to react swiftly. This response is beneficial in short bursts, providing the necessary energy and focus to tackle a problem.  

However, prolonged stress can have detrimental effects on physical and mental health.  

Stress can be categorized into three main types:  

1. Acute stress is short-term stress caused by specific events like exams, job interviews, or minor accidents. Acute stress is often intense but brief and can be positive or negative.  
2. Episodic acute stress: This type of stress occurs when someone frequently experiences acute stress. People who are always busy, have too much to do, or are generally anxious may feel episodic acute stress.  
3. Chronic stress is caused by ongoing situations such as a difficult job, an unhappy marriage, or financial problems. This type of stress lasts for a long time. Examples include work-related issues, relationship problems, and financial difficulties. Chronic stress can have serious health implications if not managed effectively.  

Causes of stress  

Stress can be triggered by a wide range of factors and can vary significantly from person to person.  

Some stress-inducing triggers include:  

• Work-related stress: This can come from job pressure, deadlines, long hours, and conflicts with colleagues or supervisors. Job insecurity and high levels of responsibility can also be significant stressors.  

• Financial stress: Concerns about money, debt, and the ability to meet financial obligations are major sources of stress for many people.  

• Personal relationships: Interpersonal relationships, including family, friends, and romantic partners, can be both a source of support and stress. Conflicts and lack of communication can lead to significant stress.  

• Health-related stress: Chronic illnesses, injuries, and health conditions can cause stress. Concerns about one’s health or the health of loved ones can also be a major source of anxiety.  

• Life changes: Major life events, such as moving, divorce, the death of a loved one, or having a child, can be incredibly stressful. Positive changes, such as getting married or starting a new job, can cause stress.  

• Environmental factors: Noise, pollution, and overcrowding can contribute to stress. Living in an unsafe neighborhood or experiencing natural disasters can also be significant stressors.  

How stress manifests 

People can group the most common symptoms include physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral changes.  

Physical symptoms  

Many experience problems sleeping and even insomnia when stressed. Lack of sleep affects your physical health as well as mental health. Stress can cause headaches, muscle tension or strain, chest pain or rapid heartbeat, and more. It can also affect your appetite, manifesting in either overeating or a loss of appetite.  

Emotional symptoms  

Feeling overwhelmed or as if you’ve lost control is common when you’re stressed. These emotions can make you irritable, short tempered, anxious or depressed. It may cause you to feel restless, making it difficult to relax or sit still.  

Cognitive symptoms  

Stress can impair your mental faculties. This can include forgetfulness or difficulty concentrating, as well as poor judgment.  

Stress can also involve racing thoughts, making it hard to calm or quiet your mind.  

Behavioral symptoms  

When stressed, some people may increase their use of alcohol, drugs, or cigarettes, which often impact your sleep cycle, mood, and physical health.  

Stress may want you to withdraw from your social circle. Some folks avoid others, but this can lead to feeling isolated.  

Other behavioral symptoms of stress include procrastination, neglecting responsibilities, nervous habits such as nail-biting, pacing, or fidgeting, and changes in productivity or motivation.  

Stress vs. anxiety  

While stress and anxiety are often used interchangeably, they are distinct experiences with different triggers and symptoms. Understanding the differences between the two can help individuals manage them more effectively.  

Stress is a response to an external cause, such as a tight deadline or an argument with a friend. The symptoms of stress can include irritability, fatigue, headaches, difficulty concentrating, and changes in appetite. Once you remove or manage the trigger, stress goes away. 

Anxiety is a sustained mental health condition that can be triggered by stress. It involves a persistent feeling of apprehension or dread that doesn’t go away, even when the stressor is not present. Anxiety symptoms can include excessive worrying, restlessness, difficulty sleeping, a fast heart rate, and tense muscles. 

These symptoms are signs of anxiety. Anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder, require different treatment approaches, often involving therapy and medication.  

Managing stress 

Stress is a common experience in life. Developing good habits, seeking help, and using methods to cope with stress can improve your well-being. Knowing when stress is too much and getting help from a mental health professional is important for mental health and avoiding lasting harm.  

If you struggle with stress, we can help