The Difference Between Stress and Anxiety

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The Difference Between Stress and Anxiety

Monday, December 8th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

Many people don’t understand the difference between stress and anxiety. Stress comes from the pressures we feel in life, as we are pushed by work or any other task that puts undue pressure on our minds and body, adrenaline is released, extended stay of the hormone causes depression, a rise in the blood pressure and other negative changes and effects.

Anxiety is one of these negative effects. With anxiety, fear overcomes all emotions accompanied by worry and apprehension, making a person a recluse and a bagful of jitters. Other symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, dizzyness, and panic attacks.

Stress is caused by an existing stress-causing factor or stressor. Anxiety is stress that continues after that stressor is gone. Stress can occur whenever you get angry or frustrated. A situation that you are in where you are nervous can also bring about stress. What causes stress in one person may not necessarily effect another person.

Anxiety is a feeling of apprehension or fear and is almost always accompanied by feelings of impending doom. What causes this sense of uneasiness is not always recognizable, which adds to your feeling of distress.

Stress is the way our bodies and minds react to something which upsets our normal balance in life; an example of stress is the response we feel when we are frightened or threatened. Stress affects people differently, for some even the simplest decisions seem like an uphill battle. Deciding what to have for breakfast or what to purchase at the store can be a monumental dilemma for them. There are those that seem to thrive under stress and are very productive in a pressure filled situation.

Anxiety, on the other hand, is a feeling of unease. Everybody experiences it when faced with a stressful situation, for example before an exam or an interview, or during a worrying time such as illness. It is normal to feel anxious when facing something difficult or dangerous and mild anxiety can be a positive and useful experience. However, for many people, anxiety interferes with normal life. Excessive anxiety can lead to other pyschiatric conditions, one of which is depression. Anxiety is considered abnormal when it is very prolonged or severe, it happens in the absence of a stressful event, or it is interfering with everyday activities such as going to work.

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