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Mental Health HomepageConditions LibraryConditions CategoryConditions CategoryFear vs. Anxiety: How to Tell the Difference
Table of Contents:OverviewWhat is the Difference Between Fear and Anxiety?What is Fear?What is Anxiety?How to Know if You Are Experiencing Fear vs AnxietyWhen to Seek Help
Anxiety DisorderRead Time: 6 Minutes
Published On: March 16, 2022
Reviewed On: March 16, 2022
Updated On: July 1, 2024
Overview
What is the Difference Between Fear and Anxiety?
Expert Insight
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), MSMinkyung Chung
What is Fear?Fear is an uncontrollable survival emotion that serves to protect us from real danger. Humans have evolved over time, with their sense of fear intact, to stay alive and safe from harm.The limbic system is called your “emotional brain.” We experience fear when it’s a perceived threat, like when someone suddenly touches your back, or when you hear an animal running up toward you, or when you smell smoke coming from your child’s bedroom.Fear can cause marked changes in smell, taste, hearing, touch, and vision — all the senses that provide information about the perceived threat you’re facing. Fear prepares you to either enter into battle or flee for your safety.The sensation of fear is immediate and beyond your control. What youcancontrol, however, is how you manage fear symptoms. That said, you can’t always stop them from occurring in the first place.The purpose of fear is to fuel your flight-or-fight fear response to external stimuli. It causes multiple symptoms that are similar to those of anxiety. Let’s take a closer look at the symptoms that fear can cause.Signs and Symptoms of FearAs emotions go, fear causes some of the most noticeable changes in the brain and body. That’s because we’re forced to pay attention to our fear. Anxiety, on the other hand, is not imperative for survival. That’s why we sometimes don’t feel symptoms of anxiety quite as strongly or instantly as we might experience fear.There are some common physiological, psychological, and physical symptoms of fear.Physiological symptoms of fear:Quick, shallow breathingShortness of breathHot flashes or chillsRapid heartbeatUpset stomachGoosebumpsTight chestDry mouthTremblingSweatingNauseaPsychological symptoms of fear:Feeling detached from your bodyInability to focus and concentrateFeeling a sense of stressLacking emotional controlA pending sense of doomPhysical symptoms of fear:Flight response (running for safety)Freezing up (inability to move)Displaying violenceClenching fists
What is Fear?
Fear is an uncontrollable survival emotion that serves to protect us from real danger. Humans have evolved over time, with their sense of fear intact, to stay alive and safe from harm.
The limbic system is called your “emotional brain.” We experience fear when it’s a perceived threat, like when someone suddenly touches your back, or when you hear an animal running up toward you, or when you smell smoke coming from your child’s bedroom.
Fear can cause marked changes in smell, taste, hearing, touch, and vision — all the senses that provide information about the perceived threat you’re facing. Fear prepares you to either enter into battle or flee for your safety.
The sensation of fear is immediate and beyond your control. What youcancontrol, however, is how you manage fear symptoms. That said, you can’t always stop them from occurring in the first place.
The purpose of fear is to fuel your flight-or-fight fear response to external stimuli. It causes multiple symptoms that are similar to those of anxiety. Let’s take a closer look at the symptoms that fear can cause.
Signs and Symptoms of Fear
As emotions go, fear causes some of the most noticeable changes in the brain and body. That’s because we’re forced to pay attention to our fear. Anxiety, on the other hand, is not imperative for survival. That’s why we sometimes don’t feel symptoms of anxiety quite as strongly or instantly as we might experience fear.
There are some common physiological, psychological, and physical symptoms of fear.
Physiological symptoms of fear:
Psychological symptoms of fear:
Physical symptoms of fear:
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a sense of vague apprehension. It can be difficult to knowhow to diagnose anxiety disorders. It makes you feel unpleasant, negative thoughts and you often can’t understand why.What causes anxietyis imprecise threats that may or may not have any foundation. It’s a general sense of dis-ease, like how you might feel when walking down a dark, quiet city street in the middle of the night.
Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety
Anxiety is believed to have evolved in humans as a mechanism for protecting us against threats that may not even exist. Overwhelming anxiety gives us warnings that something dangerousmightbe about to happen.
Physiological symptoms of anxiety:
Psychological symptoms of anxiety:
Physical symptoms of anxiety:
Online therapy for anxiety
How to Know if You Are Experiencing Fear vs AnxietyFear and anxiety both cause similar co-occurring physiological, psychological, and physical symptoms. Though the symptoms can overlap, it’s not uncommon if you experience an independent, unique experience, either.Sometimes, it can be challenging to tell the difference between fear and anxiety, especially when you’re actively having symptoms. Still, if you’re experiencing fear or anxiety (or both), it’s not likely that you’ll even be questioning the differences at that time.The differences in symptom expression between fear and anxiety are centered on several factors, including:Your emotional & mental capacityYour available resources to help you copeWhat event triggered your responseIn short, the difference between fear and anxiety are:Fearstarts very suddenly as a fight-or-flight response to a well-defined threat.Anxietyonsets in response to an unspecified, possibly non-existent threat.
How to Know if You Are Experiencing Fear vs Anxiety
Fear and anxiety both cause similar co-occurring physiological, psychological, and physical symptoms. Though the symptoms can overlap, it’s not uncommon if you experience an independent, unique experience, either.
Sometimes, it can be challenging to tell the difference between fear and anxiety, especially when you’re actively having symptoms. Still, if you’re experiencing fear or anxiety (or both), it’s not likely that you’ll even be questioning the differences at that time.
The differences in symptom expression between fear and anxiety are centered on several factors, including:
In short, the difference between fear and anxiety are:
Fearstarts very suddenly as a fight-or-flight response to a well-defined threat.
Anxietyonsets in response to an unspecified, possibly non-existent threat.
When to Seek HelpChronic anxiety and fear have both been linked to mental health conditions, includinggeneralized anxiety disorder (GAD),social anxiety disorder (SAD), panic disorder, and specific phobias like agoraphobia or arachnophobia.The National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) reports that an estimated20% of adultsin the United States experience symptoms of anxiety conditions each year. Women are more likely to be affected than men.If you’re experiencing repetitive, worsening symptoms like the ones we’ve discussed here, and they’re beginning to interfere with your functioning and daily life, it might be time to learn abouthow to treat anxietyor fear, as well as go in for a screening. You can reach out to a therapist or contact a doctor to start the process. Your doctor will review your medical history and try to discern a possible cause for your symptoms.
When to Seek Help
Chronic anxiety and fear have both been linked to mental health conditions, includinggeneralized anxiety disorder (GAD),social anxiety disorder (SAD), panic disorder, and specific phobias like agoraphobia or arachnophobia.
The National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) reports that an estimated20% of adultsin the United States experience symptoms of anxiety conditions each year. Women are more likely to be affected than men.
If you’re experiencing repetitive, worsening symptoms like the ones we’ve discussed here, and they’re beginning to interfere with your functioning and daily life, it might be time to learn abouthow to treat anxietyor fear, as well as go in for a screening. You can reach out to a therapist or contact a doctor to start the process. Your doctor will review your medical history and try to discern a possible cause for your symptoms.
If a diagnosis is made, you’ll likely be referred to differenttypes of therapy for anxietyand fear such asonline therapy. Then, you can begin treatment and learn new coping skills to better control the chronic fear or anxiety you’ve been experiencing. You don’t have to let fear or anxiety take over your life. Get the skills and coping tools you need to overcome your fear and anxiety, and you’ll begin on the path to a healthy, rewarding life.
See ReferencesNeuronal circuits for fear and anxietyTovote, Philip et al. Nature reviews. Neuroscience vol. 16,6 (2015): 317-31. doi:10.1038/nrn3945. Accessed February 5, 2022.Anxiety And Fear: What’s The Difference?Hilary Jacobs Hendel. NAMI org. Published 2021. Accessed February 5, 2022.
See References
Tovote, Philip et al. Nature reviews. Neuroscience vol. 16,6 (2015): 317-31. doi:10.1038/nrn3945. Accessed February 5, 2022.
Hilary Jacobs Hendel. NAMI org. Published 2021. Accessed February 5, 2022.
Minkyung ChungMinkyung Chung has over 10 years of experience and specializes in multicultural issues, specifically issues unique to the Asian American population. She enjoys working within the Asian American community to help reduce the stigma associated with seeking mental health services and normalize the process of it. Her passion for this topic has led her to focus her research efforts in examining how to help the Asian American community.
Minkyung Chung has over 10 years of experience and specializes in multicultural issues, specifically issues unique to the Asian American population. She enjoys working within the Asian American community to help reduce the stigma associated with seeking mental health services and normalize the process of it. Her passion for this topic has led her to focus her research efforts in examining how to help the Asian American community.
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