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Mental Health HomepageConditions LibraryConditions CategoryConditions CategoryStress vs. Anxiety: What’s the Difference?
Table of Contents:OverviewSymptoms of Stress and AnxietyCauses Of Stress vs. AnxietyHow to Know If You’re Dealing with Stress or AnxietyWhen Should You Find Help?
Anxiety DisorderRead Time: 5 Minutes
Published On: March 16, 2022
Reviewed On: March 16, 2022
Updated On: July 1, 2024
Overview
Stress is the body’s reaction to external threats and societal pressures.
Chronic anxiety is a mental health condition that affectsmore than 40 million adult Americansand results from irrational and unrealistic threats.
Let’s dive deeper into the difference between stress and anxiety. We’ll explain how to tell apart one from the other, exploring the symptoms and triggers, and offering practical advice about seeking professional help to deal with either.
Symptoms of Stress and AnxietyStress and anxiety both have a wide range of psychological, physiological, and physical symptoms. Some of them — like rapid breathing, upset stomach, constipation, diarrhea, rapid heartbeat, and an inability to relax — overlap and can be present in both conditions.It’s important to understand that both stress and anxiety are natural human responses that have a purpose. They warn us about danger or try to keep us safe. A major difference, however, is that stress is typically a short-term response to a recognized threat. Anxiety is more enduring, and it can sometimes be difficult to discern what’s causing it.Stress and anxiety only become problematic when they’re chronic or excessively intense. In reality, they can be beneficial to our health and well-being when experienced in small doses over short periods.Let’s examine some of the symptoms of stress vs anxiety separately.Symptoms of stressSome of the most common symptoms of stress include:NauseaDizzinessDry mouthHeadacheSweaty palmsChest pain (angina)Rapid breathingStress can also often cause you to feel overwhelmed, moody, or irritable.Symptoms of anxietySome of the most commonsymptoms of anxietyinclude:Tense musclesBeing easily startledNumbness or tingling in the hands and feetConsistent feelings of dread or impending doomAnxiety can cause you to feel restless and jittery. It may also make falling or staying asleep difficult.
Symptoms of Stress and Anxiety
Stress and anxiety both have a wide range of psychological, physiological, and physical symptoms. Some of them — like rapid breathing, upset stomach, constipation, diarrhea, rapid heartbeat, and an inability to relax — overlap and can be present in both conditions.
It’s important to understand that both stress and anxiety are natural human responses that have a purpose. They warn us about danger or try to keep us safe. A major difference, however, is that stress is typically a short-term response to a recognized threat. Anxiety is more enduring, and it can sometimes be difficult to discern what’s causing it.
Stress and anxiety only become problematic when they’re chronic or excessively intense. In reality, they can be beneficial to our health and well-being when experienced in small doses over short periods.
Let’s examine some of the symptoms of stress vs anxiety separately.
Symptoms of stress
Some of the most common symptoms of stress include:
Stress can also often cause you to feel overwhelmed, moody, or irritable.
Symptoms of anxiety
Some of the most commonsymptoms of anxietyinclude:
Anxiety can cause you to feel restless and jittery. It may also make falling or staying asleep difficult.
Online therapy for anxiety
Causes Of Stress vs. Anxiety
Stress triggers
It’s important to understand that there doesn’t need to be a single powerful stressor that’s causing you to feel stressed. Stress can result from various small triggers over time.
Anxiety triggers
Anxiety in small doses is healthy and keeps us alert and aware of potential threats around us. It changes our senses and prepares us for survival. For instance, maybe you feel anxious while walking down a dark city street. That feeling is healthy. It prepares you to fight or flee. It’s your survival instinct at work.
However, when anxiety is chronic and excessive, it can lead to various mental health conditions and anxiety disorders, includinggeneralized anxiety disorder (GAD),social anxiety disorder (SAD), panic disorder, andpost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to name a few.
Some of the most common triggers for anxiety can include:
Learning how to anticipate and recognize your triggers can help you to determine the best coping strategies for dealing with your stress and anxiety — but how do you know which one you’re experiencing at any given time?
How to Know If You’re Dealing with Stress or Anxiety
The stress response prepares you to either fight or run away from a threat. Your breathing becomes quicker and more shallow. Your blood pressure rises. At the same time, your senses become sharper as the body releases special nutrients into the circulatory system so that the entire body is charged with energy. This stress process happens almost instantaneously, and its effects are powerful.
These responses might kick in when you’re faced with an emotional or physical threat, even if that threat is just imaginary. While the process is necessary for our survival and health, if it happens too often or too intensely, it can cause problems in our daily life.
One of the main ways to tell anxiety from stress is duration. Stress typically self-resolves within a short time. Anxiety can last longer, and its cause is often difficult to discern. If you’re experiencing repetitive symptoms and can’t tell whether they’re stress or anxiety-related, you might want to consider seeking help from a mental health professional.
Expert Insight
Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical, (LCSW-C), LICSW, MSWElizabeth Keohan
When Should You Find Help?Sometimes, anxiety and stress happen simultaneously, and it can feel very overwhelming. If you’re constantly feeling stressed out or anxious, to the point where it’s affecting your daily life, you might want to get professional support from a psychologist, psychiatrist, or other mental health professional. Fortunately, you can find some that are willing to conductonline therapy. So you can still get medical advice when you are unable to go in person.Learning to recognize and anticipate your triggers is an effective strategy you can practice at home. When you learn to spot your triggers as they occur, you can take immediate action to avoid the onset of stress and anxiety symptoms and figure out how to respond during a stressful situation. You can also figure out strategies for effective anxiety or stress management. For instance, you could do deep breathing exercises, meditate, or take a nice relaxing Epsom salt bath.
When Should You Find Help?
Sometimes, anxiety and stress happen simultaneously, and it can feel very overwhelming. If you’re constantly feeling stressed out or anxious, to the point where it’s affecting your daily life, you might want to get professional support from a psychologist, psychiatrist, or other mental health professional. Fortunately, you can find some that are willing to conductonline therapy. So you can still get medical advice when you are unable to go in person.
Learning to recognize and anticipate your triggers is an effective strategy you can practice at home. When you learn to spot your triggers as they occur, you can take immediate action to avoid the onset of stress and anxiety symptoms and figure out how to respond during a stressful situation. You can also figure out strategies for effective anxiety or stress management. For instance, you could do deep breathing exercises, meditate, or take a nice relaxing Epsom salt bath.
You should speak to a doctor or therapist about exploringtherapy for anxietyif you feel out of control and unable to handle routine life events. Consider seeking professional help if you:Had a significant change in eating, sleeping, or personal hygiene habitsHave been thinking about harming yourself or other peopleHave been using alcohol and drugs to numb your feelingsAre unable to complete your daily work and life tasksAlways feel in a low mood or depressedAre having irrational fearsRemember that chronic stress and anxiety are both very treatable and manageable. Educate yourself about basic, effective coping mechanisms (and other medical advice) and use them daily. With just a few minutes of practice a day, you can retrain your mind and learn to anticipate stress and anxiety triggers before they take hold of your emotions.
You should speak to a doctor or therapist about exploringtherapy for anxietyif you feel out of control and unable to handle routine life events. Consider seeking professional help if you:
Remember that chronic stress and anxiety are both very treatable and manageable. Educate yourself about basic, effective coping mechanisms (and other medical advice) and use them daily. With just a few minutes of practice a day, you can retrain your mind and learn to anticipate stress and anxiety triggers before they take hold of your emotions.
See ReferencesAnxiety Disorders and Depression Research & TreatmentAnxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. Accessed February 11, 2022.AnxietyAPA. Accessed February 11, 2022.Tips and Strategies to Manage Anxiety and StressAnxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. Adaa.org. Accessed February 11, 2022.Anxiety: Stop Negative ThoughtsUniversity of Michigan Health. Accessed February 23, 2022.
See References
Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. Accessed February 11, 2022.
APA. Accessed February 11, 2022.
Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. Adaa.org. Accessed February 11, 2022.
University of Michigan Health. Accessed February 23, 2022.
Elizabeth KeohanLicensed Talkspace Therapist, Elizabeth Keohan has enjoyed working with clients in communities from Washington DC through rural Maine over the course of her career. While she has worked extensively with those experiencing anxiety and depression, she embodies a unique comfort working with the bereaved. Elizabeth combines a compassionate, holistic approach with Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT), to help clients counter their somatic response to stress, anxiety, mood, grief and loss.
Licensed Talkspace Therapist, Elizabeth Keohan has enjoyed working with clients in communities from Washington DC through rural Maine over the course of her career. While she has worked extensively with those experiencing anxiety and depression, she embodies a unique comfort working with the bereaved. Elizabeth combines a compassionate, holistic approach with Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT), to help clients counter their somatic response to stress, anxiety, mood, grief and loss.
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