Do You Know The Differences Between Anxiety And Stress?

Although anxiety and stress are two very similar conditions, they also present differences. Typically, both terms are handled as if they were synonymous, but they are not. Identifying one or the other is not a simple theoretical exercise. In practice, it helps us to define more precisely what the intensity or severity of this type of discomfort may be.

Added to the difficulty of establishing the differences is the fact that there are various types of anxiety and stress. Sometimes the classification is made based on the intensity of the symptoms. For example, we speak of chronic stress or generalized anxiety. Other times the categories are established based on the factor that causes them. For example, job stress or abandonment anxiety.

However, there are elements that are common to all forms of stress, as there are those that appear in all forms of anxiety. To clarify all this, let’s take a look at the main differences between anxiety and stress.

The origin of anxiety and stress is different

In the case of stress, the cause is easily identifiable. It arises when there is a situation that must be faced and the person does not have, or does not believe they have, the resources to do so. The same happens with a task that must be carried out, or with any activity that has to be carried out.

Anxiety, on the other hand, has a more diffuse origin. The threat or danger is often not identifiable. In fact, in many cases, there is no objective reason for the state of restlessness to occur, but it is still experienced.

On the other hand, anxiety is very sensitive to conditioning and anticipation and can be a consequence of stress (pressure).

Emotions that predominate

Another element that differentiates anxiety and stress are the predominant emotions or sensations. In stress there is, above all, worry. This can be defined as a state in which nervousness and frustration are mixed. This can include irritability and sometimes sadness.

In anxiety, on the other hand, what predominates is fear. It is a sense of impending danger that tends to snowball. It is an invasive emotion that spreads and is maintained, generating a great discomfort in the state of mind. Fear leads to perplexity and, in severe cases, to blockage or paralysis.

The factors that trigger one or the other

Generally speaking, stress arises from external factors, while anxiety arises from internal factors. It is not always so easy to distinguish one from the other. What makes the difference is the presence of a stimulus foreign to the individual or not, in each case.

Stress is triggered by specific events or situations, which are in the environment. It can be work, or a special task, or travel through a certain territory, etc.

On the other hand, in anxiety many times it is the same individual who is responsible for unleashing it. Create and nurture catastrophic thoughts and distressing sensations, regardless of what’s in the environment.

The perception of time

They say that stress is an excess of the present, while anxiety is an excess of the future. For those who are stressed, the present is infinite. You don’t think you can get out of a situation where you feel trapped. You don’t see a way to change your concerns. Feel as if you are eternally doomed to be impacted by a certain stimulus.

In anxiety what happens to the person is that they are afraid of something that could happen, but has not happened; It could also have happened, but you can’t intervene on it. Many times you don’t even know what that something is. You simply anticipate everything negative or catastrophic that could happen.

The anxious person cannot objectively evaluate his present . He lives based on something “terrible” that is coming or has already happened and he fantasizes about its possible consequences without being able to mediate them.

Disappearance of symptoms

If what causes a person stress is having to go to the dentist, once they do, the restlessness will disappear. This is a distinctive feature of stress: it disappears when the stimulus is removed, the conflict situation is overcome or the difficulty is resolved.

For its part, anxiety tends to perpetuate itself. Returning to the previous example, if a person with anxiety goes to the dentist, his concern does not end when he leaves the office. Perhaps you imagine that you could lose your teeth, or that this is a sign of a worse disease. Anxiety feeds on an exacerbated and negative imagination.

The important thing about knowing these similarities and differences is that it allows you to better identify what really ails you. It is advisable that you ask for help when stress persists over time, because it means that you cannot solve a conflictive situation that is hurting you.

It is also advisable to consult a professional if you detect that yours is anxiety, that imprecise fear that has no beginning or end.