WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STRESS & ANXIETY?

We often find ourselves struggling to distinguish the difference between stress and anxiety. 

Stress is when you feel overwhelmed but not afraid of an event, scenario, or responsibility. You may experience stress from:
1. A relationship
2. Work tasks
3. Medical ailments 
4. Grief
5. Lack of sleep

The symptoms of stress may include, but are not limited to:
1. Aches
2. Indigestion
3. High blood pressure 
4. Fatigue
5. Anger and Irritability 

Comparatively, anxiety results from fearing a situation that may or may not occur in the future. For example, you may feel anxious or afraid about the following:
1. An upcoming exam
2.  A job interview
3.  A move 
4.  Financial struggles
5.  Possible conflict with another person 

The symptoms of anxiety may include, but are not limited to:
1. Difficulty concentrating
2. Issues with sleep
3. Having a sense of impending doom
4. Increased heart rate
5. Trembling

Anxiety can be a person’s response to a stressful event. Once the event has passed, the stress will have gone away, but the person’s feelings of dread and worry will remain. It is important to note that anxiety is fear of what you perceive to be a legitimate threat when it is not one. It is living in fear of a situation that cannot harm you. 

When one is feeling stressed, it is best to engage in self-care to manage the stress before it turns into prolonged feelings of anxiety. Comparatively, when one is feeling anxious, it is best to prepare yourself with coping mechanisms to deal with these anxious thoughts. These could be counseling, calming affirmations, or meditation.