Stress and anxiety are two conditions that are often used interchangeably, but are in fact very different from one another. If you feel as though you have a mentally taxing condition and are looking for the correct way to describe it to your health care provider, knowing the difference between stress and anxiety can help you correctly represent your feelings so you can get the right treatment for your condition.
Similarities
Stress and anxiety are often used interchangeably to describe symptoms because some of the symptoms for both conditions are fairly similar. Both can give you an anxious, upset feeling. Often, stress is the precursor to anxiety. Both can make you feel harried or worried. Both are healthy reactions in small doses, but in large doses both stress and anxiety can alter your physical health, reports the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). But that is where the similarities end.
Stress
Stress is the normal physical response that you have to different, demanding stimuli, reports HelpGuide.org. Stress is your body's response system to help protect you. It causes the release of adrenaline, which allows you to make snap decisions, meet challenges and give you extra alertness. Unfortunately some individuals feel chronic stress, which can take a toll on your cardiovascular system and even cause some symptoms of depression. A sense of control and a more positive attitude can help you rein in your stress symptoms and relax.
Anxiety
Anxiety can sometimes be caused by stress, but it is a different type of condition altogether. Anxiety can be compared more closely with fear than stress. When you feel anxiety about something, you engage in a physical response to stimuli that makes you feel afraid or as though you can't face something. Some individuals don't know why they feel anxiety, or suffer from anxiety disorders that greatly disrupt their lives. Phobias and anxiety typically make it difficult to live a normal life, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Disorders
Both stress and anxiety can cause certain mental disorders that disrupt your life. Generalized anxiety disorder is when you feel anxiety without a known cause. Specific anxiety disorder means your fear a specific type of situation, such as social situations or being alone. Phobias are a specific fear of something, someone or a situation, and obsessive compulsive disorder may be derived from the obsessive need to control something, borne of stress and anxiety, the UMMC reports.
Treatment
A variety of treatments exist for you to deal with stress or anxiety. When it comes to stress, the treatments are usually lifestyle changes, such as taking up a hobby, learning relaxation techniques and meditation. Since anxiety is ultimately a more serious condition, therapy and treatment are more effective in pinpointing your anxiety and finding ways to deal with your fears.
