What's The Difference Between Stress And Anxiety?

Medically reviewed by Arianna Williams
Updated February 28, 2024by BetterHelp Editorial Team

Stress and anxiety may be two of the most common afflictions in our society, but the terms are often used interchangeably. Stress is typically the body’s way of responding to a perceived threat, but when you feel stressed most of the time, you can develop anxiety. Anxiety symptoms that interfere with everyday life can constitute a disorder in some cases. Stress management techniques often involve exercising, getting plenty of sleep, spending time with loved ones, and eating a healthy diet. Meanwhile, anxiety treatment usually consists of a combination of therapy and medication. You can start therapy for anxiety by joining an online therapy platform or connecting with a local mental health professional.

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What is stress?

Stress may not always have negative consequences. In fact, it can be the body's way of responding to an immediate threat. However, chronic stress can be harmful to the body, mind, and lifestyle. When we feel stressed more often than not, it can be referred to as chronic anxiety.

If you live with chronic stress, you might consider taking active steps to destress. It can be best to seek professional help if you notice signs of constant stress, as discussed in the next section of the article.

Signs and symptoms of stress

Symptoms that you are feeling stressed can vary. Some of the more recognizable stress symptoms may include the following:

Physical symptoms

  • Diarrhea, pains you can't explain, nausea, dizziness, chest pain, lower or nonexistent libido, and frequently getting sick

Behavioral symptoms

  • Binge-eating or refusing to eat, sleeping too much or staying up too late, using substances to help you relax, nervous habits (like biting your nails), and becoming reclusive

If you are struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at (800) 662-4357 to receive support and resources. Support is available 24/7.

Emotional symptoms

  • Depression, irritability, moodiness, loneliness, and feeling overwhelmed

Cognitive symptoms

  • Pessimism, an inability to concentrate, chronic worrying, difficulty with memory, and poor judgment

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is usually different from stress in that it can be both a symptom of stress and part of an anxiety disorder, such as panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder. When you're stressed, you may just need to remind yourself to slow down and do something to decompress. With anxiety, it may not always be that simple.

The signs of anxiety tend to differ as there are usually many types of anxiety disorders. For instance, someone with a hoarding disorder may keep everything they come into contact with. They may be unable to throw things away, even if they become spoiled.

Someone with a phobia, on the other hand, may do anything to avoid encountering the phobia trigger(s). For instance, some people have agoraphobia, a fear of leaving the house, which can lead them to become reclusive. They may resort to having their groceries delivered and asking a neighbor to get their mail for them so that they don't have to leave the house.

Other types of anxiety may include (but are not limited to) post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), separation anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder. These different types of anxiety can vary in severity and chronicity.

Ideas for stress relief

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Some recommendations for stress relief can include: 

Exercise

Not only can exercise change your chemical and hormonal balance to help you feel more relaxed and happy, but it can also distract you from your problems, especially if you work out somewhere peaceful, like in nature.

Spend time with others

If you’re particularly stressed, it’s generally recommended not to take an extended leave from other people. Alone time can be okay once in a while, but having a face-to-face talk with someone you trust about what's bothering you can do wonders for your mental and emotional health. Often, others can put your stress into perspective and give you a new outlook that can potentially melt your worries away.

Indulge your senses

Is there a particular essential oil fragrance you enjoy? Or a sensation, like petting your cat? Or is it listening to your favorite song that makes you feel good? When you engage your senses, you can distract yourself from what's bothering you, so simply putting yourself in a relaxing environment can put you in an entirely different mood if you're having a bad day.

Eat healthily and get plenty of sleep

When you eat right and sleep well, your physical performance tends to be at its optimal level, which, in turn, can reduce physical ailments (e.g., headaches, body aches, and pains).

Ultimately, it can help to understand that no one can necessarily avoid stress altogether. How you choose to cope with stress, however, can have monumental effects on your health and your lifestyle.

Types of anxiety treatment 

The first step in treating anxiety can be to make sure that the anxiety is not coming from another medical condition. Some heart conditions can cause anxiety, as can low blood sugar, imbalanced calcium levels, and hyperthyroidism, to name a few. In these cases, the underlying cause should typically be treated, which will likely ease the anxiety. However, if no medical cause can be detected, then you may be diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder.

If that's the case, your doctor may recommend medication to manage your condition. You might consider combining therapy with medication or opt to try therapy first before exploring your medication options. We include these details here for informational purposes, but remember that advice regarding medications can only come from a licensed medical professional.

When it comes to therapy for anxiety, the approach taken can depend largely on the condition you are diagnosed with. However, one of the most common methods for treating anxiety may be cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

With CBT, your therapist can help you train your brain to think differently by responding to stimuli more adaptively. You may also learn how to relax when confronted with anxiety triggers, as well as how to respond more effectively to them. CBT can be incredibly effective in treating the symptoms of anxiety, and people tend to see relatively quick yet long-lasting results.

There's also a type of therapy called "biofeedback" that you may be interested in trying. During this process, you can watch your brain waves on an electroencephalograph and learn how to control your brain waves. The purpose of biofeedback is generally to teach you how to relax at will.

You can also engage in certain lifestyle changes to ease your anxiety. For instance, daily exercise is often recommended, as are breathing exercises, meditation, and yoga.

Online anxiety treatment

As mentioned above, cognitive behavioral therapy is often one of the best treatments for anxiety disorders. However, it’s not always easy or comfortable to attend therapy sessions in person. If getting professional help from the comfort of your home would be more convenient for you, you might try online therapy. Online therapy can make it simple to connect with a professional and begin working toward improved mental health.

Studies report that online CBT can be just as effective, and sometimes even more effective, than in-person CBT for treating the symptoms of anxiety. Please don’t hesitate to reach out for the help you deserve, whether you prefer to attend therapy in person or online.

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Taking a stress test

A stress test can be used to determine how well your heart is working. During a stress test, a patient is typically placed on a treadmill or stationary bicycle while their heartbeat is monitored. Results may then be read by a doctor who can ultimately determine whether the patient's heart is getting enough oxygen during physical activity.

If the patient's heart is not getting enough oxygen, then this may be a sign of coronary heart disease (CHD), heart failure, or heart valve disease. If the patient is unable to keep up, this can be a sign of other conditions not related to the heart, such as lung disease, anemia, or even a poor level of physical fitness.

The point of this test is to "stress" the heart to assess how well it works under pressure. Stress tests can be used to evaluate how a person's heart handles stress, or, alternatively, how the way the person has been coping with stress may have affected their body. For instance, if someone handles stress by binge-eating fast food, then over time, plaque may build up in the arteries. Signs of those physical effects may be diagnosed before a heart attack or other medical emergency happens by having the person undergo a stress test.

Takeaway

Everyone will likely experience stress at some point. But when stress becomes chronic, and a person is stressed more often than not, they may be living with an anxiety disorder. Chronic anxiety can have serious effects on your physical health, your well-being, and your relationships, so it’s generally best to get a diagnosis and work with a mental health professional as soon as possible. One way to do so may be to join an online therapy platform where you can connect with a licensed mental health professional experienced in treating people living with anxiety disorders.
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