Are stress and anxiety the same thing?

Many people use the words “stress” and “anxiety” interchangeably, but they are clinically different. Both are emotional responses and come with some similar mental and physical symptoms. Stress is usually caused by an external source like an argument, an injury you’re coping with, or a deadline for work or school. When the situation resolves, the stress is likely to lessen or go completely away. Stress is often defined as an experience of having your needs in a situation outpacing your available resources in a situation. Symptoms of stress include:

• Headache
• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Muscle tension
• Trouble focusing
• Fatigue
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Stomach upset
• Sleep problems

Anxiety is a persistent and excessive worry that may be present with or without an external stressor. Anxiety and stress are both prevalent problems. The symptoms of anxiety include:

• Feeling nervous or tense
• Increased heart rate
• Feeling fatigued
• Problems concentrating
• Trouble sleeping
• Stomach upset
• Irritability
• Difficulty managing worry

Because of the similarity of symptoms, mild stress and anxiety are often helped by the same measures. Some ways of managing both are:

• Getting adequate sleep
• Eating nutritious foods
• Exercise that isn’t too strenuous may help relieve stress and anxiety
• Relaxation techniques like meditation, mindfulness, or breathing exercises
• Progressive muscle relaxation
• Yoga, gentle stretching

Stress may have multiple sources; it typically doesn’t get typed as a diagnosis. If you’re experiencing anxiety that interferes with your life, talking to your doctor or a mental health professional is an important first step in determining what you’re experiencing and creating a path toward wellness. Anxiety disorders vary, which means the presentation of your anxiety may be different.

While both stress and anxiety can be normal reactions to situations most people encounter, they can also become problematic. If your stress or anxiety doesn’t respond to your best efforts to manage them or notice that either stress or anxiety are interfering and causing your problems more days than not, talking with a licensed mental health professional can be helpful.

With a therapist, you can learn about triggers, underlying sources, hone coping tools, and determine if an anxiety disorder is present.

Stress and anxiety are common and manageable with effort and with support from caring mental health professionals.