Stress And Anxiety: What Is Their Difference And Why Do They Appear Together?

Do you think you are suffering from stress and anxiety? Is it possible to have symptoms of stress and anxiety together? Discover their main differences and why they are related.

We have all experienced at some point stress and anxiety These types of sensations usually arise when an event, situation or thought becomes too overwhelming or disturbing for us.

There are many cases in which both anxiety and stress occur together in our lives, but the reality is that there are important differences between feeling one or the other. Knowing what you are suffering from can help you reduce the impact that these sensations can have on your life. So how do I know if I have symptoms of stress and anxiety ?

Can you experience stress and anxiety?

Most people can experience stress and anxiety jointly from time to time. Normally, stress is synonymous with imposing yourself or having multiple demands. This can be triggered by an event that makes you feel frustrated or nervous.

On the other hand, the anxiety symptoms They usually appear due to a feeling of fear, worry or annoyance. In fact, anxiety can be a reaction to stress or can occur because people fail to identify important stressors in their life.

To experience anxiety and stress It’s not always bad. In the short term, they can help you overcome both a challenge and a dangerous situation. In fact, if we did not experience them to a small extent, it is very possible that we would not feel motivated to achieve our personal or professional goals.

But when stress or anxiety end up interfering with our daily lives, this can be a sign that there is a serious problem that we must face. In these cases, people may avoid situations due to irrational fear, or constantly worry about something that has already happened. When these obstacles are experienced due to stress and anxiety, it is important to go to a professional psychologist.

Symptoms of stress and anxiety

When stress and anxiety appear together, people can suffer both physical and psychological symptoms. The symptoms of stress and anxiety They are usually the following.

Physical symptoms

• Stomachache
• Muscle tension
• Headache
• Accelerated breathing
• Dizziness
• Frequent urination
• Changes in appetite
• Sleeping problems
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue

emotional symptoms

• Feelings of impending doom
• Panic or nervousness, especially in social settings
• Difficult to focus
• irrational anger
• Concern

When a person experiences stress and anxiety Over long periods of time this can cause problems with both your mental and physical health. In fact, research has shown that you are more likely to develop heart disease, diabetes, and even suffer from a depressive or panic disorder.

Different between anxiety and stress

In some cases anxiety and stress They can appear together. But it is important to identify when it is one problem or another. Among the main differences are the following.

1. Stress is external: The main difference between stress and anxiety is that the first is usually triggered due to an external situation. Although negative self-talk or a pessimistic attitude can cause a feeling of stress, this feeling is more likely to be caused by something external. For example, symptoms of stress can be expressed when a person takes on too many responsibilities. Anxiety, on the other hand, is more internal. If you continue to feel overwhelmed after eliminating stress triggers, this may be a sign that you are experiencing possible symptoms of anxiety.
2. Anxiety can limit you: In a large part of the cases in which stress is experienced, people can end up managing the situation. On the other hand, when faced with an anxiety disorder, an individual may feel completely unable to carry out their daily tasks.
3. Anxiety causes feelings of fear of certain things that do not exist: One of the main differences between stress and anxiety is that the latter is usually completely derived from an internal reaction and not as a trigger for something that happens in reality.
4. You have specific symptoms: When we are faced with certain specific symptoms, this can be a sign that there is a problem beyond stress. That is, for example, panic attacks are typical of one of the types of anxiety disorders that exist. Or on the other hand, high levels of stress and anxiety can be a symptom of a social anxiety disorder.

Disorders that are related to anxiety and stress

He stress and anxiety experienced very recurrently, they can be a sign that you have an anxiety disorder. Normally, when the symptoms of stress and anxiety last over time, in many cases the following disorders can be detected.

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): It is one of the most common anxiety disorders and is characterized by uncontrollable worry. In fact, people who experience it often have thoughts about negative events that have never happened in reality.
• Panic disorder: It is a condition that causes panic attacks, that is, moments of extreme fear accompanied by other symptoms of anxiety such as difficulty breathing or fear of imminent death.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): This disorder causes a series of flashbacks to memories of a traumatic experience.
• Social anxiety: People with social phobia may experience anxiety and stress when faced with a situation in which they must interact with other people.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder: It is a condition that causes repetitive thoughts and compulsions to perform certain ritual actions.

How to manage anxiety and stress?

It is common for people to experience stress and anxiety on certain occasions. Even so, there are some strategies that you can take into account if you want to try to manage anxiety or stress at certain critical moments. In order to cope with the symptoms of stress and anxiety, the following is recommended.

• Eat a healthy and balanced diet
• Limit caffeine and alcohol consumption
• Get enough sleep
• Exercise regularly
• To meditate
• Dedicate time to hobbies or rest
• Keep a diary of your feelings
• Practice deep breathing
• Recognize the factors that trigger your stress
• Talk and go out with friends

At the moment when the anxiety or stress are too recurrent and cause certain obstacles to your daily life, it is important to go to a professional psychologist. In these cases, if the symptoms of anxiety or stress are not stopped, you can be harmed in many areas of your life.