There are numerous psychological, physiological, and physical symptoms and effects of stress or anxiety. Some of them – rapid breathing, stomach upset, constipation, diarrhea, rapid heartbeat, inability to relax, and others – are common in both conditions.
Stress and anxiety are both adaptive, natural human responses that have a function, and it is important to recognize this fact. They might warn us of danger, or attempt to protect us. One important distinction, but, is that stress is generally a transient response to a perceived challenge. Anxiety is also more chronic, and can be harder to identify the stimulus for.
It is only chronic and/or excessive levels of stress and anxiety that are maladaptive. In small, short doses, they can be healthy and good for us.
Below, let’s look at some of the symptoms of stress vs anxiety in more detail.
Symptoms of stress
Among the many symptoms of stress are:
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Headache
- Sweaty palms
- Chest pain (angina)
- Rapid breathing
Stress can also often leave you feeling overwhelmed, moody, or irritable.
Symptoms of anxiety
The following are some of the more common symptoms of anxiety:
- Muscles are tense
- Being easily startled
- Tingling or numbness in feet and hands
- Persistent feelings of dread or of impending doom
Anxiety makes you feel like you can’t sit still. It can also cause trouble falling or staying asleep.
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Causes Of Stress vs. Anxiety
These types of occurrences are referred to as “triggers.” There are countless individual combinations of environmental factors, genetics, and chemical imbalances that can lead to anxiety. Overindulgence in negative thinking can also increase generalized anxiety. In contrast, stress is caused by external elements.
Stress triggers
External life events that may trigger symptoms of stress include:
- Work-related pressures such as deadlines and presentations
- Other major life events such as marriage, home purchase, death
- A sense of lack of control over the outcome of significant events
- Fighting with a loved one
Common everyday worries
You should also know that a “big” stressor does not have to be present for you to feel stressed. Stress may be caused by small events over time.
Anxiety triggers
A small dose of anxiety is good for our being as it helps us stay alert and aware of possible dangers in our environment. It remodels our senses and readies us to survive. Let’s say, for example, that you feel nervous walking down a dark city street. There’s nothing wrong with that feeling. It gets you ready to fight, or run. This is your instinct for survival responding.
But, when excessive and/or experienced for prolonged periods of time, anxiety can manifest as a number of mental health concerns and anxiety disorders including social anxiety disorder (SAD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Examples of common anxiety triggers can be:
- Conflict with people at work, family members, or romantic partners
- Chronic insomnia or other sleep disturbances
- A serious health diagnosis
- Public speaking
- Long-term financial problems
- Heavy caffeine use
Understanding that you might be triggered or activated can give you clarity in figuring out which coping methods you should use for your stress and anxiety – but how do you know the difference in the first place?
How to Know If You’re Dealing with Stress or Anxiety
It is easier to distinguish between stress and anxiety when you learn more about each. Both anxiety and stress are components of the brain’s limbic system, which regulates the body’s fight or flight mechanisms.
When we are threatened, our bodies produce stress hormones. These hormones trigger our heart beats faster and, as a consequence blood floods the limbs and organs.
The stress response primes you to confront or flee from a risk. You breathe faster and more shallowly. Your blood pressure increases. At the same time, You also feel your senses more keenly, as the body floods the blood stream with special nutrients which energizes the whole body. The stress process is nearly instantaneous and its impact is profound.
But the process of stress also includes the body’s reaction: anxiety. Generally, an intense sense of discomfort, fear, or dread that something bad is about to happen. Given that not everyone is stressed by the same components, there also exist various forms of anxiety, such as social anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and so on.
These could be activated in response to both real and perceived emotional or physical danger. It is a process we need to sustain our health and survival, but when it occurs too frequently or with too much intensity it can present itself as problematic in everyday life.
Duration is one of the primary distinguishing factors between anxiety and stress. Stress often spontaneously resolves within a short time. The cause of anxiety is less obvious, and anxiety can have an even longer duration.
If you have recurring symptoms that you aren’t sure are related to stress or anxiety, it may be helpful to seek treatment from a mental health professional.
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