4 ways to distinguish stress from anxiety

The content of the article

• External voltage
• Panic attacks
• Anxiety
• The alarm remains after solving the problem

Irritability, insomnia, fatigue are signs of negative experiences. Constant stress and anxiety are interconnected: they negatively affect not only the mood, but also the person’s physical condition. It is important to understand the difference between the concepts, because it determines the choice of ways to eliminate unpleasant symptoms.

External voltage

Stress is a condition that arises from too much mental or emotional pressure (experiences from work, study). The body’s response to external stimuli varies in duration and severity. Anxiety is defined as a constant feeling of fear, helplessness, inexplicable anticipation of negative events. Stress is considered temporary, and anxiety is classified as a persistent mental health problem..

The boundaries between states are transparent. Stress often causes anxiety, which can cause a breakdown. Many symptoms are similar – chest pressure, muscle discomfort, heart palpitations, and insomnia. If a person is anxious, he is often exposed to external factors. In the absence of experience of confrontation, they develop a stressful state.

Panic attacks

A high level of anxiety is often accompanied by causeless fear – this condition psychologists call a panic attack. The attack occurs suddenly due to factors that do not threaten a person’s life..

Symptoms of a panic attack:

• sweating or trembling of the body;
• cardiopalmus;
• nausea or chest pain;
• feeling of suffocation or chills;
• numbness of hands, face.?

Panic occurs suddenly, reaches a peak within 10-20 minutes, some symptoms persist for about an hour. Many people call an ambulance during their first panic attack because they are convinced that they have a heart attack or other serious health problem. The condition is considered a sign of anxiety, it requires a visit to a psychologist.

Anxiety

Many stress symptoms mimic signs of anxiety, from sleep problems at night and stomach upsets to irritability and inability to concentrate. There is one distinguishing symptom – a constant feeling of fear. Anxiety disorders are characterized by regular anxiety in situations that do not threaten life or health..

A stressful state often ends as soon as the event that triggered it occurs. A plan to deal with the source of the problem helps you feel better. Stress can often be dealt with in a more practical way, and anxiety in most cases requires consultation, medication or other professional treatment..

It is important to know what kind of disorder a person has. For someone who copes with a lot of stressful situations, the therapy will be different from helping a person with anxiety. For this reason, self-medication can only harm.

The alarm remains after solving the problem

Stress under stress is caused by real factors. These include poor relationships at work with superiors or staff, worries about upcoming exams or weddings, etc. When the problem is resolved, the stress disappears without the intervention of psychologists.

The mechanism of development of anxiety is different: it continues after the elimination of provoking factors. This suggests that its stable or chronic form should be considered as a separate problem. You won’t be able to get rid of anxiety disorder by going on vacation or going to the spa. If ignored, a dangerous condition called anxiety depression can develop. The cause of the disease is stress neurosis. It is important to identify and eliminate the source of the problem in time so as not to worry about the consequences..