Stress vs. Anxiety

Many people in their daily lives deal with both stress and anxiety, but what is the difference between the two? Stress is generally a response to an external issue, such as taking an exam or having a busy-scheduled day. The symptoms of stress generally go away upon the stressful situation being resolved. There can also be negative and positive stress. Positive stress may make you more determined to finish a project before the deadline. Anxiety, on the other hand, tends to be an internal response to how your body may deal with stress. This feeling can be constant or consistent, even if there is no actual threat.

Both stress and anxiety can cause physical and mental symptoms that affect our bodies. These may include difficulty sleeping, appetite changes, headaches, and excessive worrying to name a few. Both stress and anxiety are common in both children and adolescents as well as adults. There are many ways to deal with these symptoms such as journaling, mindfulness activities, exercises, and good sleep hygiene. Participating in therapy can also provide support and help identify positive coping mechanisms. Therapy can also assist in identifying negative thoughts and how to replace them with positive thoughts.

Reach out to Summit Counseling to start working on positive ways to cope with and reduce anxiety symptoms!

“Just when the caterpillar thought the world was ending, he turned into a butterfly”- Proverb