Anxious to be Understood: Differences Between Stress and Anxiety
There’s a big misconception that anxiety and stress are synonymous.
I’m here to tell you that’s not the truth. While an anxiety disorder brings stress, stress is not the same thing as anxiety.From one anxious person to you, here are some of the differences between general, normal stress and a legitimate anxiety disorder.
Anxiety disorders don’t always have an underlying reason.
If someone is stressed, it’s usually for a reason. Whether it’s a big test or a first date, it subsides after the event takes place.
Stressful situations can trigger someone’s anxiety, but a person with an anxiety disorder may avoid the event altogether or feel so bad they can’t meet their basic needs. The anxiety doesn’t go away once you arrive at the event. Most of the time, it will stay (maybe even for days after).
Sometimes, I’ll be anxious to the point where I can’t eat, and nothing caused it. It just happened. All I can do is brave the storm.
Anxiety is more than just being anxious.
The adrenaline rush is definitely a well-known part, but there is so much more to an anxiety disorder. Insomnia, inability to eat, and sickness also come along with it.
No matter what I do, I can’t shake the feeling. In an abnormal psychology class I took a few semesters ago, I learned a very eye-opening statistic: people with general anxiety disorder (GAD) worry for 300 minutes compared to a healthy person worrying for only 50 minutes. You can’t argue with science: It’s a true struggle.
Phobias and fears are different.
If someone has a specific anxiety-related phobia, it worsens their quality of life. Take this as an example: if someone is afraid of heights, they’ll feel queasy when climbing a tall ladder. If someone has a phobia of heights, they’ll afford to miss their best friend’s wedding because it’s on the 25th floor of a hotel.
That’s another example I learned from my psychology class. Put things into perspective, and realize people with anxiety disorders hinder their opportunities because of the fear.
Anxiety disorders aren’t as common as you think.
I’ve heard it so many times: “Everyone has anxiety. You just have to handle it better and don’t let it get to you.”
Well, this is actually false. Only 3-5% of the general population have generalized anxiety disorder. For phobias, only 10-11% have a lifetime prevalence. Because of the conception above, 90% dealing with phobias don’t seek treatment. Instead, they avoid their fears completely instead of getting help.
I hope this helped distinguish the undeniable difference between stress and anxiety. Be wary of your words and conceptions. Knowledge is a powerful tool.
Sincerely, Abbey
Photography: Abbey C. and Hannah B.