Series Irrational Responses - Article 6 of 10

The difference between stress and anxiety.

How to tell the difference.

Stress and anxiety share many similar physical symptoms, sometimes making it difficult to spot the differences between them. A major difference is that stress is the response to a situation which may be perceived as threatening, while anxiety is actually a mental health disorder which is more often than not triggered by the stressful feelings.

Once the perceived threat has been resolved, the level of stress usually recedes. Anxiety on the other hand, lurks in the background, waiting to be set off by yet another stressful situation. Stress can be positive or negative. For example, stress can motivate you to finish a project on time when you thought you wouldn’t do it. However, when stress interferes with your daily life and affects your concentration and ability to do things, it is very negative.

Some symptoms of stress.

There are several physical and emotional issues which are linked to stress. These can include heart problems, high blood pressure, unhealthy eating patterns, and of course – severe anxiety. Although stress can manifest in many ways, here are some of the more common symptoms:

• Migraines and headaches.

• Stiff neck pain.

• Difficulty controlling worry which causes anxiety.

• Tiredness and a lack of motivation to do simple tasks.

• Concentration issues which can affect your performance in the workplace.

• Nervous and easily startled by people or sudden noises.

• Poor sleep patterns.

• Loss of sexual desire which could lead to relationship problems.

Any of these stress symptoms can be classified as irrational responses triggered by situations which are perceived as a threat to your well-being.

Common symptoms of anxiety.

Research has noted that an anxiety disorder is the most common mental health disorder in the US. This is brought about almost entirely by stress which folk are not managing well. Some of the symptoms may overlap with those of stress, but also include a number of the symptoms of a panic attack.

• Rapid heartbeat and shallow breathing.

• Feeling overwhelmed and claustrophobic, unable to breathe.

• Stomach aches, dizziness and pins and needles.

• Shortness of breath and chest pain which can lead a person to believe that a heart attack is imminent.

• Racing thoughts which may cause you to imagine the worst possible scenario for any situation which comes into your mind.

• Poor concentration and periods of forgetfulness.

• High blood pressure which may require medication.

Any of these symptoms which may recur regularly can be defined as generalised anxiety, and some sort of specialised intervention may be necessary. Studies have revealed that approximately 40% of the adults in the US suffer from stress and anxiety disorders, making it the most common mental health affliction in America.

Treatment of stress and anxiety disorders.

The two major treatments for stress and anxiety actually complement each other. Extensive research has shown that hypnotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) which is talk therapy, is a very effective short-term treatment that helps people learn to cope with specific triggers.

Hypnotherapy, when you are in a relaxed state, is able to access the subconscious mind and help to establish the root causes of the negative emotions leading to stress and anxiety. The harmful thought patterns, which are usually out of proportion to the anticipated disasters, can be eliminated and replaced with a new, more positive mindset.  

A treatment which is popular with the medical profession is that of medication, particularly antidepressants which help with stress and anxiety. Mental health experts do not advise medication for long term use, as several of them have side effects, and usually only treat the symptoms of the problems. However, they can be useful to get you over the bump in the road.

When to seek help.

Seeking help for stress and anxiety is very important. When the symptoms no longer seem manageable and is impacting your daily life, don’t delay. Consult a mental health expert and get an evaluation of your issues which are causing the problems.