Stress and anxiety are two words that may cause a feeling of dread as they tend to be an unpleasant and unwelcome presence in our lives. Both feelings are emotional responses which are a completely normal (and unfortunately, sometimes common) aspect of life as a human being. While stress and anxiety are two emotions we may try to avoid at all costs, understanding them is a great first step to effectively managing them and ultimately, feeling in control of them.
Stress is usually caused by an external trigger and these triggers can be short or long-term. For example, a short-term trigger may be a deadline or a personal disagreement, while a long-term trigger may be a chronic illness or the loss of a loved one. Both types of stress can elicit physical and emotional responses in people such as fatigue and difficulty sleeping or irritability and annoyance.
Anxiety is a consistent, uncontrolled worry that will not go away and like stress, can be short-term or last much longer. Anxiety, also like stress, can cause emotional and physical symptoms, such as difficulty sleeping, trouble concentrating, and irritability. However, unlike stress, anxiety disorders can be more specific. Generalized anxiety disorder is one of the most common, but individuals can also experience panic disorders, a specific fear of something, or social anxiety.
If left unmanaged chronic, long-term stress and anxiety can have detrimental effects on your health. Not only do the physical and emotional symptoms persist, but stress specifically, can affect your heart, your immune system, and your overall health if not controlled. Uncontrolled stress and anxiety can also cause your body to produce too much of the stress hormone cortisol. Too much cortisol in the body may lead to insulin resistance and also has been shown to disrupt typical sleeping patterns both of which contribute to weight gain.
Fortunately, often both mild stress and anxiety can be helped with similar approaches. A well-balanced, nutritious diet, physical activity, and a night of restful sleep are great first steps. Strong social support from loved ones, time spent outside in nature, and meditation can also help to relieve some stress and anxiety. If your stress and anxiety persist or you feel your day-to-day functioning is being altered consider talking to your doctor or mental health professional. They can help you understand your feelings, provide you with coping tools and get you the support that you need.
