These two words are often used
interchangeably. Stress implies external pressure, whereas anxiety describes an
internal experience. Nevertheless, we commonly say we “have stress” or are
“stressed,” thus implying an internal experience as well. Perhaps the difference
is that anxiety often feels unreasonable—to the sufferer as well as to others.
A person may feel anxious without knowing why, or in response to a concern he
knows is not significant. Stress, on the other hand, may be perceived as more
reasonable, and viewed as a direct response to challenging life circumstances.
Some people might say that stress is more “normal” or natural and define
anxiety as more atypical or harmful.
Regardless of the word used, stress and anxiety usually
involve similar physical sensations. These include muscle tension, stomach
discomfort, headache, heart pounding, and a general sense of foreboding, to
name a few. In response to work deadlines, relationship conflicts, or money
problems, we might notice ourselves feeling easily frustrated and impatient.
Worry may interfere with sleeping, and we might be more irritable. These
uncomfortable feelings may improve with learning better ways to cope with
stressors. Otherwise, a person may be at risk for developing stress-related
illnesses, such as irritable bowel syndrome and chronic tension headaches.
Source: The Anxiety Answer Book by: Laurie A. Helgoe, PhD, Laura R. Wilhelm, PhD, Martin J. Kommor, MD
No comments:
Post a Comment