There is a big difference between stress and anxiety. Usually stress is caused by something externally that is short-term. These triggers, or causes can also be long-term. Short-term triggers may include a deadline with work or school, a fight with a friend, family member or significant other, being stuck in traffic, job interview, buying a new home, starting a new job, or short term health issues, Long-term triggers may include inability to work, discrimination, chronic illness, unemployment, financial difficulty, or an unhappy relationship.
Anxiety, on the other hand is persistent excessive worrying that doesn't go away even when you don't have a stressor. Anxiety will lead to many of the same symptoms as stress. These symptoms include: insomnia (trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early and not being able to go back to sleep), difficulty concentrating, fatigue, muscle tension, and irritability.
The hard part is that mild stress and mild anxiety both respond well to similar coping mechanisms, so determining which is condition is occurring may be difficult for a nontrained professional. Here are some coping mechanism that may help physical activity, a nutritious diet and good sleep hygiene. There are many more coping mechanisms available and the appropriate provider can assist with determining what will work best for you. The good news is that if your anxiety is well managed with coping mechanisms then there may be no need for medication. However, if coping mechanisms are not working then it is time to seek out a provider who can offer either supplements or traditional medications to help decrease your anxiety along with the use of coping mechanisms.
