This past Thursday, I presented my most recent topic entitled ” Stress vs. Anxiety”

I talked a little bit about stress vs. anxiety and the basic differences between the two.

Usually the origin of stress is external, and anxiety is internal.

Stress can be short term, whereas anxiety is usually long term.

Stress will have a recognized trigger, and a trigger may not be apparent with anxiety.

With stress the basic emotion is feeling overwhelmed, and feeling worrisome with fear is the basic emotion of anxiety.

Stress may cause mild distress, where anxiety can cause severe distress.

Treatment for stress is building healthy coping skills, whereas anxiety may require talk therapy and medication along with healthy coping skills.

I used as an example the stress I have been dealing with at my job recently.  We have had new management at work for the past two or three years, and the decisions they have been making about our dept. have been causing a lot of stress for both myself and my co-workers.

I try to stay mindful at work, and not ruminate about the situation and what may happen next. This coping skill, along with attending my walking group and the support of my friends has helped me handle the stress better.

The nervousness that comes with stress will usually end when the stressful situation is over, whereas anxiety can be persistent. With anxiety the intensity may change, but it usually does not completely go away.

A few reminders to reduce anxiety and stress:

1) limit caffeine and alcohol

2) make sure you’re getting enough sleep

3) try meditation or yoga

4) setting aside free time for the hobbies that you enjoy

5) open up to your loved ones about your feelings

6) practice breathing exercises

Some other ideas for fast acting anxiety or stress relief:

-get a hug from a loved one or a friend. ( or anyone you know who doesn’t mind hugs)

-Go for a long walk or do some gardening. Sometimes just getting out of the house can make a big difference.

– And most importantly, obtain social support. Having supportive people in your life is very helpful with stress management. Maybe confide in a family member or a close friend. And if you don’t have a good support group, please go find one.  Such as our great friends here at DBSA!