Is Stress Different from Anxiety?

Step 1 of 5

Check your starting point: Is Stress Different from Anxiety?

When worry gets louder than everything else and demands an answer right now…

Notice what fits this situation today:

• Stress prepares the body for action
• Assessing requirements and resources influences experience
• Alarm is one of the threat system options
• I am not sure yet—I just want to understand

Step 2 of 5

Stress and anxiety overlap, but stress more broadly describes mobilization to meet environmental demands, while…

• Stress and anxiety overlap, but stress more broadly describes mobilization to meet environmental demands, while anxiety is more often associated with threat and fear.
• When resources are sufficient, stress can be felt as energy and help to act; when imbalanced, it becomes heavy.

Step 3 of 5

Map the pattern: Is Stress Different from Anxiety?

Look at the moving parts of Is Stress Different from Anxiety? one at a time:

• Stress prepares the body for action.
• Assessing requirements and resources influences experience.
• Alarm is one of the threat system options.

Step 4 of 5

Identify the requirement, available resources and missing support

• Pause for a few seconds. Check whether this practice feels safe enough right now.
• Identify the requirement, available resources and missing support.
• Notice what changed in your body or thoughts. Do not grade yourself—collect information.

Quick check after the practice:

• What changed, even by 1%?
• What stayed the same?
• What do you need now: continue, stop, or ask someone for support?

Step 5 of 5

Choose a next step: Is Stress Different from Anxiety?

You do not have to resolve this whole situation today. You worked directly with “Is Stress Different from Anxiety?” and chose one possible response.

Choose what fits now:

• “Save one next step”
• “Come back later”
• “I need support from a person”