The Anxiety Coaches Podcast

1081: Is It Stress Or Anxiety? Defining the Difference


Listen Later

In today's episode, Gina provides guidance for how to the answer the question about whether what you are experiencing is just stress or full fledged anxiety. The symptoms of stress are discussed and contrasted with those of anxiety. Being able to know the difference can help you cope more effectively. Strategies to manage both conditions are shared. Listen in and come to better understand stress and anxiety!

Please visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors!

https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/

Thank you for supporting The Anxiety Coaches Podcast.

FREE MUST-HAVE RESOURCE FOR Calming Your Anxious Mind

10-Minute Body-Scan Meditation for Anxiety

Anxiety Coaches Podcast Group Coaching link

ACPGroupCoaching.com

To learn more, go to:

Website https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com

Join our Group Coaching Full or Mini Membership Program

Learn more about our One-on-One Coaching

What is anxiety?

Find even more peace and calm with our Supercast premium access membership:

For $5 a month, all episodes are ad-free! https://anxietycoaches.supercast.com/

Here's what's included for $5/month:

❤ New Ad-Free episodes every Sunday and Wednesday

❤ Access to the entire Ad-free back-catalog with over 600 episodes

❤ Premium meditations recorded with you in mind

❤ And more fun surprises along the way!

All this in your favorite podcast app!

Quote:

Stress is the trash of modern life—we all generate it, but if you don't dispose of it properly, it will pile up and overtake your life.

-Danzae Pace

Chapters

0:42 Understanding Stress and Anxiety

2:03 Defining Stress

3:26 Defining Anxiety

4:46 Triggers of Stress and Anxiety

6:30 Physical Symptoms Explained

7:48 Emotional and Cognitive Differences

9:49 Time Frames of Stress and Anxiety

11:29 Analogies for Understanding

13:32 Managing Stress and Anxiety

16:04 Recognizing Escalation Signs

17:10 Differentiating Stress from Anxiety

18:37 Questions for Self-Reflection

19:47 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Summary

In this episode of the Anxiety Coaches Podcast, I explore the crucial distinction between stress and anxiety—concepts that are often used interchangeably but represent fundamentally different emotional responses. Understanding the difference can empower listeners to take control of their emotional well-being and develop more effective coping strategies. Through the episode, I provide insights based on the experiences I've gathered through coaching, aiming to clarify these often-confused terms and offer practical tools for self-management.


I begin by defining stress as a response to external pressures or demands, often linked to specific situations like job deadlines or family responsibilities. This type of stress is identifiable and can be felt physically, manifesting as headaches, muscle tension, and rapid heart rates. It’s important to recognize that these symptoms typically dissipate once the external stressors are resolved. On the other hand, anxiety is characterized by feelings of apprehension or fear about potential future events that lack immediate external triggers. I describe anxiety as a feeling of impending doom or worry, often accompanied by an array of symptoms such as excessive worry, restlessness, and hypervigilance, which can persist long after stressors have been removed.


The conversation progresses into examining the causes and manifestations of both stress and anxiety. While stress stems from identifiable external factors, anxiety often emerges from internal negative thoughts or worries, leading to a disproportionate reaction to situations that may not warrant such feelings. These variations highlight how stress creates a wave that comes and goes, whereas anxiety can be likened to a cloud that lingers, obscuring clarity of thought even in calm circumstances.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Anxiety Coaches PodcastBy Gina Ryan

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

1,726 ratings


More shows like The Anxiety Coaches Podcast

View all
Anxiety Slayer™ with Shann and Ananga by Shann Vander Leek & Ananga Sivyer

Anxiety Slayer™ with Shann and Ananga

750 Listeners

The Overwhelmed Brain by Paul Colaianni

The Overwhelmed Brain

1,905 Listeners

The Anxious Truth - A Panic, Anxiety, and Mental Health Podcast by Drew Linsalata

The Anxious Truth - A Panic, Anxiety, and Mental Health Podcast

1,130 Listeners

The Anxiety Guy Podcast by Dennis Simsek

The Anxiety Guy Podcast

1,408 Listeners

Your Anxiety Toolkit - Anxiety & OCD Strategies for Everyday by Kimberley Quinlan, LMFT

Your Anxiety Toolkit - Anxiety & OCD Strategies for Everyday

796 Listeners

Think Positive: Daily Affirmations by Dachia Arritola The DogMom

Think Positive: Daily Affirmations

597 Listeners

Owning It: The Anxiety Podcast by Caroline Foran

Owning It: The Anxiety Podcast

161 Listeners

Health Anxiety Podcast Show by The Anxiety Guy

Health Anxiety Podcast Show

411 Listeners

Calming Anxiety by Calming Anxiety

Calming Anxiety

405 Listeners

Therapy in a Nutshell by Therapy in a Nutshell -Emma McAdam

Therapy in a Nutshell

504 Listeners

The Anxiety Dr. Podcast by The Anxiety Dr

The Anxiety Dr. Podcast

315 Listeners

The Anxiety Chicks by Cloud10

The Anxiety Chicks

775 Listeners

Meditation for Anxiety by Anxiety

Meditation for Anxiety

168 Listeners

Regulate & Rewire: An Anxiety & Depression Podcast by Amanda Armstrong

Regulate & Rewire: An Anxiety & Depression Podcast

327 Listeners

Disordered: Anxiety Help by Josh Fletcher and Drew Linsalata

Disordered: Anxiety Help

322 Listeners