Stress and Anxiety as Signs of Mental Health Disorders

Experiencing occasional anxiety and stress is a normal part of life. However, people with anxiety disorders often have intense, excessive, and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Often, anxiety disorders result in recurring episodes of anxiety and fear or terror that peak within minutes, also known as panic attacks.

The big difference between stress and anxiety is that there is a specific trigger.

Stress is usually related to a specific situation. Once that situation is resolved, the stress will also resolve. For example, when someone is facing an exam or test that makes them anxious, or when they have to balance work at home with three young children competing for attention. In these cases, there is a specific stress root that is causing the stress. Once the exam is over or the children are sent to daycare, the stress slowly decreases and disappears.

However, stress does not always last for a short time or for a short time. Stress can also be chronic or occur over the long term in response to ongoing pressure, such as a demanding job or conflict in the family.

Anxiety, on the other hand, is the opposite of stress, which does not always have a specific trigger. Although stress and anxiety are different things, they are closely related. In some cases, stress can trigger anxiety, such as when someone is stressed about moving house, who will feel anxious and nervous for no particular reason.

What causes stress and anxiety?

Stress usually occurs in response to physical or mental pressure. This pressure may involve a major life change, such as:

1. Moving house, changing jobs etc.
2. starting a new school or job
3. experiencing an illness or injury
4. having a friend or family member become ill or injured
5. experiencing the death of a family member or friend
6. getting married
7. having a baby

Signs and symptoms of anxiety itself can generally include:

1. Feeling nervous, agitated, or tense
2. A sense of impending danger, panic, or doom
3. Having an increased heart rate
4. Rapid breathing (hyperventilation)
5. Sweating
6. Shaking
7. Feeling weak or tired
8. Difficulty concentrating or thinking about anything other than the current worry
9. Difficulty sleeping
10. Having gastrointestinal (GI) problems
11. Difficulty controlling worry
12. Having a compulsion to avoid things that trigger anxiety

Meanwhile, conditions of ongoing stress can occur in a person due to the following:

1. having a long to-do list to complete over the weekend
2. attending a big work meeting
3. having a looming deadline for a particular project

Many types of therapy can help with stress and anxiety. A mental health professional such as a psychiatrist or psychologist can help you find the right steps to overcome the stress and anxiety you are facing, and of course with a method or approach that suits you.

Reference:
https://www.healthline.com/health/stress-and-anxiety#causes
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anxiety/symptoms-causes/syc-20350961