Are These Feelings of Stress or an Anxiety Disorder? 

Stress and anxiety are something that most people experience at some point during their lifetime. Depending on the level of their severity, they can become overwhelming and disruptive to one’s life. From the outside looking in, it can be difficult to distinguish the differences between stress and anxiety. Both share many of the same emotional and physical symptoms – uneasiness, tension, headaches, high blood pressure, and loss of sleep to name a few. Determining which one you are experiencing is critical to finding an effective treatment plan. 

Stress is the body’s reaction to pressure or feeling threatened. It is a response to external factors such as work, finances, relationships, and everyday tasks. Stress can be both good and bad. Good stress motivates you to complete tasks and to concentrate on activities. Overwhelming and chronic stress can be bad for both physical and mental health. When stress persists, it can cause depression, digestive issues, and even heart disease. 

Anxiety is a mental health disorder that goes beyond every day worries. People with anxiety experience feelings of dread or extreme distress, which can affect their daily lives. The defining feature of an anxiety disorder is excessive anxiety and worry occurring more days than not for at least six months. The intensity of the anxiety or worry is usually out of proportion to the actual impact of an anticipated event or event. 

As mentioned, stress and anxiety have both physical and psychological symptoms. Many of these symptoms overlap, including rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, diarrhea, and more. There are, however, some distinct symptoms attributed to each.

Treatment

Stress is usually a short-term event that does not require a formal diagnosis. Even though stress is not formally treated, self-care practices help alleviate it. Getting good sleep, eating healthy, exercising, and surrounding yourself with a good support system can help reduce stress levels. 

An anxiety disorder, on the other hand, would need to be diagnosed by a mental health professional. If symptoms are present, a healthcare professional will assess the frequency of feelings of worry and any other physical symptoms you may be experiencing. After diagnosis, a treatment plan will be developed that typically would include talk therapy, medication, or a combination of these. 

Contact VIP Ketamine Clinics

Our Modesto, CA ketamine clinic offers ketamine infusions for a variety of mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. Our first priority is the emotional, mental and physical wellbeing of our patients. We will help point you in the direction of health and wellness, whatever direction that may be.