What is Stress or Anxiety?
Stress or anxiety is when a person feels an intense, excessive, and persistent worry or fear about everyday events that is not normal for the situation. Many view stress and anxiety as the same thing, however the subtle difference between the two is important to know. Stress is usually triggered by an external event whereas anxiety is an internal feeling as a response to an event.
Many people view stress or anxiety as a reaction that we are not dealing with a situation or event. They begin to feel that they are losing control and their anxiety can increase. This increase in anxiety is typically seen as a negative response, but stress and anxiety are not all bad. We need an average amount of stress or anxiety to have the optimal level of performance. For example, for a teen to do their very best on an exam, they need to have a moderate amount of stress to propel them to study for the test. If the same student is too laid back, they may not study adequately at all for the test, and as a result, they will likely not do as well.
When is stress and anxiety harmful? Stress and anxiety are viewed as negative when they are interfering with daily life and tasks, when the person struggles to not think about the worry (obsess) or when they must participate in compulsive behaviors to decrease or manage the anxiety.
Below are the most common types of anxiety:
Types:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Acute Stress Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Social Anxiety
- OCD
