Are stress and anxiety the same?

By PYM STORE

Are stress and anxiety the same?

The terms “stress” and “anxiety” are often used interchangeably, but is it correct to do so?

 

Chances are good that anyone and everyone reading this has experienced stress at some point in their lives. It’s nearly impossible to navigate life today without at least some level of stress getting in your way. Even if you consider yourself to be a chill person, even something like the thought you’re going to miss your flight can bring about feelings of stress.

 

However, chances are also good that not everyone has experienced anxiety.

 

Let’s dive into the difference between stress and anxiety. This will allow you to put a label on what you may be feeling, and find the best ways to work through your mental health struggles. 

 

Stress vs. anxiety 

Stress and anxiety are not the same. Though the difference between the two definitions may be slight, the feelings and the effect they have on your body in the long term are very different. 

 

The American Psychological Association defines stress as a state in which you experience both mental and physical symptoms including:

 

  • Anger
  • Irritability
  • Muscle pain
  • Exhaustion
  • Digestive issues
  • Sleeping troubles

 

Anxiety, on the other hand, the APA defines as having feelings of worry and stress that don’t go away, even when there is no stressor present to cause the feelings. 

 

The symptoms of anxiety are often similar to those of stress, but they take much longer to go away. 

 

TLDR: stress is typically acute and anxiety is typically chronic. (There are exceptions to this, but for the most part, that differentiation is true.)

 

Stress is usually caused by a specific trigger and once that trigger has been resolved, the stress seems to melt away. This can include something like a work deadline, a big event, etc. 

 

Anxiety, however, doesn’t require a specific trigger in order to get the ball rolling. Anxiety can pop up seemingly out of nowhere and linger for quite some time. 

 

How to cope with stress and anxiety

Having good mental hygiene is of the utmost importance to a balanced, healthy, and happy life. When your mental hygiene is lacking, you will notice the difference. 

 

So, if you’re experiencing feelings of stress and/or anxiety, don’t worry – there are some things you can do in order to alleviate the problem. 

 

Here are the top things you can do to fight stress and anxiety. 

 

Sleep

If you aren’t getting enough sleep, your brain can start to fire up the stress and anxiety symptoms. That’s because sleep is essential for humans to survive and thrive. 

 

Studies show that a chronic lack of sleep can lead to significant psychological issues, including stress and anxiety. 

 

If you’re struggling with sleep, try these things:

 

  1. Early dinner. Eating dinner early (at least two hours before bedtime) has been shown in studies to be best for good health.
  2. No screens before bed. Studies show that it’s best to reduce your body’s exposure to blue light (phones, televisions, computers, etc.) near bedtime.  
  3. Magnesium supplement. To help prepare your body for a better night’s sleep, reach for a magnesium supplement like our Mood Magnesium. This contains all the right nutrients and vitamins to help you sleep well while simultaneously battling stress. 

Exercise

Stress and anxiety can skyrocket when you’re not implementing enough movement and exercise into your life. 

 

So, the next time you feel stress or anxiety coming on, throw on your tennis shoes and start doing some kind of movement – even a walk is great. 

 

Studies have shown that physical activity improves blood flow, which greatly affects your brain. In addition to that, exercise lowers your body’s levels of cortisol and adrenaline while boosting your body’s production of endorphins. 

 

Healthy Diet

A diet that is filled with refined carbs such as chips, candy, and other processed foods can spike your blood sugar and then immediately cause it to crash. The result? Your stress and anxiety levels shoot up. 

 

That’s why, if you’re looking to combat stress and anxiety, you need to opt for healthy and whole, unprocessed foods that help maintain optimal mental hygiene. 

 

Here are some of the foods to start incorporating into your life today:

 

  • Avocados
  • Eggs
  • Walnuts
  • Grass-fed meat
  • Chia seeds
  • Olive oil
  • Bananas
  • Broccoli
  • Kimchi
  • Greek yogurt

Supplements

You may be surprised to learn how supplementing your life with the right vitamins and nutrients can positively affect your stress and anxiety. 

 

Here are the top supplements to reach for in times of stress and/or anxiety. 

 

Vitamin B

Studies show that a deficiency in vitamin B is linked to depression, anxiety, and stress. If you find yourself feeling any or all of the above, it could be that you don’t have enough vitamin B in your life. 

 

While foods such as meat, seafood, eggs, berries, leafy greens, and more are great sources of vitamin B, you may still need more vitamin B. 

 

And that’s where a supplement such as our Mood B comes in. This methylated b-complex vitamin was developed to help balance stress and anxiety over time.

 

GABA

This neurotransmitter plays an integral role in stopping our body from going into fight-or-flight mode anytime the smallest stressor occurs. 

 

While fight-or-flight mode is key for life-threatening situations, it’s not when it comes to deciding where to eat lunch. But, a lack of GABA can cause your lunch decision to become a major stress or anxiety. 

 

Add GABA supplements to your life easily with our Mood Chews and feel the difference. 

 

Omega-3 fatty acids

These fatty acids are key to overall health, and that includes mental health. Studies show that omega-3s may reduce anxiety, so if this is something you struggle with, omega-3s may become your new BFF. 

 

Our Mood Omegas support your brain health by reducing inflammation, improving cognitive function, and balancing your mood so you can say “goodbye” to stress and anxiety. 

 

Psychobiotics

This may be the first time you’ve heard the word “psychobiotics,” but it won’t be the last. It simply refers to the taking of probiotics to support mental health.

 

Probiotics are important to your mental health because diseases that exist in the gut can spread to the brain and affect your mental hygiene. There are plenty of probiotics to choose from, but you want one that has the best strains of bacteria to support both your gut and your brain. Our Mood Biotics have 6 strains that are proven to put your gut in a good place to combat stress and anxiety.  

 

Those 6 strains are:

 

Summary

Though the way stress and anxiety manifest in the body may look similar, the two are actually not the same. 

 

Stress is usually acute while anxiety is usually chronic and more difficult to get rid of. Stress is also something that is triggered by a specific thing, whereas anxiety doesn’t require a trigger. 

 

If you’re looking to combat stress and/or anxiety, here are the top things to do:

 

  • Sleep well
  • Eat dinner early
  • No screens close to bedtime
  • Magnesium supplement
  • Exercise regularly
  • Eat a healthy diet
  • Supplements
  • Vitamin B
  • GABA
  • Omega-3 fatty acids
  • Psychobiotics

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