Stress vs. Anxiety: How to Tell the Difference [Poll]

Sometimes life and the visceral feelings that accompany it are nothing short of GR8. Other times, we have lesser experiences that have us feeling less like ourselves. Stress and anxiety are like the bully and its echo, challenging us sometimes silently before we have a chance to learn we’re under attack.

Stress vs. Anxiety

Stress is our way of responding to external stimuli. We know it best as being in an argument with someone we care for or trying to make a movie on time. It’s usually characterized by a temporary response that will subside once the stimuli are relieved or removed.

Anxiety refers more to the internalization of stress and tends to come forth from within. It can feel more like excessive and persistent feelings of worry, oftentimes unwarranted or irrational (but not always).

Both anxiety and stress provoke similar symptoms such as trouble falling and staying asleep, digestive issues, inability to focus and irritable behavior. For this reason, it is important to be able to identify when you may be feeling stress versus anxiety.

Take the quiz to have a better idea of which end on the spectrum your feelings fall on.

A Note from GR8NESS

Please be advised that the results of this quiz are not a medical diagnosis. Please consult with a mental healthcare provider regarding any perceived presence of chronic stress or anxiety.