Are Anxiety & Stress the Same Thing?
How to tell the difference and why it matters.
3 min read
Many New Yorkers arrive in therapy announcing that they feel “anxious and stressed out”, seeking assistance with reducing these worries. Although these terms are often used interchangeably (especially in a fast-paced, competitive climate like NYC) they are in fact distinct; understanding their differences is an important part of determining the most effective plan for treatment.
While the symptoms New Yorkers experience when stressed or anxious are nearly identical (fatigue, irritability, difficulty eating, sleeping, working and concentrating, et al.), an important difference between stress and anxiety lies in whether the trigger causing the symptoms is external or internal.
Stress is typified by a reaction to a worrisome external trigger, which are abundant in a city like New York: a looming deadline at work, a splintering relationship with your partner, a disruption to your financial security, a disconcerting subway ride, etc. The origin of anxiety, however, is internal and tends to manifest in the form of a persistent worry that does not dissipate even in the absence of a stressor.
As Stefan Allen-Hickey, a therapist who works with clients experiencing stress and anxiety at Downtown Somatic Therapy in Lower Manhattan, reports: “Stress reactions often appear logical to the people experiencing them—it makes sense to feel overwhelmed by work, home and social dynamics—but the amount of ruminating brought on by these concerns does not always feel rational. Anxiety, on the other hand, tends to inspire confusion, for even when stressors causing anxiety are eliminated worry can persist”.
“Stress reactions often appear logical to the people experiencing them… Anxiety, on the other hand, tends to inspire confusion, for even when stressors causing anxiety are eliminated worry can persist.”
Although stress and anxiety both respond positively to similar coping strategies (improved diet, improved sleep habits, muscle relaxation, social support, exercise, decamping temporarily from city life for a vacation), the form that a therapeutic intervention takes can differ depending on whether what is plaguing a person is acute or chronic.
Stefan notes that therapists at Downtown Somatic Therapy utilize a variety of mindfulness approaches to help people cope with stress and anxiety. “The process of reducing stress can feel more targeted and specific as opposed to contending with anxiety, which can feel more abstract. In day to day life people become accustomed to running away from their fears— whether that’s pursuing a demanding finance job on Wall Street or avoiding problems until they become unmanageable—therapy offers a place to face your fears and, ultimately, to let go of that which is out of your control.”
“People become accustomed to running away from their fears — whether that’s pursuing a demanding finance job on Wall Street or avoiding problems until they become unmanageable — therapy offers a place to face your fears and, ultimately, to let go of that which is out of your control.”
If you are struggling to manage the stress and/or anxiety brought on by living in New York City, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our therapists at Downtown Somatic Therapy.