Anxiety & overthinking

Stress vs. Anxiety: 8 Differences

Stress is a response to a present pressure. Anxiety is persistent worry that can continue even when the pressure is gone.

Pattern A

Stress

Pattern B

Anxiety

01Trigger

StressA clear external demand

AnxietyOften internal or unclear

02Focus

StressThe present challenge

AnxietyFuture “what ifs”

03Duration

StressEases when the stressor passes

AnxietyCan persist

04Proportion

StressMatches the situation

AnxietyOften bigger than the situation

05Body

StressTension, fatigue

AnxietyRacing heart, restlessness, dread

06Helps

StressSolving or reducing the demand

AnxietySkills, exposure, sometimes treatment

07Example

StressDeadline week

AnxietyWorrying about a deadline months away

08When to seek help

StressIf it’s chronic

AnxietyIf it interferes with life

Why it matters

Both are normal in doses. Knowing which you’re facing points you to the right tools.

Try this

Ask: “Is this about a current demand?”
Solve what you can.
Use worry time for the rest.

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Education, not diagnosis. Patterns exist on a spectrum, and most people show both sides at different times.

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The weekly letter

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