I recently read an article titled, "Difference Between Stress and Anxiety," on theMighty.com. It grabbed my eyes because society's lenient interchangeability of those words, among others, irks me to no end.
Stress ≠ anxiety.
By definition, stress is the emphasis on something of significance to you. Anxiety is a state of distress and apprehension, in relation to a mental illness. Where stress is a worried feeling that passes, anxiety is an intense fear that is ongoing. Sure stress can be upsetting and a pain in the butt, but it is most definitely not anxiety.
I am very good at stressing about school. Assignments build up, the end of the semester is coming, and there is so much to do, I almost do not know where to begin. That is not anxiety! Anxiety is all consuming. The symptoms and experiences vary greatly for each person. Here are a few things people had to say about their anxiety disorder.
1. "It feels like an elephant sitting on my chest."
2. "I'm being attacked by something I can't escape from."
3. "Prayer is not going to make it go away."
4. "It’s sometimes so exhausting and distracting that I may be forgetful or unproductive, but it’s not me trying to be thoughtless, lazy or make excuses."
5. “Anxiety and worrying are not the same things.”
6. “All the logic in the world won’t keep my heart from hammering in my chest.”
7. “Even the simplest tasks can be overwhelming at times.”
8. “I’m not just blowing you off. It’s hard to make plans and just as hard to talk on the phone sometimes. It doesn’t mean I don’t desperately want to spend time and talk. I just can’t.”
9. “Sometimes, when I’m feeling the anxiety, I have no idea why I’m anxious.”
10. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for every invite I’ve declined, every time I’ve seemed irrational or nasty because I was overwhelmed or scared. I’m sorry for every time I’ve said I’d do something but then backed out. I’m sorry my anxiety hurts you, too.”
Those were one 10 of 60+ phrases people used to describe their anxiety that those with true, chronic anxiety can relate to. The truth is, we get tired of people saying "it will get better" or "just give your thoughts over to God." If those were true and helpful, anxiety would not keep up locked up in our own little prisons.
We do not want to live like this. It is a miserable way to live. It is true there can be seasons in life that are smoother than others, but when it is a rough season, please be kind. I think I can speak for sufferers when I say that anxiety has nothing to do with anyone else. It is not that we do not want to hangout, we can't. As college students, we do not procrastinate because we are lazy, we just cannot always do the work. If I'm doodling or writing in class, it's not that I'm disinterested or trying to be rude, I'm trying my best to not run out. It offends us when you think we will get better or we can just change our train of thought, that we just need to be happy, we swear we are always trying to do our best. We are not stressed, we are anxious, and we can't help it.
Sources: http://themighty.com/2015/05/31-secrets-of-people-... & http://themighty.com/2015/11/36-things-people-with...
