A few things about anxiety and stress...

I’ve learned to not use the phrase “I’m anxious” so lightly because there are so many situations that don’t cause anxiety. They cause stress. And the two things, though frequently used interchangeably, are not the same thing.

Stress, by definition, is something our body uses to motivate us to get something done. A high-stress situation can be one with a long to-do list of errands, or a high-stress situation can be one in the midst of danger. It causes adrenaline to motivate us to do better so we get things done.

Anxiety, on the other hand, is not the same thing. It is crippling. It prevents anything, even the smallest of tasks, to get done. It takes over your whole mind, whole body. It tells you that though you have one large stressful situation, nothing even little can be taken care of. It makes your cheeks warm, your hands fidgety, your stomach uneasy, and your mind all over the place.

There is a difference. You can feel yourself studying for a test and you feel calm. There is no need to throw up and you can think clearly. The web of fear and thoughts that used to be impossible to peer through to is gone and you can take things step by step. You don’t tense up at an email that comes your way. The prospect of having to write a paper doesn’t make you sweat and tremble. It merely provides stress that lets you be your best self and pushes you to get your stuff done. You can finish an assignment and feel good about it without worrying that every single thing must be fixed.

Anxiety feeds into your veins and cripples your whole body. Having a wash over of anxiety makes you throw up before tests, unable to think through any situation, and have an overall feeling of dread about your day and about your life.

So when people ask me how I’m doing and how my school work is going, I don’t say “I’m anxious” anymore because I know the difference. I am not too blessed to be stressed, I am blessed to be stressed.