Anxiety and stress can be similar in some ways, but there’s a big difference between simply being stressed out and having an anxiety disorder. It’s not uncommon to hear another person exclaim, “I’m so stressed!” Whether at work, school, or home, you may have had experiences where you felt overwhelmed, overextended, and exhausted. Sometimes stress can help us perform under pressure, but excessive stress can be negative and lead to physical, emotional, and psychological consequences. For example, you may have heard about the relationship between stress and factors linked to heart disease.

An anxiety disorder, however, can interfere with your daily functioning or habits. If you have excessive worry, fear, or dread that you can’t manage through normal means, seeking help is a good start. There are many different kinds of anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, social anxiety, and phobias and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) can fit into this category as well. These issues are best dealt with through the help of a professional.

A psychologist can teach you techniques to manage or overcome your anxiety.

If you don’t feel that you have anxiety, but are having difficulty managing your stress, find a psychologist to HELP WITH STRESS