{"id":42284,"date":"2021-09-29T10:50:16","date_gmt":"2021-09-29T14:50:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=42284"},"modified":"2026-01-28T13:57:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T18:57:17","slug":"stress-vs-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/stress-vs-anxiety\/","title":{"rendered":"Stress vs. Anxiety: Compare causes, symptoms, treatments, & more"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is the difference between stress and anxiety<\/a>? It seems like stress and anxiety are exactly the same\u2014but they do have some similarities as well as differences. If you or a <\/span>loved one<\/span> is experiencing stress or anxiety, you will want to know more about each one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the <\/span>American Psychological Association<\/span>, stress and anxiety are both emotional responses. However, stress is usually due to an external trigger. These triggers can be <\/span>short-term<\/span> (for example, an important presentation, <\/span>big test<\/span>, or stressful argument). Or, the trigger can be long-term (for example, unemployment or a chronic illness). Stress can cause both <\/span>mental and <\/span>physical symptoms<\/span>. Anxiety can cause the same mental and <\/span>physical symptoms<\/span> as stress. People with anxiety have \u201cpersistent, <\/span>excessive worries<\/span> that don\u2019t go away even in the absence of a <\/span>stressor<\/span>.\u201d Continue reading to learn more about stress and anxiety.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Causes<\/h2>\n

Stress<\/span><\/h3>\n

Stress can be <\/span>acute or chronic<\/span>. Acute stress is <\/span>short-term<\/span> stress. It goes away quickly. You may feel acute stress when you are having an argument or starting a new job. Acute stress can also help you manage a dangerous situation\u2014it can appear when you are trying something new or exciting, like skydiving.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Chronic stress<\/span> lasts for a more extended period of time than acute stress. Examples of causes of <\/span>chronic stress<\/span> are money struggles or marriage trouble. <\/span>Chronic stress<\/span> can last for weeks or even months. If stress is not managed, it can lead to health problems.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to situational factors that can cause stress, another <\/span>risk factor<\/span><\/a> is a lack of social and emotional support.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anxiety<\/span><\/h3>\n

The exact <\/span>cause of anxiety<\/span><\/a> is unknown but is suspected to be caused by a combination of factors. These include:<\/span><\/p>\n