Stress and anxiety are common problems that most people will experience at some point in their lives.

 

Stress is a natural reaction to pressure or threat, or situations that are difficult to manage or control. For example, many people feel stressed when they have too many responsibilities at school or work, when experiencing bereavement, financial problems, or discrimination, or during natural disasters and events like the coronavirus pandemic.

In small amounts, stress can be useful to keep us motivated and complete tasks. However, it can become a problem when the stress is too intense or overwhelming, or lasts for a prolonged period of time. Ongoing stress can develop into chronic stress if it is not dealt with in time. This kind of stress can have a negative impact on both mental and physical health, as it can contribute to other mental health conditions and weaken the immune system.

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Anxiety is a natural response to a stressful or dangerous situation, and it comes from the body’s “fight, flight or freeze” response, which evolved in humans to react to threat. This can cause physical effects like increased heart rate, sweating and trembling, as well as emotions such as nervousness, trouble concentrating, and irritability. Generally these symptoms do not tend to last too long, and can be pinpointed to a specific cause, such as going through stressful life events or changes. But with some anxiety disorders, it is less obvious why the symptoms occur, and it can feel like an impending sense of doom that will never go away.