Most people use the words ‘worry’ and ‘anxiety’ interchangeably. While they are closely related, they’re not the same thing. The more we understand the difference between the two, the easier it is to tell when our concerns are typical, normal parts of life and when it may be helpful to talk to someone about it.

Worry Is a Normal Human Experience
Everyone worries from time to time. Worry often appears when we are experiencing uncertainty, an important decision, or a challenging task/moment. We might be worried about a job interview, bills to pay, a difficult conversation, or about a family member’s wellbeing. In many instances, worry can be useful because it motivate us to prepare, problem solve, and act. Once the situation has passed or a plan is in place, worry often decreases. For example, if you’re worried about an upcoming job interview, you may spend time practicing your answers and researching the company. After preparing, your worry may begin to settle. For others, the worry decreases once the job interview is done.

Anxiety Is More Than Just Worry
Anxiety often includes worry but is usually more persistent, intense, and difficult to control than worry. When someone is experiencing anxiety, their mind and body can be acting as though a threat is present even though there is no immediate danger.

Common signs of anxiety may include: 

• Excessive or constant worry
• Feeling restlessness or feeling “on edge”
• Racing thoughts or concerned thoughts that are difficult to quiet or move on from
• Difficulty concentrating or trouble focusing
• Difficulty with falling or staying asleep
• Staying away from places or situations that trigger fear or discomfort
• Physical symptoms such as a racing heart, sweating, nausea, or shortness of breath

A Simple Example:

Imagine you need to give a presentation at work. Worry might sound like: “I’m nervous about this presentation. I hope it goes well.” You spend time to prepare, practice what you want to say, and eventually move forward. Anxiety might sound like: “What if I completely embarrass myself? What if everyone thinks I’m incompetent? What if I lose my job?” You spend days replaying worst-case scenarios, struggle to focus on other tasks, lose sleep, or consider avoiding the presentation altogether. You might prepare for the presentation, practice what to say, but it feels like you cannot move on in your mind. The worry could be constant, and you notice that before the presentation you spend more time preparing or thinking about it than is necessary to perform well. The difference is not necessarily the situation itself but rather, the intensity, frequency and impact of the thoughts and feelings.

When Should You Seek Support?
Everyone experiences worry and anxiety at different points in their life. Seeking support does not mean something is ‘wrong’ with you or that you need to wait until ‘something big’ happens. In fact, many people benefit from learning new strategies to manage anxiety before it becomes overwhelming.

You may want to consider speaking with a mental health professional if:

• Your anxiety feels difficult to control or is getting worse
• You spend a large portion of time every day worrying
• You’ve noticed anxiety affecting your sleep
• You avoid activities, people, or situations because of fear
• Anxiety is impacting your work, school, or relationships
• You have tried coping strategies and noticed its not as affective as it used to be

Therapy is a space where you can create a better understanding of your anxiety, identity the patterns that keep it going, and develop practical tools and skills to respond to your anxiety. On one hand, worry is a normal part of life. It often helps us prepare for challenges and solve problems. On the other hand, anxiety, can become overwhelming when it is persistent, difficult to manage, or begins interfering with everyday life. If you find yourself spending more time battling anxious thoughts than living the life you want, support is available. Learning to manage anxiety is not about eliminating all worry or anxiety, it’s about building the skills that work with your life.

By Victoria Pilon, MSW Intern at FCCTS