More recently myself and the other practitioners that work at the centre have observed a trend in that most of our patients readily mention that they are anxious but are less likely to identify when they are experiencing fear or stress. Furthermore, our patients often perceive fear or stress, as anxiety. Most certainly there are similarities between anxiety, fear, and stress but there are also significant differences.
It is useful to distinguish between these three psychological states for the simple reason that each has distinct psychological symptoms and hence requires different self-care strategies and therapeutic interventions.
Fear is a deep primal response to a very real external threat. Fear results in a fight, flight, or freeze response. Fear is located in the present moment.
Anxiety is a response to an internal concern or perceived threat. Anxiety results in worrying and apprehensive expectation. In a state of anxiety we are orientated towards the future. When we are anxious we worry about what is going to happen and often imagine different scenarios in which circumstances are detrimental to us or to others.
Stress is the result of external pressure. It can be identified when we feel a sense of urgency. We know, for example, that we are stressed when we find ourselves particularly frustrated when waiting in a queue. It feels like we do not have enough time to accomplish everything we “have to do”. When one is stressed our thoughts tend to jump between the past and the future.
Responses required:
Fear
Your limbic brain structure knows what to do. Trust yourself, regardless of whether you have a fight, flight, or freeze response this response is designed to keep you alive. The response that you intuitively and instantly adopt is the correct response for you at the time in which you face an external threat.
Anxiety
Remember that anxiety is not grounded in reality. The thoughts and fantasies you are having about the future are incredibly unlikely to manifest, you do not have a crystal ball. Relax. Ground yourself in the present moment. Look at your current environment and focus on what is beautiful. As you breathe focus on the exhale. Play relaxing music. Spend time in nature.
Stress
Remember that this is a normal state of mind. When you feel overwhelmed by the amount of pressure you are experiencing, although it may feel counterintuitive, you need to relax. When this feels impossible, you can focus on relaxation during the times when you can’t attend to the aspects of life that are causing you stress. For example, you can relax when you are caught in traffic or are waiting in a queue. It is helpful to consider that when you regulate your nervous system you are more likely to obtain a flow state, and it is when we are in a flow state that we are the most productive.
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Fear, Anxiety or Stress: Correctly Identifying your Psychological States