What is anxiety and how is it different from stress?

Is It Just Stress - or Is It Actually Anxiety?

You’re lying in bed, exhausted - but your brain’s still in overdrive.
You’ve checked off everything on your list. Nothing’s technically wrong.
And yet, your chest is tight, your thoughts are spinning, and rest feels impossible.

Sound familiar?

What you’re feeling might not be just stress.

It could be anxiety - your brain’s alarm system stuck in the “on” position.

In this post, we’ll look at how anxiety actually starts in the brain, the role of the amygdala in keeping you safe, and how to tell whether what you’re feeling is temporary stress or a chronic pattern that’s starting to take over your life.

So… where does anxiety come from?

It starts in the brain - with the amygdala.

The amygdala is the part of your brain responsible for your fight, flight, or freeze response. It’s sometimes referred to as the “reptilian brain,” and every animal on earth has one. Its job is simple: keep you alive.

When you’re in actual danger, the amygdala helps you react fast. For example, an animal being chased by a predator doesn’t have time to weigh pros and cons it just runs, hides, or freezes. That survival response is automatic. It’s adaptive. And it works.

The problem? Human brains are more complex.

We don’t just respond to real threats—we respond to perceived ones too. Meaning your brain can sound the alarm even when there’s no real danger.

Let’s say you’re walking through a dark alley at night and someone sketchy starts approaching. That jolt of anxiety you feel? That’s your amygdala kicking in, trying to keep you safe.

The amygdala isn’t the enemy. But when you live with anxiety, it can start to feel like one. Because it’s constantly on edge. Constantly misfiring. Constantly interpreting everyday things—emails, social interactions, a weird tone in someone’s voice—as threats.

Your brain starts reacting to your thoughts the same way it would react to actual danger. And that’s when anxiety starts running the show.

What anxiety can actually feel like

It’s not always panic attacks and racing thoughts. Sometimes, anxiety is quieter - and harder to pin down.

You might notice:

• Constant, lingering worry or nervousness

• Feeling restless or keyed up

• Trouble sleeping (can’t fall asleep or stay asleep)

• Irritability or impatience (especially common in men, where it might show up more like anger)

• Changes in appetite

• Avoiding situations that make you anxious

• Physical symptoms:

  • Stomachaches or nausea (common in kids and adults)

  • Chest tightness or pain

  • Headaches

  • GI issues

  • Muscle tension

Kids often don’t have the language to say “I feel anxious,” so it shows up as tummy aches. But adults do this too—anxiety can be sneaky like that.

How is stress different?

Stress is usually tied to something specific and short-term.

You’ve got a big project at work. There’s a deadline looming. You’re scrambling to get it done. That spike in pressure and tension? That’s stress. And once the deadline passes, the stress usually fades.

Yes, more stress will come—but it’s tied to events. It rises and falls based on what’s happening around you.

Anxiety is different. It sticks around. It’s not always tied to one thing. It lingers. It seeps into multiple areas of your life. And it doesn’t always have a clear cause.

That’s the difference.

If what you’re experiencing feels constant - like you’re always on edge, even when nothing's technically wrong - it’s probably more than stress.

What to do next

If this sounds like you, the first step is to stop beating yourself up for “overreacting.” You’re not weak. You’re not dramatic. You’re not broken.

Your brain just learned to treat certain situations like they’re dangerous - even if they’re not.

A therapist can help you understand what’s happening in your nervous system, and give you tools to help your brain feel safe again. Not bubble baths and vague affirmations - actual strategies that work.

I hope this helped you get a clearer sense of what anxiety really is and how it’s different from regular stress. If it feels like your brain is stuck in survival mode, you’re not alone. And there’s support out there that can help.

I post new content every Wednesday, some posts are more educational like this, and others include simple tools and tips you can start using right away.