What’s the difference between Anxiety, Stress and Depression?

And why does it matter?

We differentiate between these different ways of thinking, feeling and behaviour so that you can:

• Figure out what your brain wants you to do or change

• Use the most effective strategies for your brain

• Get familiar with the triggers that drag you into these states.\

Let’s start with Anxiety:

Anxiety contains one fundamental feeling, and that is fear. Fear is a built-in part of the human brain, and we all experience it.

• Anxious brains are negative, jumpy, and reactive. You need strategies to calm your brain so it can function optimally.

• The most effective strategy for calming anxious brains is breathing exercises.

• Triggers for Anxiety are situations that have uncertain and unpredictable outcomes and those that feel outside your control.

Stress

Stress shows up in much the same way as Anxiety but results from environmental pressures and problems.

• Stressed brains feel overwhelmed and emotionally exhausted. Again, you’ll need strategies to resolve the overwhelm and to regain confidence.

• The most effective strategies for calming stressed brains are breathing exercises and creating achievable plans and schedules.

• Triggers for stress are situations where you feel out of control and the demands and workload feel impossibly hard.

Depression

Depression is more complex than Anxiety and stress and contains these emotions: sad, lonely, hopeless and helpless. A depressed brain feels lethargic, unmotivated, and stuck.

• Depressed brains feel lost, lonely, and mired in helplessness. Sometimes, depression is helped by doing fun activities or joining in with others.

• One of the most effective strategies for depression is exercise. Move your body as much and as often as you can.

• Triggers for depression are situations that emphasise feelings of hopelessness and not coping, such as isolating yourself and excluding fun activities.

Do you struggle with difficult emotions?

Want a short minicourse to help you get started with sorting those feelings?

Go here: https://sharyn-kennedy.mykajabi.com/difficult-emotions