Each of us has experienced anxiety at some point. It may be related to work, school, family, friends, various situations, etc. You may have also felt fear about something specific, such as heights, enclosed spaces, spiders, etc. Understanding the difference between fear and anxiety can make you more knowledgeable about your mental health and better equipped to manage it.
Fear is a response to a perceived threat. It’s not just a mental occurrence; it’s a process in our bodies. For survival, humans have developed a stress response that compels us to fight or flee from dangerous situations.
On the other hand, anxiety is an emotion characterized by a sense of tension, distressing thoughts, and physical changes such as increased blood pressure, sweating, dizziness, etc. Anxiety involves concern about a threat that has not yet occurred or may never happen.
A healthy level of anxiety or fear helps us cope with challenges. For example, feeling a little stress or worry is beneficial in a dark parking lot late at night. Fear prompts us to be alert. However, there are instances when fear and anxiety become unhealthy: when they hinder our ability to function.
Anxiety can lead to a flurry of rapidly changing thoughts that hinder our ability to concentrate while thinking about the future, and the past distracts us from living in the present.
There are several critical differences between fear and anxiety. Anxiety is a vague, unpleasant emotional state characterized by features of fear, distress, and discomfort, but it is aimless. Fear, similar to anxiety, has a specific target. When a certain optimal level of stimulation or arousal increases, a person experiences anxiety. This can be an adaptive, healthy response or an overwhelming, irrational reaction. In the latter case, a person may lose much of their ability to think, act, and accomplish tasks. Anxiety manifests in three ways: through a person’s thoughts (cognitively), actions (behaviorally), and physiological responses.
Signs That Fear or Anxiety Are Affecting Your Well-Being:
• You avoid social situations, travel, and other activities even when you want to participate.
• You spend much time lost in thought—so much that your sleep patterns are disrupted or you struggle to pay attention to what’s happening around you.
• You decline or never engage in activities necessary to improve your quality of life.
• You find it increasingly difficult to leave the house or do anything outside a strict routine.
• You avoid certain situations, objects, or animals, even though you know your fear is exaggerated.
• You experience physical symptoms such as headaches, trembling, and muscle tension.
Suppose you identify any of the above signs in yourself. In that case, you should consult a psychiatrist or psychologist for differential diagnosis and improve your quality of life.