Reviewed by Yehuda Roberts
April 27, 2024
Difference Between Anxious and Nervous
Discover the crucial difference between anxious and nervous, and how to manage these emotions effectively.
Understanding Anxiety and Nervousness
In the realm of mental health, understanding the nuances between different emotions and states is crucial. This is particularly true when it comes to differentiating between anxiety and nervousness. Both can significantly impact an individual's physical health, albeit in different ways.
Differentiating Anxiety and Nervousness
Nervousness and anxiety, while often used interchangeably in casual conversation, are distinct emotional states. Nervousness typically manifests as a temporary, situational response to a specific event or circumstance. It's a natural reaction that most people experience at various points in life.
On the other hand, anxiety is a more persistent state, often characterized by a pervasive sense of dread or fear that isn't tied to any specific threat. It's a chronic condition that can interfere with an individual's daily life, making it difficult to function normally. Anxiety can be classified as a disorder when it becomes overwhelming and difficult to manage.
Impact on Physical Health
Both anxiety and nervousness can have physical manifestations, but anxiety, in particular, can have a profound impact on the body. According to Medical News Today, anxiety can affect various systems in the body, including cardiovascular, urinary, digestive, and respiratory systems.
Understanding the differences between anxiety and nervousness, as well as their potential impacts on physical health, can help individuals better navigate their emotional landscape and seek appropriate support when needed. It's important to consult with a healthcare professional if feelings of anxiety or nervousness become overwhelming or interfere with daily life.
Characteristics of Anxiety
Understanding the difference between being anxious and nervous requires a closer look at the specific characteristics of each. In this section, we will focus on the defining traits of anxiety.
Persistent Dread and Coping Behaviors
One of the key characteristics of anxiety is living in a constant state of dread, often struggling to calm oneself. This ongoing feeling can lead to avoidance behaviors, where individuals steer clear of places or situations that trigger uncomfortable symptoms. Such avoidance is a negative coping behavior, as it may limit one's life experiences and can contribute to the cycle of anxiety.
This persistent dread and the subsequent coping behaviors set anxiety apart from nervousness. While nervousness might link physical symptoms such as sweaty hands, shaky legs, increased heart rate, and feeling sick to your stomach without being sure why you feel unwell, anxiety tends to make people frequently feel worried, nervous, or afraid about ordinary events [2].
Interference with Daily Life
Another distinguishing feature of anxiety is its interference with daily life. The persistent dread and negative coping behaviors can make daily life a challenge, from performing tasks at work to maintaining social relationships.
Moreover, the symptoms of anxiety disorders range from hyperarousal to difficulties with concentrating. This latter effect falls under the broad category of altered cognitive performance [3]. Research has suggested that anxiety induced by the threat of shock disrupts both verbal and spatial short-term memory but has a more robust impact on spatial working memory. In contrast, long-term memory is facilitated by the threat of shock.
These cognitive disruptions can further interfere with everyday tasks and responsibilities, making it difficult for individuals with anxiety to focus and perform at their best.
By understanding these characteristics, individuals can better comprehend the difference between anxious and nervous feelings, and seek appropriate help when required. It's important to remember that while everyone experiences anxiety from time to time, persistent and debilitating anxiety may require professional assistance for management and treatment.
Characteristics of Nervousness
Understanding the characteristics of nervousness is essential for differentiating it from anxiety. While both nervousness and anxiety may share similar symptoms, they are distinguished by their triggers, duration, and manageability.
Temporary Nature and Specific Triggers
Nervousness is a natural reaction to a stressful situation. It is often linked to specific events or circumstances, such as taking an exam, giving a presentation, waiting for medical test results, or facing a job interview. These feelings of nervousness typically dissipate once the situation is over, and they do not usually lead to avoidance behaviors in the future.
Furthermore, while nervousness can be a sign of anxiety, it is generally mild in nature and emerges due to specific situations. On the other hand, anxiety is typically more serious and pervasive [1].
Manageability with Self-Care
Another key characteristic of nervousness is its manageability with self-care strategies. As opposed to anxiety, which may require professional intervention and treatment, nervousness can often be managed through self-care practices. These practices may include deep breathing exercises, meditation, physical activity, or other relaxation techniques.
In contrast, anxiety, as the body’s response to stress, triggers the fight-or-flight response, which can have serious effects if prolonged due to chronic anxiety.
Understanding the characteristics of nervousness can be useful in recognizing when feelings of unease are a normal response to stress or potentially indicative of an anxiety disorder. If feelings of nervousness persist or interfere with daily life, it may be beneficial to seek professional help.
Physical Symptoms of Anxiety
A key aspect of understanding the difference between being anxious and nervous is recognizing the physiological responses that come with anxiety. This condition can affect the body in numerous ways, impacting various systems including cardiovascular, urinary, digestive, and respiratory. The physical manifestations of anxiety can range from feelings of nervousness, restlessness, and tension, to more severe symptoms related to chronic physical conditions.
Physiological Responses to Anxiety
Anxiety can cause changes to the heart rate and blood circulation. The body responds to anxiety by increasing the heart rate, thereby enabling a faster flee or fight response. Concurrently, the blood flow increases, delivering fresh oxygen and nutrients to the muscles.
Long-term anxiety can impair the body's natural immune response, making individuals more susceptible to common ailments such as colds, the flu, and other types of infections. Furthermore, anxiety and stress can increase the need to urinate or exacerbate symptoms of urinary incontinence.
Research also indicates a correlation between anxiety and an increased risk for heart disease, heart failure, and stroke. Older adults with anxiety were found to have a higher prevalence of heart disease. Moreover, individuals with both anxiety and depression showed an increase in vision problems, stomach issues, and asthma, among other health conditions.
Effects on Cognitive Performance
Anxiety doesn't just impact the body physically; it can also have significant effects on cognitive performance. Anxiety induced by threat of shock disrupts both verbal and spatial short-term memory, but has a more robust impact on spatial working memory. In contrast, long-term memory is facilitated by threat of shock.
Research in both anxiety patients and induced-anxiety suggests that spatial working memory is disrupted by anxiety disorders and threat of shock, while verbal working memory is more robust. Threat of shock enhances sensory-perceptual processing across multiple stimulus modalities, indicating a fundamental shift in sensory-perceptual systems during anxiety states. Anxiety also selectively improves the processing of extrinsically and intrinsically salient stimuli, such as fearful faces that convey the more relevant signal while anticipating shock [3].
Anxiety disorders constitute a significant worldwide health burden with profound social and economic consequences. The symptoms of anxiety disorders range from hyperarousal to difficulties with concentrating. This latter effect falls under the broad category of altered cognitive performance.
Understanding these physiological responses and cognitive effects can help individuals better identify the symptoms of anxiety, differentiating it from feelings of nervousness. With this knowledge, individuals can seek the appropriate care and treatment for their condition.
Anxiety Disorders
While everyone experiences feelings of anxiety and nervousness at times, these feelings become a disorder when they are persistent, excessive, and interfere with daily life. Understanding the various types of anxiety disorders and their prevalence can help individuals recognize if they or someone they know may be experiencing more than just routine nervousness.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders come in several forms, differing from normal feelings of nervousness or anxiousness, and involve excessive fear or anxiety [5]. Here are some of the most common types:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- Specific Phobias
- Agoraphobia
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Separation Anxiety Disorder
- Selective Mutism
Each of these disorders presents with unique symptoms and triggers, but all involve a level of anxiety that is disproportionate to the situation at hand and disrupts normal functioning.
Risk Factors and Prevalence
Anxiety disorders are the most common of mental disorders, affecting nearly 30% of adults at some point in their lives. Women are more likely than men to experience anxiety disorders.
Risk factors for these conditions encompass genetic, environmental, psychological, and developmental components. Anxiety disorders can run in families, suggesting that a combination of genes and environmental stresses can lead to the disorders.
Anxiety disorders constitute a significant worldwide health burden with profound social and economic consequences. The symptoms of anxiety disorders range from hyperarousal to difficulties with concentrating, which falls under the broad category of altered cognitive performance [3].
By understanding the nature of anxiety disorders, individuals can seek appropriate treatment and support, as well as alleviate some of the stigma often associated with mental health disorders. It's important to remember that experiencing anxiety is normal, but when it becomes excessive and disrupts daily life, it may be time to seek professional help.
Managing Anxiety and Nervousness
Understanding the difference between anxiety and nervousness is only the first step in addressing these emotions. This section will delve into various strategies to manage these feelings, from treatment approaches to lifestyle modifications.
Treatment Approaches
Anxiety disorders can be effectively managed through various treatment approaches, including therapy and medication [6]. Therapy options may include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, and relaxation techniques.
Medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and benzodiazepines may also be prescribed to help alleviate symptoms of anxiety. Of course, the use of medication should be under the guidance of a healthcare professional to monitor its effectiveness and manage any potential side effects.
In addition to conventional therapies, complementary and alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, yoga, and herbal supplements, may also be considered as adjunctive treatments for anxiety, but it's important to consult with a healthcare professional before trying any alternative therapies to ensure safety and effectiveness.
Lifestyle Strategies
Lifestyle modifications play a significant role in managing anxiety and nervousness. These may include regular exercise, practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation, getting enough sleep, maintaining a healthy diet, limiting caffeine and alcohol intake, and seeking support from friends, family, or support groups.
In addition to the above, self-help strategies can be beneficial in managing both anxiety and nervousness. These may include identifying triggers and developing coping mechanisms, practicing stress management techniques, setting realistic goals, and engaging in activities that bring joy and relaxation.
Mindfulness-based interventions, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), have shown promise in reducing anxiety symptoms and improving overall well-being. These approaches involve cultivating present-moment awareness and non-judgmental acceptance of thoughts and emotions.
Navigating through anxiety and nervousness can be challenging, but with the right treatment and lifestyle strategies, it's possible to manage these emotions effectively. It's also important to remember that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness, and there are many resources available to help individuals cope with anxiety and nervousness.
References
[1]: https://www.verywellmind.com/is-it-normal-anxiety-or-an-anxiety-disorder-2584401
[2]: https://www.healthline.com/health/physical-symptoms-of-anxiety
[3]: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3656338/
[4]: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322510
[5]: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/anxiety-disorders/what-are-anxiety-disorders
[6]: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anxiety/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350967
