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Jun 14, 2024 · Learn how to tell apart fear and anxiety, two emotions that share many symptoms but have different causes and durations. Find out how they relate to other mental health conditions and medical issues, and how to cope with them.
- Overview
- Anxiety vs. Fear: How to Tell the Difference
- What Anxiety and Fear Feel Like
- What Causes Anxiety and Fear?
- Treatments for Anxiety and Fear
- Coping With Anxiety and Fear
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While we often use anxiety and fear interchangeably, they are not the same thing. The two experiences are related and often share many of the same emotional and physical symptoms, but there are important differences that make them distinct—and understanding what makes them different can play an important part in how you deal with them.
Even though symptoms commonly overlap, a person's experience with these emotions differs based on context. Fear relates to a known or understood threat, whereas anxiety follows from an unknown, expected, or poorly defined threat.
At a Glance
Fear and anxiety both produce a similar stress response. However, many experts believe that there are essential differences between the two. These differences can account for how we react to various environmental stressors.
Muscle tension, increased heart rate, and shortness of breath mark the most significant physiological symptoms associated with a response to danger.
Anxiety and fear can lead to many uncomfortable somatic (physical) sensations. Some of the most common physical symptoms of anxiety include:
•Accelerated heart rate
•Chest pain
•Cold chills or hot flushes
•Depersonalization and derealization
•Dizziness or feeling faint
Fear often stems from the threat of potential harm, whether that threat is physical, psychological, or emotional. While we often think of fear as a negative, distressing state, it can also have benefits.
Healthy levels of fear or anxiety can prepare the body to respond to potential dangers, mobilizing you to respond quickly when needed.
Your doctor will consider your current symptoms and your medical history to help determine a possible cause of your fear and anxiety. From there, expect your doctor to make a diagnosis or refer you to a specialty treatment provider for further assessment.
Once diagnosed, you can start on a treatment plan that can assist in reducing and controlling your fear and anxiety.
Treatments for anxiety and fear often involve:
•Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT is a first-line treatment that involves addressing the underlying negative thought patterns that contribute to feelings of fear and anxiety. A therapist will help you work on new ways of thinking and behaving so that you can react with less fear and anxiety.
•Exposure therapy: This form of CBT involves engaging in activities you might typically avoid because of your fear and anxiety. With gradual exposure, your feelings of fear will gradually lessen.
•Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT): This approach helps you accept negative thoughts and feelings without trying to push them away. It incorporates mindfulness practices and can help you feel calmer and less distressed by difficult emotions.
In addition to getting help from your doctor or therapist, there are also strategies you can use on your own to help manage your feelings of anxiety and fear.
Facing your fear (in a safe way) is often one of the best ways to overcome it.
The more often you engage in activities you fear, the less frightening they become. Over time, you'll become more comfortable and able to face the challenge without experiencing fear.
The following strategies can also be helpful:
•Move your body: Research has shown that regular physical activity can help reduce anxiety symptoms.
•Practice mindfulness and meditation: These strategies can help you live more in the moment without worrying about the past and future.
Learn how to distinguish between anxiety and fear, two related but distinct emotions that trigger the same stress response. Find out the causes, symptoms, and treatments for each, and how to cope with them.
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