2024-01-24 05:00:00
Nervousness is manageable with self-care strategies. On the other hand, anxiety may require therapy and/or medication to achieve well-being (Illustrative image Infobae)
The terms “nervous” and “anxious” are often used almost synonymously. However, experts say that these are two very different concepts. While the first is temporary and manageable, the other can interfere with daily life and require psychological treatment. So how do you know when nervousness is normal or if it is an anxiety disorder?
Specialists define nervousness as a reaction that occurs when faced with a relevant situation – for example taking an exam, making a public presentation, an important meeting, or a wedding – in which the body is activated to be able to face it successfully. This activation would be expressed through the “nerves”. For its part, anxiety is a physiological alarm response and should occur in situations of threat or some real danger.
Attorney Gabriela Martínez Castro, director of the Center for Specialized Studies in Anxiety Disorders (CEETA), explained to Infobae: “Nerves are a concern suffered by people with a state of difficult rest. That is, the person is worried about a particular issue, which makes it difficult for them to rest. On the other hand, anxiety is more comprehensive, it includes nerves and also psychomotor agitation. When anxiety begins to increase more and more in intensity, the symptoms also increase and you can suffer a panic attack.”
Nervousness is a natural reaction to a stressful situation. For example, taking an exam (Getty Images)
For her part, Dr. Elsa Constanzo (MN 105.493), head of the Fleni Psychiatry Service, explained to Infobae, in a recent note, the characteristics of anxiety: “It is a continuous, persistent symptom of fear, nervousness, fear or fright that “it comes with physical symptoms.” And what is its difference from a panic attack?
“The difference is that anxiety is a sensation while a panic attack is a sudden episode of anxiety due to, supposedly, no specific, latent or present trigger,” the specialist responded. And she added: “A panic attack is an alarm that awakens the body in the face of a fear that at that moment is unreal or non-existent but, nevertheless, the person cannot control. Obviously, he suffers from anxiety symptoms.”
These are some of the main differences:
1. In nervousness, the factors that cause stress are external. In the case of anxiety, the factors are internal: worry, anticipation of improbable events, catastrophic thoughts, to name a few.
In addition to the physical symptoms, the feeling of fear that accompanies anxiety disorders can make you avoid places or situations that cause these uncomfortable symptoms (Getty)
According to Ms. Martínez Castro: “Anxiety involves worry about different issues in a person’s life and presents with symptoms. On the other hand, in nerves the person is very focused on a topic, specifically, with high attention, concentration and memory. That is to say, she is very focused on the issue that worries her at that moment. She may be physically restless, pacing, clicking or rubbing her hands, moving her legs or feet, touching her hair, eyebrows, etc. It also, of course, implies having tension headaches or migraines, contractures and insomnia.”
On the other hand, anxiety is more comprehensive, says the expert, and includes nerves and psychomotor agitation. “It can present contractures, tension headaches, insomnia, difficulty breathing, concentrating, labored breathing, and attention, concentration and memory are very low. This is absolutely contrary to nerves, the theme of worry in anxiety is general. That is to say, the person can worry about many issues in life. It is also accompanied by tachycardia, sweating and tremors,” said the psychologist.
2. Although anxiety is a mental process, the body also participates and manifests itself in a similar way to nervousness. Many physical sensations can accompany nervousness, such as dry mouth, sweaty palms, and dizziness. The physical symptoms of anxiety are: restlessness or impatience, tiredness, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension and sleep disturbances.
Anxiety is a sensation, while a panic attack is a sudden episode of anxiety (Illustrative Image Infobae)
3. Nervousness tends to disappear once the situation is overcome. It has a specific duration, it ends when the situation that causes stress disappears or is overcome (for example, after taking an exam). However, anxiety tends to last over time because it is associated with irrational thoughts about an idea: “The difference between a nervous state and a state of anxiety is high – indicated the psychologist -. The nervous state is a concern, a concern that the person has about some topic. It is difficult for him to rest. She is extremely attentive, focused, and memorizing the situation that has him nervous, the situation that she worries about.” However, once the situation that upsets her passes, calm returns.
4. In nervousness, the predominant emotion is worry about a specific situation (for example, having to take a driving test). In anxiety, on the other hand, the predominant emotion is the fear of something bad happening, which leads the person to anticipate negative situations. This may even force you to avoid places or situations that cause these uncomfortable symptoms. These negative coping feelings and behaviors eventually begin to interfere with daily life. This can trigger generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
People who suffer from GAD have excessive anxiety that does not fit reality and they worry continuously. An example of this situation may be worrying about an economic issue, even though you have no problems and are debt-free. María Fernanda Echeverría, psychologist and member of the Department of Cognitive Psychotherapy of INECO, explained, in a recent note to Infobae, that generalized anxiety disorder not only has consequences on people’s mental health, but also affects physical health. , generating fatigue, muscle pain, sleep disorders, tremors, agitation and nervousness, among others.
Experts recommend working on preventing anxiety through regular exercise and a healthy diet (Illustrative Image Infobae)
“From a psychological point of view, various symptoms appear such as difficulty concentrating, irritability, anticipation of the worst results of a situation, the perception of events and situations as threatening (even if they are not) and difficulty dealing with situations. of uncertainty and for decision making,” he described.
5. Nervousness is located in the present, in the situation that causes it. On the other hand, anxiety is located in the future, in the anticipation characteristic of catastrophic thinking.
In conclusion, nervousness is temporary, less intense, is a response to something specific, rarely leads to negative coping behaviors, and is manageable with self-care.
On the other hand, anxiety is persistent and continuous, more intense and generalized, interferes with daily life and may require therapy and/or medication. “When anxiety attacks are repeated, they are disabling for the person’s daily life,” Martínez Castro defined.
The expert finally added that it is important to act for prevention. “Try not to go through very stressful situations and if you cannot avoid it, manage and work with negative thoughts. In 98% of cases, people who negatively anticipate an event to happen are wrong. Other important recommendations are to exercise and have a healthy diet. If medication is needed, receive it; because today there are very safe, cutting-edge medications that help a lot,” she recommended.
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