Stress
While small amounts of stress are normal and can even be helpful in motivating you to take action, chronic stress can lead to serious health problems. Physically, stress can cause headaches, fatigue, muscle tension, and trouble sleeping. It can also weaken the immune system, making it harder for the body to fight off illness. Over time, high stress levels have been linked to conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and digestive issues.Anxiety is a natural response to stress, but when it becomes constant or overwhelming, it can seriously affect a person's mental and physical health.
Anxiety
Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time — such as before a big test or when facing an unfamiliar situation — but people with anxiety disorders may feel excessive worry or fear even when there is no clear reason. This can lead to physical symptoms like a racing heart, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, or stomachaches. Anxiety can also make it difficult to sleep, concentrate, or feel calm during normal daily activities. When left unmanaged, anxiety can interfere with school, relationships, and overall quality of life. It can cause people to avoid situations that make them anxious, which may limit their ability to grow and enjoy new experiences. However, anxiety can be treated and managed with healthy coping strategies such as deep breathing exercises, journaling, physical activity, or talking to a trusted adult or mental health professional. Learning to understand and manage anxiety is an important part of protecting mental health and building emotional resilience.