Anxiety and nervousness can frequently be confused with one another. However, nervousness and anxiety disorders are not the same thing. How do you differentiate anxiety disorders from nervousness? Check out the following review.
Differences between nervousness and anxiety disorder
The terms nervous and anxious are often used to refer to the anxiety you experience. Although in general the symptoms of nervousness are similar to what you feel when you are anxious, they are actually different, especially when these feelings of nervousness or anxiety are compared to anxiety disorders.
While both nervousness and anxiety are natural reactions to pressure or stress, knowing the difference between normal nervousness and anxiety that has progressed into a disorder can help you manage your condition.
Nervous
Nervousness is a natural reaction to stress or pressure that you experience. You can feel nervous when you are about to do something new or challenging, like giving a presentation in front of a big crowd, visiting a doctor, or going on an interview. Positive emotions can also be linked to nervousness; examples include feeling nervous before a big performance or on a first date.
Some of the symptoms that appear when you are nervous include dry mouth, sweaty hands, headaches, and sometimes feelings of self-doubt. These symptoms make you feel uncomfortable and are sometimes difficult to control. But after you have managed to get through the stressful situation that was causing you to feel nervous, these symptoms will usually go away.
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Anxiety disorder
According to Psych Central, there are a few distinctions between anxiety and nervousness, such as:
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- Anxiety has a clinical definition, while nervousness does not
- Anxiety symptoms can be mild or severe, but nervousness is usually considered mild
- People often feel nervous before facing a stressful situation, whereas anxiety can arise at any time
- Nervousness usually goes away after the stressful event is over, while anxiety may linger
Anxiety disorders are not the same as being nervous. People who suffer from anxiety disorders experience anxiety all the time and struggle to relax. Anxiety can arise for no apparent reason and interfere with daily life.
You may have persistent feelings of restlessness, anxiety, and depression; your muscles may be tense and rigid, and your heart may palpate. These symptoms of anxiety disorders can even cause you to avoid locations or situations that bring on these uncomfortable symptoms. They can even persist for a long time (more than six months).
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How to deal with nervousness and anxiety
While anxiety and nervousness can occasionally have similar symptoms, they are treated differently. Most of the time, specific situations are what make you feel nervous, and once the situation is over, you stop feeling nervous. On the other hand, anxiety disorders are characterized by a persistent, mind-numbing feeling that interferes with daily functioning.
In most cases, nervousness is normal, transient, and safe. To get over your nervousness, you do not require any special care. Some strategies to help you get over nervousness in specific circumstances are as follows:
- Practice nervousness-inducing activities often (presentations, interviews)
- Breathing exercises
- Develop optimistic and positive thinking
As for anxiety disorders, if they start to interfere with your activities, then you should consult a doctor or psychologist. If your anxiety disorder is severe, your doctor might prescribe medication to treat it; however, in most cases, non-pharmacological therapies and lifestyle modifications are recommended.
If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.
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- Sean Edbert Lim, MBBS
Ankrom, S. (2023). Nervous vs. Anxious: What's the Difference?. Available from: https://www.verywellmind.com/is-it-normal-anxiety-or-an-anxiety-disorder-2584401
Elmer, J. (2022). Are You Anxious or Nervous? Here’s the Difference. Available from: https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/anxious-vs-nervous
Deering, S. (2023). Is It Anxiety or Just Nerves?. Available from: https://www.healthcentral.com/article/what-difference-between-anxiety-feeling-nervous
Malka, T. (2022). Nervousness: Is It Different than Anxiety?. Available from: https://khealth.com/learn/anxiety/nervousness/
