| Stress is a natural reaction to changes in your life both | | | | interferes with normal life. Excessive anxiety is often |
| happy and sad. Going on an exciting first date or | | | | associated with other mental health problems, such as |
| getting rejected both create stress. Stress is normal | | | | depression. Anxiety is only considered to be a mental |
| and can even motivate you, e.g., when you are | | | | health problem when it is prolonged, severe and is |
| stressed the week before a test and you study hard. | | | | interfering with everyday activities. |
| However, too much stress can cause DISTRESS. | | | | Treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder often |
| Faced with too much stress over long periods of time, | | | | involves psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral |
| the body can become exhausted and you can | | | | therapy (CBT). Where necessary, one of the selective |
| become ill. Some illnesses associated with prolonged | | | | serotonin reuptake inhibitors will be introduced to |
| stress are high blood pressure, heart disease, | | | | improve symptoms including avoidance behaviour |
| migraines, allergies, etc. | | | | where people try not to remind themselves of the |
| Anxiety is a feeling of unease. Everybody experiences | | | | event. It's also important to recognize that people |
| it when faced with a stressful situation, for example | | | | who've developed posttraumatic stress disorder often |
| before an exam or an interview, or during a worrying | | | | have other types of problems, including substance |
| time such as illness. It's normal to feel anxious when | | | | abuse and other anxiety and mood disorders. When |
| facing something difficult or dangerous, and mild | | | | present, treatment of these so-called "comorbid" |
| anxiety can be a positive and useful experience. | | | | disorders can improve the outlook for people with |
| However, for one in 10 people in the UK, anxiety | | | | posttraumatic stress disorder. |