Stress vs. Anxiety

[bgriffin]

My thoughts on stress vs. anxiety.....

The 2 words I used to describe how I was feeling last night were tired and achy, which was a good summary of how I felt the entire night during the meditation practice. I was really feeling anxious too, which is why I spoke up at the end to share what the difference between anxiety and stress means to me.

To follow is a more in depth explanation of my thoughts on anxiety vs. stress........

I feel anxiety in my skin, my chest, my heart.....it feels like something living inside of me that takes on it's own life and in order to make it stop I really have to use my thoughts/mind to calm it down. I was feeling the anxiety BIG time yesterday.......anxiety for me too is something that happens to my body, meaning I wake up feeling that way with no known thought of why I feel that way- it happens to me, I feel like I have no control of feeling anxious.

I feel stress in my neck, my head (headaches), my stomach and is something I bring on myself by doing too much, not taking enough "me" time, doing things outside my comfort zone. I can control my stress by the decisions I make, what I choose to think, feel etc.

Side note: during meditation last night all I was focused on was how tired I was and how much my body hurt. I kept thinking I can't wait to go home and go straight to bed, I am so tired! When I arrived home, I felt renewed, rejuvenated......the tired, achy feeling was gone. So, I sat and talked with my husband for awhile, then we watched a show. We both ended up following asleep on the couch. My husband woke me up after an hour of sleeping, I was in the most deep, restful sleep I have been in for awhile. When I woke up this morning, the anxiety I was "feeling" yesterday is gone. So with all that being said, I know the meditation works and is a huge help for me.....I just have to figure out why each month I wait until the CMP gathering to feel the benefits, when I can feel the benefits on a daily basis.

[bgriffin]

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I think it is helpful to hear other people's perspective about how they interpret anxiety vs. stress. Ed, you mentioned anxiety as the bogeyman that hides in the closet or under the bed.....I like that analogy for the fear of anxiety, I can relate to that. Thanks for sharing!

[mwizer]

Ed, Barb, really appreciate your thoughts.

I think for me as well, stress and anxiety are different (even though some aspects of the physiological response pattern may be the same). Anxiety, for one thing, feels more out of my control. It is definitely undesirable and unwelcome. Even if it happens for an identifiable reason, i.e. a dance performance coming up, or a meeting with a difficult person, the feelings are hard to ameliorate.

Feeling stressed is the expression I use to describe those times when I have too many demands and not enough time or space to manage them comfortably. I know the feelings will change when I get out from under the responsibilities or can just take a break or say "no" to those that want or expect something of me, my time, or my production as in "sorry the ______ won't be ready until next week."

And Barb, as to practicing regularly, or practicing when you know you would benefit and yet don't, I think this is a stage of sorts. I really believe you will grow into more regular practice, (I don't mean more regimented practice.) practicing a bit more often just simply because you want to, because you know it will feel good to, or may help you feel better, and because you enjoy it. This is a natural consequence of seeing the good effects of practice as you did the other night. Of course you must practice some in order to have this experience at all. And you get that once a month which counts for something.

There is this odd experience of resistance when it comes to meditation practice. I think what is being avoided is the confrontation with the bad feelings. Like "uugh" as if you feel nauseous and you were trying not to notice it. And then when with a group of people and with support you are coaxed through the resistance and then find the benefit, but only after paying a conscious price in the confrontation. Sometimes when on your own, better to ease into it: a walk, or gentle yoga, or a period of rest, etc.

Best to you. . .