Is it Worry or Anxiety? Here’s How to Tell the Difference
“Nothing is permanent in this wicked world — not even our troubles”
-Charlie Chaplin
Have you ever found yourself caught in a loop of overthinking, wondering if what you’re experiencing is just a case of worry or something deeper? We often use the terms “worry” and “anxiety” interchangeably, but they aren’t the same. Understanding the distinction can be key to how we manage and respond to the emotional storms we face.
So, what is the real difference between worry and anxiety, and how do we navigate the sometimes thin line that separates the two?
Worry: A Natural Response to Uncertainty
Worry is that fleeting feeling we get when a concern pops into our mind. It’s future-oriented, based on specific situations or challenges we anticipate. Think of worry as the brain’s way of flagging a potential problem. For example, when you worry about missing a deadline, it’s your mind nudging you to take action.
Worry can be productive. It usually stems from real, identifiable concerns, and often prompts us to problem-solve or prepare for what’s ahead. It’s manageable and specific, allowing us to take concrete steps toward resolving the issue at hand.
But here’s the thing: worry tends to be short-lived. Once the issue is resolved, the worry fades. It’s like a temporary alert system. But what happens when the alarm doesn’t turn off?
Anxiety: When Worry Spirals into Something More
Unlike worry, anxiety is not as clearly tied to specific, solvable problems. It’s a more diffuse, lingering feeling that invades your mind and body. You might feel anxiety in your chest as a tightness or heaviness, or notice a constant, underlying sense of dread. It’s not just about a specific situation; it can feel all-encompassing and sometimes appear without an obvious trigger.
Take Sarah, for instance. She started out worrying about a presentation at work—something natural, right? But over time, the worry didn’t go away, even after the presentation. She began to notice a sense of restlessness and unease that persisted throughout the day. At night, sleep evaded her, and she couldn’t pinpoint why she felt on edge all the time.
This is where anxiety diverges from worry. Anxiety has a way of taking over, pulling you into a loop of “what ifs” and catastrophizing. It clouds your thinking and becomes less about solving a specific problem and more about anticipating an imagined future. Anxiety doesn’t need a specific reason to exist; it thrives in uncertainty and the unknown.
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Ask Yourself: Is This Worry or Anxiety?
When you feel yourself spiraling, ask this question: *Can I name the problem and take action to resolve it, or do I feel stuck in a cycle of fear with no clear solution?*
If there’s a tangible issue with an actionable solution, it’s likely worry. If the feeling persists without a clear cause, lingering for days or even weeks, you may be dealing with anxiety.
But this distinction isn’t always easy to make in the moment. Worry can transform into anxiety if left unchecked, and anxiety can masquerade as worry, making us think we can “solve” it when in reality, it’s something deeper requiring attention.
The Physical Symptoms of Anxiety
Worry tends to stay in our minds, but anxiety often manifests physically. When we experience anxiety, our body enters a heightened state of alertness.
Common symptoms include:
- Increased heart rate
- Sweating or trembling
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feeling restless or on edge
- Trouble sleeping
These physical reactions can escalate quickly, creating a feedback loop where the body’s response fuels more anxiety. Unlike worry, which can subside when the issue is resolved, anxiety doesn’t always have a clear off-switch.
When Worry Turns to Anxiety: A Case of Control
One of the defining features of worry is that it typically involves a sense of control. We worry about things that we feel we can do something about—finances, work deadlines, relationships. But anxiety often comes from feeling powerless or uncertain.
Imagine someone who worries about money. They make a budget, cut back on unnecessary expenses, and feel a sense of relief. But if that worry morphs into anxiety, it becomes less about specific financial concerns and more about a general fear of what might happen. Even after addressing the practical issues, the feeling of unease remains.
This is where the tipping point lies: when worry doesn’t resolve, and instead, it leads us down a path of persistent fear and avoidance, it may have crossed over into anxiety.
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Litmus Test: How Can You Tell the Difference?
Here’s a simple question to guide you: *Does taking action resolve the issue, or do you feel overwhelmed even after trying to manage it?*
If problem-solving alleviates the stress, it’s likely worry. But if no amount of action seems to calm the storm, anxiety may be at play.
How to Manage Anxiety and Worry
Now that we’ve explored the differences between worry and anxiety, let’s consider how to manage each effectively.
When it comes to worry, the key is to focus on problem-solving. Identify the source of your worry and take actionable steps to address it. Ground yourself in the present moment, and remind yourself that once the issue is resolved, the worry will pass.
For anxiety, the approach requires a bit more mindfulness. Anxiety often involves stepping back, acknowledging the feeling, and recognizing that you don’t need to have all the answers right now. Practices such as deep breathing, meditation, or seeking support from a therapist can help to create space between you and the overwhelming sense of dread that anxiety brings.
*Worry* whispers about the future, but it gives us the chance to respond and act. *Anxiety,* however, pulls us into a spiral where the imagined threat becomes all-encompassing, overshadowing reality.
So, let me ask: *The next time you feel overwhelmed, will you pause to ask yourself if it’s worry you can resolve—or anxiety that requires deeper care?*
At My LA Therapy, we specialize in helping people overcome anxiety. Work with me or one of our warm and wonderful, highly vetted therapists by booking a free call:
In the meantime, stay true, brave, and kind,
Brooke
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Author Bio
Brooke Sprowl is an industry-leading expert and author in psychology, spirituality, and self-transformation. Her insights have featured in dozens of media outlets such as Huffington Post, Business Insider, Cosmopolitan Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, Spectrum One News, Mind Body Green, YourTango, and many more.
As the founder and CEO of My LA Therapy, she leads a team of 15 dedicated therapists and wellness professionals. Brooke has been a featured speaker at prominent universities and venues such as UCLA School of Public Affairs, USC, Loyola Marymount University, the Mark Taper Auditorium, and Highways Performance Gallery, to name a few.
With a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Welfare with a Mental Health Specialization from UCLA, a Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from USC, and certifications in peak performance and flow science from the Flow Research Collective, Brooke has helped hundreds of prominent leaders and CEO’s overcome anxiety, relationship difficulties, and trauma and reclaim a sense of purpose, vitality, and spiritual connection.
With 15 years of experience in personal development and self-transformation as a therapist and coach, she has pioneered dozens of original concepts and frameworks to guide people in overcoming mental health challenges and awakening spiritually.
Brooke is the host of the podcast, Waking Up with Brooke Sprowl. She is passionate about writing, neuroscience, philosophy, integrity, poetry, spirituality, creativity, effective altruism, personal and collective healing, and curating luxury, transformational retreat experiences for high-achievers seeking spiritual connection.