Are fear and anxiety the same thing?

We often use the terms ‘fear’ and ‘anxiety’ interchangeably, but are they the same thing?

‍

It turns out, not quite!  Fear is defined by Oxford Languages as “an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.” It’s our natural reaction in the face of danger when it is present or imminent. It’s closely related to our fight or flight response, which helps us react to threatening situations.

‍

Anxiety, on the other hand is defined as “a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome.” The focus with anxiety is on a perceived threat which is not present, but possible and anticipated. The focus is on the future and uncertainty, rather than the here and now. So we can see that, whilst similar and related, fear and anxiety are not one in the same. Realising this can help us to better understand the steps we need to take to improve.

‍

For example, in a moment when you are feeling anxious, recognising this as anxiety can help you to deconstruct the situation and what you are experiencing. You can ask yourself, “Is there something happening right now, or am I anxious and anticipating something that has not happened?” If the answer is anxiety, and anticipation, you can identify this and challenge your thoughts, or shift your focus onto something else. (Tip: Try using the CBTapp diary when experiencing anxious thoughts, to work through them step by step)

‍

In the case that you are experiencing fear, or the fight or flight response, this can be very overwhelming, but it can be helpful to remind yourself that these symptoms associated with this response, are natural, normal and expected. They are actually designed to keep you safe, rather than harm you. The racing heart, shortness of breath, numbness and tingling etc. are all part of the fight or flight response, which is essentially your body preparing you to deal with an imminent threat.

‍

So understanding what you are experiencing, is the first step in being able to better manage these situations, and gain confidence in your abilities to cope.

‍