5 Important Differences Between Stress and Anxiety in Kids

An easy way to understand the difference is that stress can be attributed to a specific factor, while anxiety is the long-term uneasiness that can be felt even after that stressor is gone. Anxiety is also how your child's body responds to stress and children with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) will continue to have this response even without the stressful event.

When the human body is stressed, it reacts by releasing more adrenaline, which leads to elevated heart rate and blood pressure. This fight-or-flight-like response can prime some kids to do better, while prolonged anxiety can lead to pain and fatigue for others.

To put it simply, stress is typically caused by something that has a specific start and stop, and kids who are stressed will often feel better after the situation is diffused. However, it doesn't always take a stressor to trigger children with GAD and they can continue to feel upset even after stressful events or without any identifiable reason. What children find stressful can vary, but those with anxiety might not be able to identify a cause for their fear or they may feel a sense of impending doom.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), one in eight kids suffers from an anxiety disorder. These children are more likely to "perform poorly in school, miss out on important social experiences, and engage in substance abuse." Childhood anxiety disorders that parents should be aware of include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, separation anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, selective mutism, and specific phobias.

Children who are suffering from GAD are dealing with persistent worry over a variety of things and, according to the ADAA, often expect the worst outcome for no reason. Unlike stress where kids know the source of their concern and can work toward solving that problem, children with GAD have a difficult time controlling their worry over an extended period of time.