Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 20, 2026

Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance
Published on: July 19, 2017
Stress and anxiety: counterpart elements of the stress/anxiety complex
Alexander Bystritsky1, David Kronemyer2
1UCLA Anxiety and Related Disorders Program, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 300 UCLA Medical Plaza, Room 2335, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6968, USA.
Abstract:
The relationship between stress and anxiety is complicated. Stress initially arises from one's environment; anxiety overlays physiological arousal, cognitive appraisals, emotional states, and behavioral responses. Both are components of a stress-anxiety complex, which has evolved to enable individuals to adapt to their environment and achieve equilibrium. Anxiety disorders, which result when this mechanism goes awry, occur along a spectrum. One of the main variables affecting anxiety disorders is the extent of stress. Each anxiety disorder should be evaluated along a stress axis, leading to improved case conceptualization and intervention strategies.
Related Concept Videos
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Psychological Responses to Stress
Physiological Foundation of Stress
Role of the Sympathetic Nervous System
Adrenaline triggers the...
Components of Stress
Interestingly, the hidden cube faces also experience these stresses, equal and...
Anxiety: Overview
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle

