Is It Stress, Anxiety, or Depression? How to Tell What You're Really Feeling

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Is It Stress, Anxiety, or Depression? How to Tell What You're Really Feeling

Have you ever asked yourself, “What’s wrong with me?”
Maybe you can’t sleep, or you’ve lost your appetite, or you're just too tired to care anymore. Sometimes it’s not easy to tell what we’re feeling, especially when stress, anxiety, and depression start to blur together.

Each of these emotional states can look different for every person. And often, we don’t realize we’re struggling until our body starts to speak louder than our mind.

I know this because I’ve lived it.


1. Stress: The Mind That Won’t Switch Off

For me, I know I’m stressed when I can’t sleep. Even when I try not to think, when I do all the calming things I’m supposed to—my thoughts just won’t stop running. It’s like my mind is in overdrive, cycling through everything that could go wrong, everything I forgot to do, and everything I’m scared of.

Ask yourself:

  • Am I sleeping well—or is my brain keeping me awake at night?

  • Do I feel like I can’t switch off, even when I want to?

  • Am I pushing through every day on auto-pilot?

Common signs of stress:

  • Racing thoughts or overthinking

  • Trouble sleeping or staying asleep

  • Physical tension (clenched jaw, stiff shoulders)

  • Feeling overwhelmed or mentally foggy

2. Anxiety: The Body on High Alert

I know I’m anxious when I lose my appetite, feel like I have no energy, and sense that my muscles and nervous system are tense—even when I’m not doing anything physically demanding. It’s like my body is preparing for a danger that never arrives.

In those moments, I feel frozen. Everything feels too much—and nothing at the same time.

Ask yourself:

  • Have I lost interest in food or eating?

  • Do I feel like my body is tense even when I’m resting?

  • Do I feel like I can’t relax, no matter what I try?

Common signs of anxiety:

  • Muscle tension or nervous energy

  • Fatigue despite rest

  • Loss of appetite

  • Feeling on edge or easily startled

  • Overthinking or irrational fears

3. Depression: The Deep, Quiet Disconnection

For me, depression doesn’t always come with tears. It comes when my appetite gets even worse, when I don’t want to talk to anyone, when I just want to be alone, lying in bed with the curtains closed. I don’t want to be seen, even by people I love.

Everything feels pointless. I don’t have the energy to explain it. I just want the world to pause and leave me alone.

Ask yourself:

  • Am I isolating myself or avoiding others lately?

  • Do I feel heavy, tired, or like I’m underwater?

  • Have I lost interest in everything that used to bring me joy?

Common signs of depression:

  • Withdrawing from social interaction

  • Low energy or chronic fatigue

  • Changes in appetite or eating habits

  • Difficulty getting out of bed

  • Feeling numb, hopeless, or emotionally flat

4. Everyone Feels It Differently

One of the hardest parts about emotional struggles is that there’s no single “correct” symptom. I know people who clean obsessively when they’re anxious. Others laugh and smile through deep sadness. Some people freeze. Others stay busy so they don’t have to feel.

So I invite you to reflect:

  • How do you know when something’s off?

  • What are your early warning signs?

  • What do you wish others understood about the way you experience stress, anxiety, or depression?

You are allowed to have your own version of what these things look like. You don’t need to match a textbook definition to take what you feel seriously.

5. You Don’t Need to Wait for a Breakdown to Ask for Help

Whether you're having sleepless nights, losing energy, or just slowly pulling away from everything, you matter. Your experience is real, even if it feels invisible.

Try this today:

  • Write down how you’ve been feeling, even if the words don’t make sense yet.

  • Reach out to someone you trust. Or, if that’s too much, start by reading stories like this—stories that remind you you’re not alone.

  • Ask yourself: What is one small thing I need today?
    It could be rest, a glass of water, a quiet moment, or just space to breathe.

Final Words: You’re Not Overreacting. You’re Responding.

Stress, anxiety, and depression aren’t always easy to tell apart. Sometimes, they overlap. But the most important thing isn’t labeling them perfectly, it’s noticing them. Naming what you feel gives you the power to meet yourself with compassion.

So let me leave you with this:

How are you—really?
And what would it look like to give yourself permission to feel, heal, and ask for what you need?


If this spoke to you, you’re not alone. I share more honest stories, gentle reminders, and real talk about mental health, self-worth, and finding peace at your own pace.

Follow me for more! let’s grow together, one step at a time.

Location: Canada

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