"If someone continues to feel preoccupied after a stressor has resolved or if the course of the worry doesn't really track external events, this can be a sign that something more significant than generic stress is going on," says Silvestri. This recognition is the first step. "By acknowledging your anxiety, you can be more mindful of triggers and more purposeful about your choices," she says.
Also, know that it'll be much easier and more efficient to treat your anxiety if you can approach it with curiosity instead of judgment. Then, you can start to play around with different rituals to manage it: Silvestri suggests starting with common aids like yoga, mindfulness, and journaling. "Really, any activity of self-care that lends a sense of agency to your lifestyle," she says, since anxiety can rob us of our sense of control.
But if those initial steps aren't offering any relief, then it's probably time to seek help elsewhere. "For the first line treatment, I would recommend either cognitive behavioral or insight-oriented psychotherapy, depending on how interested someone is in delving into historical causes or sticking with a focus on symptoms, especially the triad of thoughts, feelings, behavior," she says. You and your doctor or therapist can then discuss the best treatment plan for you.
Either way, know that you have options—and knowing the difference between stress and anxiety is a solid first step to feeling better.