Stress is a natural part of life. It’s your body’s built-in alarm system, designed to help you survive threats and challenges. When you face stress, your brain and body spring into action, preparing you to fight, flee, freeze, or fawn. These automatic responses are rooted deep in our evolutionary biology and are critical for survival.

Self-esteem and self-worth are often used interchangeably, but they are not quite the same. Self-esteem is how you evaluate yourself and your confidence in your abilities, qualities, and decisions. Self-worth is deeper; it’s the unshakable knowing that you have value simply because you exist.

Anxiety is a natural human response, an internal alarm designed to keep us safe in moments of perceived danger. When functioning well, it helps us prepare for challenges, sharpen our focus, and react to threats. But when anxiety becomes chronic, intense, or disproportionate to the situation, it can interfere with our work, relationships, and overall well-being.