Stress, anxiety, low mood and depression

These words are often used as if they mean the same thing. Stress is your response to pressure, such as a deadline, and it usually eases when the pressure passes. Anxiety is worry or fear about what might happen, often with a racing heart, tight chest or restless sleep.

Low mood is feeling sad, flat or tired for a while, usually linked to something that happened. Depression is a health condition: low mood or loss of interest most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, along with other changes such as sleep, appetite, energy and concentration. Only a professional can diagnose depression or an anxiety disorder.