For me, stress is not always a bad thing--it can motivate me to be really productive and get things done. I'm not saying it's necessarily a lot of fun, but it pushes me toward productivity.

Anxiety, on the other hand, shuts me down. I can't function. I can't do things, or I can do them only with great difficulty. Then I start to fall behind, which makes me even more anxious.

Stress can trigger anxiety, but not all stress leads to anxiety.