There really IS a difference, you know

ISSUES - Just my opinion but issues are the struggles you have in your life (religious, political, past relationships, etc.) that you are aware of and are working on. You try to handle them, understand them, accept them, etc. And yes, your issues are yours and mines be mine! But I don't mind talking about them. It helps, in fact.

BAGGAGE - Well, this is just the crap from your past that you don't want to deal with. Instead, you just carry it around with you. It's a chip on your shoulder or a thorn in your side but for some reason it doesn't quite hit the level of being and "issue" because you just don't want deal with it and face the facts. You want to keep it. For what? Damed if I know.

And really, that's about it in a nutshell!