Depression vs. Anxiety: Which One Do I Have?

Depression and anxiety are two of the most common mental health conditions. In the year 2017, there were 264 million people living with depression and 284 million living with anxiety disorders globally. There are distinct symptoms for each of these conditions, but there is also a link between them. Here we provide an overview of the symptoms of depression and anxiety, and how they influence each other.

Symptoms of Depression

• Losing interest in activities that you used to enjoy

• Feeling sad most of the time

• Feeling worthless or guilty

• Having trouble with focus, memory, and decision making

• Sleeping too much or too little

• Feeling tired or lacking energy throughout the day

• Feeling restless, agitated, or irritable

• Gaining or losing weight

• Thinking about death or having suicidal thoughts

Symptoms of Anxiety

• Excessively worrying, often about irrational things

• Unable to control your thoughts

• Feeling restless and agitated

• Trouble falling or staying asleep

• Tense or aching muscles

• Difficulty concentrating

Depression and anxiety have a cyclic relationship. If someone experiences the symptoms of depression, that may lead to anxiety over the way they’re feeling. Or an individual might feel anxious much of the time, and, when this constant state of worrying begins negatively impacting their daily life or relationships, can lead them to feel depressed.

Although they are distinct mental health disorders, anxiety and depression often occur together. The rate of people with both depression and anxiety is about 40 to 50 percent. When two conditions occur together, they are said to be “comorbid” or have a “high comorbidity.” This simply means having one of the disorders or conditions makes a person more likely to suffer from the other condition.

On the bright side, there are many treatment options for both anxiety and depression. People can choose between medical and non-medical treatment methods. Psychotherapy seems particularly effective in the treatment of these disorders with the most research-backed one being CBT. Other therapeutic techniques include DBT, ACT, psychoanalysis and interpersonal therapy.

Things to remember

• Anxiety and Depression are very common and have many causes such as biological, social and individual differences
• Anxiety and Depression are very closely related and have a cyclic relationship
• Anxiety and Depression are treatable with a variety of methods that are proven to be highly effective

Source: https://www.webmd.com/depression/depression-or-anxiety

What are your thoughts upon mood disorders?

#MoodDisorders #ClinicalPsychology #Psychotherapy