Depression and Anxiety: A Guide to the Symptoms & Treatments

Feeling down is a normal thing, and everyone faces stressful situations. However, long term anxiety and depression is a sign of mental health disorder. Defining the difference between depression and anxiety is necessary but tough because they are interdependent, but they have many common symptoms, including nervousness, anger, sleep difficulty, and focusing difficulty.

What is the difference between Depression and Anxiety?

Depression and anxiety both are mental disorders that can influence how you think, feel, and act. Anxiety may happen as a sign of depression. It’s common for people with anxiety disorders to also suffer from depression. Approximately one-half of people who are diagnosed with depression also have an anxiety disorder. No doubt depression and anxiety have some common symptoms, but each disorder has its separate symptoms too, that identify them as separate mental health conditions. Some major symptoms are listed below:

Symptoms of Depression

• Energy deficiency 
• Loss of appetite
• Sleeplessness 
• Hopelessness
• Feeling exhausted 
• Lack of self-confidence
• Suicidal thoughts 
• Lack of excitement 
• Feeling pains, headaches, or stomach problems

Symptoms of Anxiety

• Dizziness
• Raised heart rate
• Increased blood pressure
• Sweaty hands
• Difficulty in concentrating
• Overthinking
• Sleeplessness
• Physical disturbance
• Indecisive state of mind

What causes Depression & Anxiety?

Depression and anxiety are caused by a mixture of complex environmental, physiological, hereditary, and situational circumstances. There are common reasons for depression and anxiety:

Causes of Depression

The specific cause of depression is anonymous. Everyone is distinct‚ however these following constituents may raise the chances of becoming depressed:

• A close relative with depression. 
• Undergoing shocking or stressful events, for example, physical or sexual abuse, death of a closed person, or financial issues. 
• Having a critical medical problem, such as cancer or prolonged pain.
• Going through stress, overturning or traumatic situations, loneliness, and lack of support. 
• Deformities in chemical levels in the brain.
• Consumption of alcohol or drugs. 

Causes of Anxiety

As the specific cause of anxiety disorders is yet anonymous, researchers presume these mixtures of factors:

• Undergoing traumatic or stressful events.
• Change the chemical balance in mind due to long-term stress.
• Experiencing long-term stress.
• Inherit from blood relatives.

Types of Depression and Anxiety Disorder 

Both depression and anxiety have different reasons, so they are categorized as different disorders. 

Anxiety

According to research, anxiety has the following types of disorders: 

• Generalized anxiety disorder 
• Social anxiety
• Panic disorder
• Separation anxiety
• Agoraphobia
• Phobias

Depression

According to research following are some types of depression disorders:

• Major depressive disorder 
• Tenacious depressive disorder 
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder 
• Perinatal depression

Depression & Anxiety Treatments

Depression and anxiety both are curable. Most people get treated by psychotherapists. Some depression and anxiety treatments are explained below:

Treatments for Depression

There are many helpful treatments available for depressed people. Treatments can reduce the symptoms over time and help to heal from depression. Treatments can include therapy sessions or medications according to your disorder type and condition.

1.     Therapy

Depending on depression disorder type and cause many people to get benefit from therapy sessions or counseling. 

The majority of therapy sessions are brief and focus on current thoughts, feelings, and difficulties in your life. Understanding your history can assist in certain situations, but finding methods to address what is going on in your life today can help you manage and prepare you for future problems. Your therapist will teach you skills to help you manage life, modify problematic habits, and find answers in treatment. Do not be ashamed or embarrassed to express your thoughts and worries freely and honestly. Some common goals of therapy sessions are: 

• Becoming healthfuller
• Quitting smoking, consuming drugs and alcohol
• Overcoming insecurities
• Coping up with fear and stress
• Overcoming painful past events
• Recognizing factors that raise your depression
• Better connections with family and friends

2.     Medication

Many persons with depression discover that using antidepressants, or prescription medicines, can help them improve their mood and abilities. Consult your doctor to see whether medications are appropriate for you. If your doctor gives you an antidepressant prescription, be sure you understand how to take it. Please inform your doctor if you are currently utilizing nicotine replacement therapy or another medicine to help you quit smoking. There are a variety of antidepressant medicines to select from, so you and your doctor can make an informed decision. Be patient if it takes a few trials to discover the best drug and the correct dose for you. Also, be conscious of the following essential information:

• When using these drugs, it is essential to follow the dosage guidelines. Some patients begin to feel better a few days after beginning the drug, but the full benefit might take up to four weeks. Antidepressants work well and are generally safe, but if you experience any adverse effects, you should consult your doctor. The majority of side effects do not interfere with everyday living, and they generally fade away as your body adjusts to the drug.
• Stopping an antidepressant without first consulting your doctor is a bad idea. Stopping your medication abruptly might trigger symptoms or make your depression worse. Consult your doctor about adjusting your dosage safely.
• Some antidepressants may cause a risk to a pregnant woman. If you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant, or intend to become pregnant, consult your doctor.
• Antidepressants will not be able to treat all of your issues. It is critical to contact your doctor as soon as you feel your mood is deteriorating or if you have suicidal thoughts.

Treatments for Anxiety

Medication and counseling are used to treat anxiety disorders. You might be hesitant to talk about how you’re feeling and thinking, but doctors believe that talking about it is the best treatment.

There are many drugs that doctors prescribed to treat anxiety. There is no single medicine that works well for everyone since everyone’s body reacts to drugs differently. You may need to work with a psychiatrist to discover the best drug, or combination of medications, for you. Antidepressants are medicines that alter serotonin, norepinephrine, and other neurotransmitters in the brain and are used to alleviate anxiety over time.

Depression and anxiety both have many things in common, that’s why they may be mistaken for one another due to some similar symptoms. Talk with your psychiatrist if you are facing signs of anxiety or depression. Getting the right treatment to work will take some time. However, your therapist will work with you to find the best depression and anxiety treatment.