The Differences between Anxiety and Depression
A person with anxiety doesnt necessarily have depression and a person who is depressed doesnt always experience anxiety. However, given the similarities in physiological states of those with anxiety and depression, and also given the similar types of environmental triggers, it is no surprise that a person with anxiety is often depressed as well.
Symptoms of depression include intense feelings of sadness, worthlessness, hopelessness and helplessness for weeks, months or even years.
Typically, a person suffering from depression will experience the afore mentioned symptoms throughout the day, with the morning hours generally being the most intense. In addition to the earlier mentioned symptoms, a person who is depressed may also experience, fatigue, feelings of guilt and insomnia or hypersomnia. In addition, lack of concentration and indeciveness are also symptoms that may impair the affected person. In most cases, a depressed individual will stop participating in things they once found pleasurable and instead experience restlessness, irritability and thoughts of death or suicide. A significant weight loss or weight gain in a short period of time can also be endured by someone plagued with depression.
Depression is believed to be caused by several factors including a chemical imbalance in the brain. Several neurotransmitters in the brain, such as dopamine and serotonin, are secreted or received by brain nerves and regulate mood and the handling of emotion. Studies have found that those with mood disorders such as depression are either lacking in one or more neurotransmitters or have defective receptors of a neurotransmitter. Either way, an important chemical component in the brain is lacking and a mood disorder is usually the result.
Depression can be triggered by many environmental factors such as stressful situations, drugs whether legal or illegal as well having a pessimistic personality.
An anxiety sufferer is highly susceptible to depression as their pessimistic attitude has their thoughts creating worry and unrealistic scenarios which are extremely negative. Many people experiencing both disorders are lonely and hard to understand which can then result in intense thoughts of suicide or death.
The good news about having anxiety and depression is that treating one mood disorder usually treats the other as well. A combination of cognitive behavior therapy or psychotherapy and prescription drugs is used to help a person with either or both disorders deal with a variety of symptoms and develop the confidence and understanding of themselves to prevent symptoms from returning.
If you believe you or someone you love is experiencing symptoms of either of these disorders, seek the assistance of your mental healthcare provider.
Funmi Salami is an established writer who loves to share her knowledge and experience. She has an online classroom on Clivir.com to share about Anxiety Disorder Symptoms and other information about Diet for Anxiety Disorder.
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