Depression vs Anxiety
Depression vs anxiety are two emotional illnesses that often go hand in hand, and the symptoms of depression and anxiety can be difficult to tell apart. Are you suffering from anxiety or depression? How can you make the difference between depression and anxiety? If you’re having trouble deciphering the difference between depression and anxiety, read on to learn more about these mental illnesses and how they differ. Whether you’re interested in making an appointment with your physician or want to understand these disorders better, this article will help shed some light on the issue.
Depression Definition
Most people have felt down or hopeless at some point in their lives. But when these feelings last for more than two weeks and make it hard to do your daily activities, you may suffer from depression. It is a mental illness that affects how you feel, behave, and think. It can lead to physical problems as well. Symptoms of depression include feeling sad, irritable, stress, frustrated, unmotivated, pessimistic about the future, or having trouble sleeping or concentrating.
First-line treatment includes medication and psychotherapy (talking with a therapist). Treatment also includes lifestyle changes such as healthy eating habits and exercise. In addition, support groups are often beneficial for people struggling with depression.
Anxiety Definition
Anxiety is characterized by fear and worry. It can be mild, moderate, or severe. People with anxiety may feel restless, tense, and on edge. They may have trouble sleeping and concentrating. Physical symptoms may include a fast heart rate, sweating, and feeling shaky or out of breath. Anxiety disorders are common mental health disorders in the United States. Nearly 40 million adults (18%) in the U.S. suffer from an anxiety disorder.
The two major anxiety disorders are generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic disorder. GAD is when you worry excessively about everyday life events, and nothing seems to calm your fears; people who suffer from GAD often try to avoid everyday life events because they anticipate them being worse than they usually are. Panic disorder causes sudden feelings of terror that strike without warning and affects 5% to 10% of people at some point in their lives; this condition can lead to many other problems like sleep deprivation, agoraphobia, and depression, as well as an increased risk for suicide attempts.
How Are They Different?
Though they may seem similar, depression and anxiety are very different disorders. Depression is characterized by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness that last for weeks or longer. On the other hand, anxiety is marked by excessive worry and fear that interfere with daily life. Other key differences include the duration of symptoms and how it impacts your everyday life. For example, people who suffer from depression can have difficulty concentrating, sleeping, eating, or taking care of themselves properly. At the same time, those with anxiety might experience restless sleep patterns, irritability, trouble concentrating at work or school and avoiding social situations out of fear of being judged negatively.
How Are They Related?
Depression and anxiety are two different conditions, but they often occur together. Depression is characterized by feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness that last for more than a few weeks. Anxiety is characterized by feelings of worry, nervousness, or unease that can be mild or severe. The two conditions can be related in that people who suffer from depression may also experience anxiety, and people who suffer from anxiety may also experience depression.
