How Are Anxiety and Depression Connected?
We tend to think of anxiety as being high-energy: nervous, on edge, irritable. Depression, on the other hand, is low-energy: down, sluggish, fatigued. But even though anxiety and depression seem different on paper, they’re actually intertwined. Both are diagnosable mental health conditions that are highly comorbid with one another, meaning people who have one tend to also have the other. If you’re wondering whether you’re suffering from anxiety, depression, or both, you might be wondering where to turn.
Depression is much more than just feeling blue or going through a rough patch; it’s a prolonged period of intense sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in daily activities. It typically negatively affects a person’s thoughts, feelings, relationships, work performance, and ability to function.
Defining depression and anxiety
Anxiety is a mental health issue characterized by excessive and uncontrollable stress, worry, or fear. In people with anxiety, the body’s fight or flight response is activated, even in situations where there’s no physical danger. There are several types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias, each with their own distinct symptoms and triggers.
Symptoms of anxiety include:
feelings of impending doom
nervousness and restlessness
insomnia
increased heart rate or palpitations
excessive sweating
trouble concentrating
Depression is much more than just feeling blue or going through a rough patch; it’s a prolonged period of intense sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in daily activities. It typically negatively affects a person’s thoughts, feelings, relationships, work performance, and ability to function. It also takes a toll on physical health as well as mental health.
Symptoms of depression include:
feeling empty, sad, or hopeless
feelings of worthlessness or guilt
trouble concentrating
insomnia or hypersomnia
changes in appetite
self-harm
thoughts of death or suicide
What is the link between them?
Anxiety and depression are both rooted in genetic, environmental, and neurological factors. Someone who has an anxiety disorder is predisposed to depression. In fact, nearly half of people going through a major depressive disorder also have anxiety. Depression and anxiety also have common triggers, such as prolonged stress, trauma, grief, or big life changes. This means they can overlap if one develops as a response to an event in someone’s life.
Their symptoms overlap as well. This blurs the lines between the two disorders. Both anxiety and depression can cause sleep changes, physical ailments such as pain or headaches, irritability, irrational worries, and negative thought loops. People experiencing both conditions might find themselves trapped in a cycle of anxious thoughts and feeling a loss of control, which makes it challenging to tell where one ends and the other begins.
This vicious cycle means they reinforce one another. For example, chronic anxiety can lead to sleep disturbances and constant fatigue, which are common symptoms of depression. Similarly, the low mood associated with depression can trigger anxious thoughts about the future, which can intensify feelings of fear and a loss of control.
How to cope if you have anxiety and depression
Practice mindfulness
Mindfulness techniques, such as meditation and deep breathing exercises, enable you to ground yourself in the present moment, calming anxious thoughts and depressive rumination. It’s backed by research as an effective treatment for both conditions.
Build your support network
Friends, family, and support groups can be a safe space to express your emotions and receive encouragement. Don’t be afraid to talk openly with your loved ones. It’ll help alleviate the isolation you may be feeling.
Seek therapy
No one should suffer from anxiety and depression alone. Consider seeing a therapist who can help you overcome both anxiety and depression. Both conditions are treated with a variety of psychotherapeutic approaches, most commonly cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). A therapist will teach you to challenge negative thought patterns, cope with worries and irrational thinking, and engage in healthy behaviors for your mind and body.
To learn more about how therapy can address both anxiety and depression, please reach out to us.
