“The relationship between these two conditions is complicated, and one may occur because of the other. People with anxiety may avoid potentially stressful situations and become isolated, which can then lead to depression.”
Anxiety can usually be defined as excess worries and or fear, whereas depression can be seen more numbness, withdrawn and despair. There is great overlap however on many levels which can be helpful when seeking treatment methods. Both can influence digestive upsets – appetite and weight changes, difficulty concentrating and difficulty sleeping.
Differences include:
Anxiety :
- Fear of injury, illness or death,
- racing thoughts
- hypervigilance regarding potential threats
- excessive worrying about things going wrong
Depression
- loss of interest in hobbies or pleasurable activities
- thoughts of death or suicide
- feeling sad, anxious, or empty
- feeling hopeless or pessimistic
- no energy or motivation to worry past immediate future
There are many functions of the brain and disorders we are still learning about including differences in conditions like Bipolar- 10/15 years ago we knew it as something completely different then how it can present today. The world is ever changing, and we are ever evolving – which while can help with treatment, can make it difficult to diagnose and treat. People may experience anxiety and depression together due to the overlap and unknown. In fact, nearly 50% of people with depression also receive a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder. Changes in the function of certain neurotransmitters, including serotonin and other chemicals, such as dopamine and epinephrine can be big influencing factors – so in many cases a treatment which includes a combination of medication and therapy can make a big difference.
Check out this article for more information and in-depth look on the differences between Anxiety and Depression https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/anxiety-vs-depression#key-similarities-and-differences
