Anxiety and Depression: What’s The Difference?
Anxiety and depression may be confusing, especially if a person has both. These mental disorders can be comorbid. Meaning someone with depression can have anxiety symptoms, and vice versa. Let’s look at the definition of these two. Anxiety disorders “occur when a person regularly feels disproportionate levels of distress, worry, or fear over an emotional trigger” (Medical News Today, 2018). While depression is “a mood disorder characterized by persistently low mood and a feeling of sadness and loss of interest” (Medical News Today, 2017). Living with both disorders can be challenging. I invite you to read my story and learn the impact it can have on your life.
Now, let’s have a look at the different and common symptoms of anxiety and depression:
Anxiety Symptoms:
- Excessive, ongoing worry and tension
- An unrealistic view of problems
- A sense of impending danger, panic or doom
- Restlessness / fatigue
- Anger / irritability
- Unexplained aches and pain
- Sweating
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory Problems
- Trouble paying attention
- Nausea
- The need to go to the bathroom frequently
- Insomnia
- Trembling
- Being easily startled
Depression symptoms:
- Hopelessness and worthlessness
- Loss of interest
- Appetite changes
- Weight fluctuations
- Insomnia / hypersonmnia
- Anger / irritability
- Fatigue / restlessness
- Memory problems
- Difficulty concentrating
- Trouble paying attention
- Self-loathing
- Reckless behavior
- Unexplained aches and pain
- Suicidal thoughts / attempts
- Self-harming
Common symptoms:
- Insomnia
- Fatigue / restlessness
- Anger / Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory problems
- Unexplained aches and pain
- Trouble paying attention
Both mental disorders although different share symptoms making it difficult to understand. The differences can be observed in how anxiety and depression manifests. Anxiety disorders are oriented towards the future. It is characterized by excessive fear and worry that in turn will affect the person’s behavior. This occurs when people overestimate the danger in situations. In severe cases, people will avoid the situation that causes them anxiety. Individuals can experience sensations of impending doom. Feeling on edge 24/7. If the anxiety disorder is not controlled on time. People can experience panic attacks and their daily function will become affected.
Depressive disorders on the other hand, are oriented towards the past. People tend to fixate on negative situations that impacted them. Here individuals will have a marked diminished interest in most activities if not all. Physically, depressed people can exhibit psychomotor retardation. This includes slowed speech and decreased movement. Depression also affects sleeping patterns. People will either sleep too little (insomnia) or too much during the day (hypersomnia). Individuals with this disorder have feelings of worthlessness, guilt or emptiness. In severe cases, people will have recurrent thoughts of death, suicide ideation, or attempts.
I hope this article can help you understand what you or a loved one may be going through. Keep in mind if you are struggling with either or both disorders, you are not alone. Asking for help doesn’t make you weak. Please don’t feel ashamed. With help and determination you can live a happy life.
**Disclaimer: This article was created for educational purposes and to help you understand what you might be going through. If you suspect that you are struggling with both or either of these disorders, please seek professional help.**
Related: Depression: Do Men & Women Express it Differently?
Checkout Psych2Go’s book about Mental Health Recovery
Check it out here: Mental Illness Recovery Book, “Something I truly enjoyed about this book is the simplicity and the variety of stories which are all focusing in one subject; mental illness. It’s amazing to see how this book connects each story to one another and to the reader. It provides a direct insight of living with mental illness and tips on how to overcome some disorders. If you feel lost, or if you want to help a friend or family member then this is the book for you.” -Carelyn
References
Medical News Today. (2018). What Causes Anxiety. Retrieved from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323456.php
Medical News Today. (2017). What is depression and what can I do about it. Retrieved from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/kc/depression-causes-symptoms-treatments-8933
I’ve been talking to a therapist about what I feel, she hasn’t answered my doubts and questions yet. I don’t know if what I feel are just the normal ups and downs of emotions ( that everybody has) or if is depression.
Last year I spent 2 months feeling unworthy and thought about killing myself, luckily I didn’t get to even try. After that (about 3 months) I started to feel sad again but this time was a different type of sadness, I felt numb. I stopped doing what I loved, I didn’t care about anything I felt so empty my chest hurt, I was always angry and my friends told me that the things that I said were rude, but I didn’t notice it. This lasted for about 4 months. After that, I spent about 2 months with stupid and dramatized mood swings, I didn’t know why (during these months I experienced a few panic attacks). The latest months have been more “normal” I’d say. I feel that emptiness for a few days and then it’s gone for a couple of weeks, also sometimes I find myself feeling sad and crying when there’s no reason for it. I constantly have headaches, and I can’t sleep that well, also I have a hard time concentrating while studying.
Today im feeling that emptiness, my chest hurts of me feeling numb, I follow you on youtube and I decided to write this after reading your article about depression and anxiety.
Even though you might not be able to help me figure this out, it felt good to let it out.
I love what you do, you’re helping so many people with the information you provide, and I know you put a lot of work in every video you post.
I think I’m depressed because I’m experiencing the different symptoms of depression from a few months until now but when I told it to others, some didn’t care and some told me I’m just imagining things. 😰