Difference between Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety usually is a natural reaction to stressful situations and overwhelming fear. It is normal to experience anxiety when you are exposed to potential danger. Anxiety can be good sometimes. It tells you when to freeze, flee, or fight. In short, it is your body’s natural warning sign of threats. However, when the feeling of anxiety does not go away or is excessive, it can be a sign of an anxiety disorder. The various types of anxiety disorders include:

1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A long-term condition that causes uncontrollable worry about several occurrences and situations rather than one specific event.
2. Social Anxiety Disorder, also known as social phobia, is characterized by anxiety or fear in social settings.
3. Separation anxiety disorder: One of the most common childhood anxiety disorders in which the child becomes anxious and nervous when separated from their parents. 
4. Panic Disorders: An anxiety disorder characterized by regular and sudden episodes of intense panic or fear.
5. Phobias: An uncontrollable and irrational fear of a specific activity, object, or situation. For example, acrophobia (fear of heights).
6. Agoraphobia: Excessive fear of places or situations that may cause helplessness, panic, or embarrassment.
7. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A pattern of unwanted and unreasonable thoughts and fears that lead to repetitive behaviours. 
8. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A mental health disorder triggered by experiencing or witnessing a shocking, scary, or terrifying event.

Depression is a mood disorder that is more than just feeling down, experiencing the blues, or having a bad day. People who are clinically depressed have persistent sadness and loss of interest, lasting for several days, weeks, or even months. Depression can interfere with daily functioning and cause feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness. Some common forms of depression and depression-related conditions include:

1. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): A mental health disorder characterized by persistent sadness and loss of interest in activities, interfering with daily life.
2. Psychotic Depression: A serious condition in which a person with depression experiences psychosis, showing symptoms like hallucinations and delusions. 
3. Postnatal Depression (PND): A mood disorder that occurs after childbirth. 
4. Atypical Depression: A subtype of major depressive disorder in which the person’s mood improves with a change in the circumstance.
5. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Depression that occurs at the same time every year.

Doctors usually come across one question while diagnosing mental disorders: Is there a difference between anxiety and depression? Yes! Despite the various similarities between these two mental health conditions, there are some key differences between anxiety and depression. These differences are as follows:

The reason why people find it challenging to identify the difference between anxiety and depression is their overlapping symptoms. Moreover, the causes of the two conditions are also similar. While there are several common symptoms and causes of anxiety vs. depression, there are also some significant differences. The following are anxiety and depression differences based on their symptoms, causes, and risk factors.

Symptoms

People suffering from anxiety and depression may experience several physical and mental symptoms. Anxiety and Depression symptoms are as follows:

Causes

The exact cause of anxiety vs. depression is unknown. However, some possible factors contributing to anxiety and depression include:

Risk Factors

Certain factors can increase your risk of experiencing anxiety or depression. Risk factors for anxiety and depression include:

Therefore, anxiety is a normal emotion and is not included in the outline of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). However, healthcare professionals can diagnose anxiety disorders based on the definitions outlined in DSM-5. The diagnosis and treatment approach for both anxiety and depression is more or less similar. The following are the diagnosis, treatment, and complications of anxiety vs. depression.

Diagnosis

Doctors use several tools to diagnose anxiety and depression. The diagnosis for these mental health conditions includes:

1. Physical exam
2. Thorough understanding of your medical and mental health history
3. Lab tests (such as blood tests to see if the symptoms are a result of an underlying medical condition)
4. Psychiatric evaluation (filling out a questionnaire with items related to your symptoms, thoughts, feelings, and behaviour patterns
5. Comparison of symptoms with the criteria listed in DSM-5

Diagnosis of Anxiety vs. Depression As Per DSM-5

A doctor will diagnose anxiety or depression problems based on the criteria in DSM-5. 

1. Anxiety: A person has anxiety if they experience extreme, uncontrollable worry and three additional anxiety symptoms most days for at least six months. 
2. Depression: A person has depression if they experience at least five main depression symptoms on most days for at least two weeks. 

If they meet both criteria, the doctor will diagnose them with anxiety and depression. 

Treatment

The two primary treatments for anxiety and depression are medications and psychotherapy. Your doctor may recommend the following to treat anxiety vs. depression:

1. Medications: They can’t cure anxiety disorders but can improve the symptoms and help you function better. Medicines include:Anti-depressantsAnti-anxiety drugs, such as benzodiazepinesBeta-blockersSeveral anti-depressants can change the brain chemistry that causes anxiety or depression. These include:
         1. Selective Serotonin Reuptake inhibitors
         2. SerotoninNorepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs), such as Effexor, Pristiq, etc. 
         3. Tricyclic anti-depressants
         4. Atypical anti-depressants
         5. Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
         6. Other medications, such as mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, anti-anxiety drugs, and stimulants
2. Psychotherapy: Counselling can help you deal with your emotions better. Approaches to psychotherapy include:
3. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): It helps you recognize thought patterns and behaviours that lead to troublesome feelings.
4. Exposure Therapy: It helps you engage in avoided activities, letting you deal with your fears.
5. Brief Therapy: Solution-focused therapy is based on solution-building rather than problem-solving. The therapy is generally used to treat depression. Additional treatment for depression includes brain stimulation therapy. It can help people with severe depression or depression with psychosis. These include
   1. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
   2. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
   3. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)

Complications

Depression and anxiety are serious disorders that often worsen. If not treated on time, they can affect every area of your life. Complications of anxiety and depression include:

Generally, you cannot treat anxiety and depression alone. Most people with these disorders require medications and psychotherapy to get their symptoms under control. However, specific lifestyle changes can make a difference. These lifestyle changes or home remedies include:

1. Use stress management and relaxation techniques like meditation and yoga to ease anxiety
2. Pay attention to warning signs
3. Allow yourself to feel what you are feeling
4. Do something you control, such as showering, making your bed, etc. 
5. Reach out to friends and family
6. Join a support group

Experiencing anxiety or depression is not something anyone wants. People with anxiety disorders or depression know the importance of preventing these conditions before they start interfering with a person’s daily life. While there is no certain way to prevent anxiety or depression, the following strategies may help:

1. Get help at the earliest sign of the condition to prevent it from worsening
2. Stay physically active and participate in activities that make you feel good
3. Avoid using alcohol and recreational drugs
4. Take steps to control stress, increase resilience, and boost self-esteem
5. Get enough sleep to make sure you are well rested
6. Eat a nutritious diet with colorful fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, whole grains, and fish
7. Limit sugar, caffeine, and processed foods

Now you know what’s the difference between anxiety and depression. But the question remains: Can you get both these conditions together? Yes, you can! Since both conditions involve the same neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine, and epinephrine, anxiety, and depression can develop sequentially or co-occur. One condition can easily trigger the other, with anxiety generally preceding depression. Symptoms that might indicate both anxiety and depression at the same time include:

1. Persisting irrational fears or worries
2. Physical symptoms like headaches, fatigue, rapid heartbeat, abdominal pain, etc. 
3. Difficulty sleeping
4. Eating too much or too little
5. Trouble concentrating or remembering
6. Constant sadness or feelings of worthlessness
7. Loss of interest in usual activities and hobbies
8. Inability to relax
9. Feeling tired and cranky most of the time
10. Losing a sense of internal control

Anxiety and depression can be highly uncomfortable. If not treated in time, the conditions can worsen to the point where patients have suicidal thoughts or attempt suicide. Therefore, it is essential to consult a mental health professional if you experience symptoms of anxiety or depression. Consult a doctor if:

1. Anxiety is harming your physical health.
2. You have anxiety about multiple areas, such as career, school performance, interpersonal relationships, etc. 
3. The symptoms begin interfering with your daily life.
4. You need to gain interest in most activities.
5. You feel sad and hopeless most of the time.
6. You need more energy on most days.
7. You are not able to sleep well.
8. You experience significant weight gain or loss without overeating or dieting.

Anxiety and depression are common mental conditions experienced by many. Even though people use these words as synonyms, there are some significant differences between anxiety and depression. While anxiety causes feelings of extreme fear and worry, depression involves feelings of despair and hopelessness. Both anxiety and depression can also occur at the same time. If you experience changes in your mood or other symptoms, do not hesitate to seek medical care.