Anxiety and
depression frequently coexists. If they happen at the same time, here's what you
should do.
Many persons
suffering from anxiety and depression are aware that their worried and
self-critical thoughts are unreasonable, but they are unable to control them.
Do you ever
worry so much that it affects your day-to-day activities? Or are you depressed
to the point where your outlook is completely clouded? Do you and your partner
have a lot of these or comparable feelings? You're not the only one who feels
this way.
Anxiety
disorders, which include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and
social anxiety disorders are the most frequent mental health problem in the U.S.
adults, impacting 18.1 percent of the population each year, according to the
Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). The biggest cause of
disability is mood disorders, which include major depressive disorder, bipolar
disorder, and seasonal affective disorder.
Furthermore,
there is a substantial risk of acquiring depression alongside an anxiety
condition or vice versa. According to Sally R. Connolly, LCSW, of Louisville,
Kentucky, many persons with significant depression also have severe and chronic
anxiety. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 60 percent of
those with anxiety will also have signs of depression, according to some specialists
(NAMI).
What Are the Possible Links Between
Anxiety and Depression?
Although
sadness and anxiety are clearly not the same emotional states, mental health
research reveals that they frequently coexist because they can be triggered by
the same or comparable circumstances. Those overlapping causes, according to a report published in the American Journal of Psychiatry in May 2020, can
include:
Genetic Determinants
Environmental,
noninherited factors account for 60% of the tendency to depressed and anxious
symptoms, while genetic factors account for 40%.
”
"There is generally some family history with anxiety, more so than
depression, and so we think there may be some genetic predisposition to
this," Connolly explains.
Factors in the Environment
These
stresses, also known as social factors, include early childhood trauma or
neglect, as well as contemporary stressors such as relationship problems,
unemployment, social isolation, and physical sickness. According to the
National Institute of Mental Health, people with post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD), an anxiety disease, are more prone to develop depression (NIMH).
A Chronic Pain
Pain
According to Harvard Health, chronic pain, especially disabling pain syndromes
like fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), low back pain, migraines,
and nerve pain is connected to psychological discomfort, including anxiety
and depression. Indeed, evidence reveals that “pain shares some molecular
pathways with anxiety and depression,” according to the authors.
According to
Connolly, the core of the twofold illness is "a cycle." "When
you're nervous, you tend to have this pervasive thinking about some worry or
problem and that makes you feel horrible." Then you start to feel like
you've failed and gone into sadness." "People who are sad often feel
anxious and frightened," she continues, "so one might provoke the
other."
Anxiety and Depression Symptoms
Anxiety and
depression can share some common symptoms, according to the current Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), the standard classification
of mental disorders used by mental health practitioners in the United States.
These symptoms include, but are not limited to:
1. Being quickly exhausted
2. Concentration problems or a blank
mind
3. Anger
4. Disturbance of sleep (difficulty
falling or staying asleep; restless, unsatisfying sleep)
Other
indicators that a person may be suffering from both anxiety and depression
include:
1. Fear and worry that is constant and
illogical
2. Rapid heartbeat, headaches, hot
flushes, sweating, abdominal pain, and/or difficulty breathing are physical
symptoms.
3. Changes in eating habits, such as
eating too much or too little
4. Sadness or a sense of worthlessness
that persists
5. Loss of enthusiasm for hobbies and
pastimes
6. Inability to unwind
Anxiety attacks
Is it
Possible to Treat Anxiety and Depression at the Same Time?
Yes. Nobody
should have to deal with anxiety or depression, let alone both. People with
anxiety disorders should discuss their symptoms with a psychiatrist, therapist,
or another healthcare practitioner as soon as possible and begin therapy.
Connolly advises seeking a complete evaluation from a psychiatrist as a first
step if you feel you have both anxiety and depression. "Having a good
diagnostic to rule out bipolar disorder is particularly important for those
with both [anxiety and depression]," she explains.
According to a study published in the World Journal of Psychiatry in December 2015, effective treatment options often include a combination of talk therapy (psychotherapy), medication, and certain lifestyle changes. These may include the following:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
(CBT) CBT
teaches people how to question their negative thoughts and how to minimize
stress by using coping skills and relaxation practices. According to Harvard
Health, CBT is not only a well-established treatment for anxiety and
depression, but it is also the most thoroughly researched psychotherapy for reducing
pain.
Psychotherapy for Relationships
Focuses on
the link between symptom onset and present interpersonal issues, such as
unresolved sorrow, relational conflicts, and social isolation or withdrawal
Antidepressants remedies
Selected serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Celexa (citalopram), Prozac (fluoxetine), Lexapro (citalopram), Paxil (paroxetine), and Zoloft are antidepressants (sertraline). For more severe anxiety and depression, SSRIs are frequently combined with CBT and other forms of psychotherapy. Other alternatives include serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), such as Cymbalta (duloxetine), Effexor (venlafaxine), and Pristiq (desvenlafaxine).
Exercise
According to
the Mayo Clinic, exercise can help with depression and anxiety symptoms, though
the reason for this is unclear. One reason could be because exercise causes the
brain to release feel-good hormones that improve your mood. Another benefit
could be that it diverts your attention away from your worry, fears, and other
negative thoughts. According to the ADAA, walking for as little as 10 minutes
can help relieve symptoms.
Techniques for Relaxation Meditation
for mindfulness
According to
a large research review published in March 2014 in JAMA Internal Medicine,
meditating — a method of training your mind to slow down racing thoughts, let
go of negativity, and calm both your mind and body by sitting quietly and
focusing on your breathing — can alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression
and improve quality of life.
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