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What is the difference between depression and anxiety?
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- Types of Depression
Depression is a mental health problem that involves having a low mood or losing interest and enjoyment in things. It can also cause a range of other changes to how you feel or behave. The symptoms you experience may vary. How intense they are, how long they last, and how much they affect your daily life can also vary.
- Overview
- What’s the link?
- What are the symptoms of each condition?
- Questions to ask yourself
- Getting a diagnosis
- Managing anxiety and depression
- Treatment
- The bottom line
Depression and anxiety can both coexist and create negative feedback loops for each other. Working with a therapist can help you develop ways of coping with both.
Depression and anxiety might seem pretty distinct, for the most part.
The main symptom of depression is typically a lingering low, sad, or hopeless mood, while anxiety mainly involves overwhelming feelings of worry, nervousness, and fear.
But these conditions do actually share several key signs. Anxiety, for example, often involves irritability — and some people with depression may feel more irritable than sad.
Since these conditions can show up differently from person to person, you may not always know exactly what your symptoms mean.
It’s also possible to have both depression and anxiety at the same time: A worldwide survey from 2015 found that 41.6 percent of people reported having both major depression and an anxiety disorder during the same 12-month period.
One important thing depression and anxiety have in common? Both can improve with support from a mental health professional.
Depression
It’s not at all unusual to feel sad, low, or hopeless from time to time, especially during difficult or painful life situations. But feelings of sadness and emptiness that last for longer than 2 weeks can suggest depression, especially when positive events or changes in your environment don’t seem to have any impact on your mood. Along with a low, sad, or empty mood, depression can also involve the following symptoms: •loss of interest or enjoyment in your usual activities and hobbies •a sense of hopelessness or pessimism •anger, irritability, and restlessness •a lack of energy or a sense of feeling slowed down •chronic fatigue or sleep problems •changes in appetite and weight •difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or remembering information •unexplained aches and pains or gastrointestinal concerns •feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness •thoughts of suicide, death, or dying
Need help now?
If you’re having thoughts of suicide, you can get support right away by calling or texting a crisis helpline. Trained crisis counselors can offer calm, compassionate support and guidance with managing overwhelming feelings of distress. For free, confidential support 24/7, 365 days a year: •Call 800-273-8255 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. •Text “HOME” to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line. Here’s how to help a loved one thinking about suicide. Was this helpful?
Anxiety
Most people experience some anxiety — feelings of fear, nervousness, and worry — from time to time. Anxiety is part of how you respond to stress, after all, so you might experience some anxiety: •before major life events •when making important decisions •when trying something new But if you experience persistent or extreme anxiety on most days for several months, you could have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or another anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders go beyond worry about unexpected or challenging life circumstances. Your fears might center around more everyday concerns, such as your health, performance at school and work, or relationships. These worries can prompt lingering thoughts and fears that eventually begin to affect daily life. The main signs of ongoing anxiety include: •difficulty managing fear and worry •irritability, physical restlessness, or a sense of being on edge •a sense of dread, doom, or panic •sleep problems •persistent fatigue •brain fog •physical symptoms like headaches, muscle tension, nausea, and diarrhea
Again, it’s very common to feel low or sad, stressed or anxious, or any combination of the above, on occasion.
All the same, you’re the best person to recognize what’s typical for you. If you start to experience new, uncomfortable feelings, changes in your energy and motivation, or any other unusual symptoms, it never hurts to connect with a mental health professional for more guidance.
You might wonder whether an online self-test for anxiety or depression could offer more insight about the changes you’ve noticed. Some people do find these a helpful place to start — but a more personalized route might involve asking yourself a few questions:
•Do I spend a lot more time worrying than I have in the past?
•Do I feel sad, empty, or hopeless often?
•Have I lost interest in the things I used to enjoy?
If you’re not feeling quite like yourself, a good next step involves reaching out to a mental health professional or other clinician who treats anxiety and depression.
Your regular clinician, if you have one, can offer a referral to a therapist. Depending on your symptoms, they might also recommend blood, urine, and other lab testing to help rule out underlying medical concerns. Certain health conditions, including thyroid conditions, can involve depression and other changes in mood.
No single test can diagnose depression or anxiety. Instead, your therapist will generally start by asking questions about your symptoms, including how long you’ve had them and how they affect your daily life, to get more insight on what you’re experiencing.
Keep in mind an open and honest description of your mood can help them better understand how you’re feeling, which can lead them to the correct diagnosis.
A good therapist won’t judge you or say you shouldn’t feel a certain way. They’ll listen with compassion and offer support with identifying and addressing your symptoms.
According to criteria in the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5),” diagnosis requires:
A therapist can offer more guidance on treatment options for anxiety and depression, but you can also take steps to cope with symptoms on your own.
The strategies below may not always help, but trying different approaches at different times can help you learn more about what works for you. That insight can guide you toward a personalized toolbox of coping strategies, so you always have options to consider when feeling distressed or overwhelmed.
Treating co-occurring depression and anxiety can sometimes be more complicated than treating one condition alone. Even when you get treatment for one condition, some symptoms might persist or seem to play off the others.
For example:
•You can’t stop worrying about all the things going wrong in your life, or thinking about the ways things could get worse. These fears eventually drain your energy and motivation to keep trying, leaving you feeling low and hopeless.
•Social anxiety keeps you from connecting with people in the ways you’d like. You want to make new friends but generally end up avoiding interactions instead. This leaves you feeling lonely, sad, and guilty, especially when thinking of those missed opportunities, but helpless to do anything differently.
A mental health care professional may recommend combining treatment approaches, since what helps ease depression symptoms may not always relieve anxiety symptoms, and vice versa.
Potential treatments for anxiety and depression include:
Anxiety and depression can feel overwhelming, especially when you live with both conditions, or aren’t exactly sure which condition you’re dealing with.
But you don’t have to manage those symptoms alone. Getting support for distress that lasts more than a few days or begins to affect your daily life can go a long way toward helping you find relief.
Oct 14, 2022 · Depression is a mood disorder that causes feelings of sadness that won't go away. Unfortunately, there's a lot of stigma around depression. Depression isn't a weakness or a character flaw. It's not about being in a bad mood, and people who experience depression can't just snap out of it.
Mar 15, 2024 · Feel. What's the difference between anxiety and depression? Deirdre Concannon. Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist. 15 March 2024. Next review due March 2027. One in four people in the UK experience a mental health problem each year. Depression or anxiety are two of the most common mental health conditions.
Depression and anxiety disorders are different, but people with depression often experience symptoms similar to those of an anxiety disorder, such as nervousness, irritability, and problems sleeping and concentrating.
Mar 31, 2023 · Depressive disorder (also known as depression) is a common mental disorder. It involves a depressed mood or loss of pleasure or interest in activities for long periods of time. Depression is different from regular mood changes and feelings about everyday life.
Learn about elderly depression care. Tips for managing depression in older adults. The go-to place for people supporting elderly parents, join our community.
