Depression relates to anxiety disorders
Anxiety can manifest itself in many different ways to affect every type of person. People who suffer from an anxiety disorder may experience stress, panic attacks, or irrational fears. It is not uncommon for those suffering from an anxiety disorder to also feel depressive symptoms.
Anxiety disorders and depression have always gone hand in hand. Statistics show that people who suffer from an anxiety disorder are much more likely to experience depression. As expected, people who suffer from depression are also much more likely to suffer from an anxiety disorder. Almost one-half of individuals diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.
There are also many differences between depression and anxiety disorders, mainly the symptoms. While many of the symptoms may be shared between the two disorders, each disorder has separate causes and unique symptoms. There is no proof that one disorder causes the other, but there is a definitely connection between depression and anxiety disorders.
Fortunately, there are many treatments for both anxiety disorders and depression. This article will focus on depression and its three major types:
Depression
People who are depressed feel sadness, hopelessness, and disinterest in life. While many people suffer from these symptoms, a prolonged case of these feelings that impair an individual’s ability to function is considered clinical depression. The common symptoms of a depressive episode include:
- Persistent sad or anxious mood
- Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism, guilt, worthlessness, and helplessness
- Insomnia, oversleeping, fatigue, and restlessness
- Difficulty concentrating, loss of interest in typical activities
There are three typical types of depressive disorders: major depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disorder.
Major Depression
This type of depression is characterized by significant display of the symptoms listed above for a two-week period of more. People suffering from this type of episode will have trouble functioning as a member of society. They may occur often or not at all, depending on the person. Such an episode can occur due to a traumatic experience, and some people may consider committing suicide.
Dysthymia
A less severe form of depression, dysthymia displays similar depressive symptoms as other types, but is long-term and often chronic. People suffering from dysthymia may be considered pessimists, as they may be overly stressed, irritable, or unpleasant.
Bipolar disorder
Also known as manic-depression, bipolar disorder is characterized by a constantly changing mood cycle, ranging from severe highs to severe lows. During a severe high phase, the individual may experience inexplicable elation, grandiose notions, increased talking, more energy, or inappropriate social behavior. An individual in a severe low stage may suffer similar depressive systems as other forms of depressive disorders.
Treatment
Treatment for depression and anxiety disorders may differ, but some treatments may be similar due to similar symptoms. Psychotherapy and medications are both treatments that work for the treatment of anxiety and depression. In particular, cognitive-behavioral therapy works well for both disorders. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors are medications often used to treat both disorders as well.