Anxiety and depression are very common mental health illnesses. These conditions may seem similar at first but they have some major differences. Their symptoms, causes and even treatment can overlap as people suffering from anxiety may develop depression in the long run and vice versa.
People who suffer from depression may also experience 'anxiety distress' and people with anxious distress may feel tensed, worried and restless. Health experts say that those who suffer from anxious distress with depression have higher suicidal tendencies.
To differentiate the two, we have explained depression and anxiety.
Depression
Depression is a serious medical condition. It is a common mental health illness that affects your mood, how you feel and act. A person suffering from depression feels sad, loses interest in their favourite activities and this can also lead to physical and emotional problems.
Symptoms of depression
A person suffering from depression may show the following symptoms:
Difficulty in concentration
Insomnia or hypersomnia
Lack energy
Depressed mood
Changes in appetite
Feeling of guilty
Feeling worthlessness
Suicidal thoughts or tendencies
It should be noted that to diagnose depression, a person must have experienced more than five of these symptoms for at least two weeks. Also, people who show these symptoms might also be diagnosed with dysthymia, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, depressive disorder or bipolar disorder (if they also show symptoms of mania).
Anxiety
The American Psychological Association (APA) defines anxiety as "an emotion which is characterized by feelings of tension, worry and physical changes like fluctuations in blood pressure."
Symptoms of anxiety
An individual suffering from anxiety may experience the following symptoms:
Muscle tension
Excessive worry
Restlessness
Fatigue
Irritability
Disturbing sleep
If a person is experiencing these symptoms for more than six months, they must get it checked for generalized anxiety disorder.
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