What are the Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression?
For most people, the words anxiety and depression are used interchangeably when referring to feelings or emotions. Observed behavioral changes in a person are usually attributed to either anxiety or depression, sometimes both. Anxiety and depression have become normal facts of life that we endure due to our various experiences.
Depression and anxiety are two different things. You may feel anxious at one time, then depressed at another time. Or it could be the other way around. As humans, we may experience these mental health challenges at different points especially when times get rough, but if we feel them often, something has to be done. You may be wondering what happens when you show symptoms of anxiety and depression at the same time?
What is Depression?
The definition of depression is when you feel hopeless, sad and experience decreased energy (where you lose interest in things). You feel that you do not have a purpose in life that makes it worth living, thus affecting your physical and emotional health.
Given the definition of depression, it's common for society to not really understand what is occuring in the mind of someone struggling with depression. Sometimes, we just let a depressed person be, assuming that the person just wants to be alone. However, this can be a dangerous mistake. Family members and friends of the person battling with depression may be filled with guilt when unexpectedly, something bad happens as the depression becomes too overwhelming and uncontrollable. Perhaps you are a living witness to the harm depression can cause. You might have experienced loss first hand, or know someone who has lost someone they care about because of major depression.
What is Anxiety?
The definition of anxiety is when you exhibit the feelings of nervousness, worry and fear. These feelings come to an overwhelming point where you show irritability.
You might be thought of as a “worrier”, an “advanced thinker”, a “nervous wreck”, or even a “pessimist”. The people around you don’t know that you are struggling with something emotionally - something you cannot easily shake off. And if help is not readily available to you, you may cause harm to yourself and those who are close to you.
Given the definition of anxiety, when it becomes too much and not addressed immediately, it may result in any of the anxiety disorders below:
Generalized anxiety disorder. This happens when you worry about many different things.
Social anxiety disorder. This happens when you worry when you are around other people.
Phobia. Intense fear of things or places (like a particular animal, height, closed space, etc).
Panic disorder. When in panic, your heart pounds, often accompanied by chest pains. Panic occurs when you have the sudden feeling of fear.
How is Anxiety Different from Depression?
Anxiety and depression are two different conditions. For most people, these two are just one and the same as they probably do not have a clearer understanding that someone they love or know could have both at the same time. We often mistakenly take anxiety as depression or vice versa. But let’s explore the difference between anxiety and depression a little deeper.
Aside from the different feelings or emotions one would feel having depression or anxiety, another notable difference between anxiety and depression is the time the symptoms manifest. When you are depressed, you show symptoms most of the day, almost everyday, for at least 2 weeks. On the other hand, when you are anxious, symptoms may be evident occasionally but can reoccur depending on the particular stressors that trigger it.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression?
We do not really need to be a medical professional to spot if someone we love is undergoing depression or showing signs of anxiety. We have to know the signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression so we can help the person, perhaps advising them to seek professional help before things get out of hand. The challenge is that many of us are not aware of the signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Anxiety is more than just the feeling of worry, fear or extreme nervousness. Some other symptoms and signs are given below.
Shaky or sweaty (especially when you go out to an unfamiliar environment or situation)
Racing mind (a lot of things are going on in your mind without you having control over them)
Irritable (small or petty things drive you to an edge of annoyance or anger)
Thoughts on death (you normally perceive death as an outcome for the dangers you fear you may encounter, or the end-result of such dangers)
Other physical symptoms (such as muscle tension and pain, headaches or migraines, difficulty swallowing, tiredness or fatigue, sudden feeling of warmth in the upper part of the body or hot flashes)
Depressed people, on the other hand, show the following signs and symptoms:
Sleep problems (either you sleep too much because you think life has no purpose, or too little because a lot of things bother you)
Appetite problems (either you eat too much as you justify your appetite for no reason at all, or too little since you have been sleeping most of the time and have no plans of getting out of bed)
Anxiousness (feelings of worry, fear and nervousness)
Loss of interest (you begin to formulate questions with unreasonable answers to justify your waning interest in things)
Concentration issues (focus is lost as your thoughts might be somewhere else or this can be brought about by lack of sleep, lack of food intake, etc.)
Thoughts of death (the feeling of unworthiness sets in that could eventually trigger the person to take his own life so as not to be a burden to the people around him or her.
How is Anxiety and Depression Treated?
Despite the differences of anxiety and depression, these two mood conditions have one thing in common: they are treatable (both self-help and professionally).
Here are some ways to treat anxiety and depression:
Self-help
Acceptance. I truly believe that the first rule to bounce back to normalcy is acceptance. Accept what you are going through. It is only in acceptance that you can begin to gather your strength to make it to wellness and heal.
Talk. Do not be ashamed to talk about what you are going through with someone you can trust. Sometimes, all we need is just someone to listen to assure us that things will get better in time.
Redirect your thoughts. Read self-help books or listen to motivational songs. These are simple ways to treat anxiety and depression.
Know your stressors. It is in knowing the enemy that we can conquer it. If you know what triggers your anxiety or depression, you are then empowered to face the stressors head on.
Breathwork. Take a breath and relax. When you are in the midst of all things that you consider not good, and see the signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression approaching, take a deep breath. Taking short deep breaths are helpful if you feel you need a boost of energy as it triggers your sympathetic nervous system. If you feel that you need to calm down, you can opt for long and slow deep breaths to turn on the parasympathetic nervous system to help you rest and restore. Either of the two breathing practices can result in a moment of calmness, clarity and focus, from which you can make a sound decision about how to move forward.
Yoga has many physical and mental health benefits. Practicing 15 to 30 minutes of yoga on a consistent basis, can be extremely helpful with helping to release any overwhelming emotions and feelings. Move and Still Baltimore yoga instructor will help you find the right Baltimore yoga classes for your needs - whether you're a beginner or an experienced yogi.
Professional
Seek help. When you think it is time to see a professional to help you with anxiety and depression, do not hesitate to do so. The earlier you start with treatment, the sooner your recovery and healing can happen.
Medications. Medications should be prescribed by professionals. You may be prescribed antidepressants if you have depression, or anti-anxiety or beta-blockers for anxiety.
Talk therapy. Talk sessions with your doctor can open doors for you to release those innermost thoughts, feelings and experiences that could have triggered anxiety or depression, or both. I suggest trying talk therapy in conjunction with somatic approaches such as yoga or breathwork, as talk therapy and somatic approaches impact the right and left sides of the brains in different ways. While therapy is helpful for processing through emotions, body-centered approaches are helpful for releasing stored energy.
Anxiety and depression are not new to humanity. As things speed up around us, sometimes life can feel overwhelming and hard to cope with. As we understand these disorders more, we are able to open our eyes to the reality that anyone, at any age can be battling with anxiety and/or depression. The symptoms of anxiety and depression can be triggered at any given time. And depression has left a mark globally, as it has been closely tied to suicides, which in turn have made us more conscious and alert of the warning signs.
Do you ever feel like anxiety and depression are a never-ending battle that you can't seem to win?
Move and Still has the perfect solution for you. Our School of Healing Podcast will help you cope with your conditions and improve your quality of life. With our helpful tips, tricks, and strategies, you’ll be on your way to a better life in no time.
