Highlights
- Anxiety and depression are distinct mental health conditions, but they often share similar symptoms like fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.
- Both conditions can be effectively treated using therapy (like cognitive-behavioral therapy), medication (like antidepressants), and lifestyle changes such as exercise and sleep hygiene.
- Anxiety and depression can occur together, which may make diagnosis and treatment more complicated, so getting a proper evaluation is crucial.
You might have not felt like yourself lately, and you know you need support for your mental health. But you might wonder, is it depression or anxiety? These are two of some of the most common mental health conditions in the world. And although they’re distinct disorders, they appear together more often than not.
Here’s how you can tell if it’s anxiety or depression, along with a simple guide to help you compare and contrast the symptoms and treatments of each.
Anxiety and Depression: What Are They
It may be helpful to understand that anxiety and depression are distinct categories of mental health conditions. They are both common, and they often overlap — but the symptoms for each are clearly defined.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a common and natural emotional reaction that everyone experiences from time to time. It could be defined as a sense of unease, worry, or nervousness. Although most people feel anxious sometimes, some people have an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are the
There are different types of anxiety disorders listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The most common of these is generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The officially recognized symptoms of GAD are:
- Excessive worrying about various aspects of life (work, health, social interactions).
- Difficulty controlling worry or feeling restless.
- Fatigue or feeling tired easily.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Irritability.
- Muscle tension.
- Sleep disturbances (difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or having restless sleep).
In addition to GAD, there are other types of anxiety disorders with their own sets of symptoms. These include:
- Social Anxiety Disorder: Excessive worrying in situations where you assume you might be judged or humiliated by others.
- Panic Disorder: Sudden spikes of intense anxiety that can cause physical symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath.
- Specific Phobia: Excessive fear of specific things or situations, like flying or spiders.
If you’re struggling to manage anxiety and think of getting professional help, consider online anxiety treatment for convenient support from licensed medical providers.
Depression
People often associate depression with sadness, but it’s about a lot more than that. “Depression” typically refers to major depressive disorder, which is a mental health condition that affects around
The symptoms of major depressive disorder (according to the DSM) are:
- Persistent sadness or low/irritable mood.
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed.
- Significant weight loss or weight gain, or changes in appetite.
- Insomnia or sleeping too much.
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt.
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions.
- Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicidal ideation.
In addition to clinical depression (major depressive disorder), there are other types of depressive disorders. They have mostly the same symptoms, but the severity or the length of time you experience the symptoms can vary. For those seeking flexible, confidential care, online help for depression is available at MEDvidi.
If you’re experiencing suicidal or self-harming thoughts and require immediate assistance, contact a crisis hotline, such as 911, 988 suicide & crisis lifeline (toll-free), or Samaritans (116-123 or via chat).
Anxiety vs. Depression: Similarities and Differences
Although they’re distinct categories of conditions, depression and anxiety do share some similar symptoms and traits.
- Irritability: Irritability is a core symptom of generalized anxiety disorder. The low mood in depression can also present as irritability, especially in young people.
Fatigue: Both conditions can cause you to feel tired and fatigued without a medical explanation.
Difficulty Concentrating: You might experience a lack of focus with both anxiety and depression. With anxiety, it can look more like being distracted by your worries, while with depression, it can be more because of a “foggy” mind.
Sleep Disturbances: Difficulties with sleep are listed as symptoms of both conditions. With anxiety, excessive worrying might keep you up at night. Depression can cause you to be unable to sleep or to sleep too much.
Physical Symptoms: Both anxiety and depression can cause medical symptoms that are unexplained by other medical conditions. Both can cause stomach problems or headaches.
Main Differences Between Anxiety and Depression
Despite these similarities, anxiety and depression are fundamentally different. They’re categorized differently in the DSM. Depression primarily affects your mood, while anxiety is characterized by excessive worrying.
Here is a more detailed insight into how these two conditions present differently, according to the
|
Symptom |
Anxiety |
Depression |
|
Excessive worrying |
✅ |
❌ |
|
Low mood |
❌ |
✅ |
|
Difficulty controlling worry |
✅ |
❌ |
|
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt |
❌ |
✅ |
|
Slowed down activity |
❌ |
✅ |
|
Hopelessness |
❌ |
✅ |
|
Thoughts of death or suicide |
❌ |
✅ |
This doesn’t mean that people with anxiety never experience these symptoms (or vice versa). For example, many people with anxiety can feel hopeless and have suicidal thoughts. It just means that these aren’t recognized as core symptoms of each disorder. Moreover, these conditions can co-exist. It’s important to see a healthcare provider for a professional mental health assessment and receive a diagnosis and treatment.
Can You Have Both Anxiety and Depression at the Same Time?
Anxiety and depression are different conditions, but they often appear together. Research shows that from
These two conditions can sometimes get locked in a self-perpetuating cycle. For example, anxiety in social situations (social anxiety disorder) might make you avoid interacting with people. This can cause your social support system to get weaker, which might make depression worse.
Living with both anxiety and depression together can be more difficult than living with one or the other. Even though both can be treated, when you live with both, diagnosis and treatment can be more complicated. The symptoms of one might cover up the other, which can lead to misdiagnosis.
If you live with both anxiety and depression, it’s essential for both to be addressed in treatment so you can avoid the self-perpetuating cycle.
Get a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to your individual needs.
Causes and Risk Factors
No one knows exactly what causes depression or anxiety. There is a common belief that these conditions are caused by “chemical imbalances in the brain.” While neurobiology can play a role, it’s
Depression and anxiety share most of the same risk factors. These include:
- Genetics: Researchers have found that both of these conditions
are partly genetic[7] . If you have a close relative with depression and/or anxiety, then you’re also more likely to live with it yourself. - Early Childhood Experiences: Going through difficult experiences or trauma in childhood can increase your risk of developing anxiety and/or depression as an adult.
- Brain Differences: People with anxiety and depression have been found to have differences in certain areas of the brain. For example, in both conditions, the levels of certain neurotransmitters (like serotonin) can be affected.
- Stress: Living with chronically high levels of stress can make you more vulnerable to developing both depression and anxiety.
- Other Health Conditions: If you live with other health conditions, including both mental and physical health, you’re also more likely to live with anxiety and/or depression.
How Do You Know If You Have Anxiety or Depression (Or Both)?
Although learning about both conditions can help, the only way to tell if you have anxiety or depression (or both — or another mental health condition entirely) is to get evaluated by a qualified mental health provider.
A mental health professional can assess your symptoms and give you an accurate diagnosis. There’s no single test for either depression or anxiety. Providers will use a combination of different methods to reach a decision about diagnosis.
They may:
- Ask you questions about your symptoms.
- Observe your symptoms during the session.
- Ask you or your loved ones to fill out questionnaires.
- Ask you about family mental health and medical history.
Most providers will compare their observations of your symptoms to the diagnostic criteria (for anxiety and depression) laid out in the DSM to make the right diagnosis.
Anxiety and Depression Treatment
Fortunately, both anxiety and depression can be successfully treated. Although they’re different conditions, some of the same treatment methods have been found to be effective for both.
Therapy
Therapy is a first-choice treatment for both anxiety and depression. Specifically, research has found a type of therapy called cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to be the most helpful for
CBT is used slightly differently depending on the condition you have:
- For depression treatment, it often focuses on helping you engage in healthy lifestyle habits even when you feel too tired or down.
For example: Your therapist might encourage you to continue to see your friends even when you don’t “feel” like it. CBT can also help address any unhelpful thoughts that can come out of depression, like “I’m worthless.” - CBT for anxiety can focus heavily on identifying and changing irrational thoughts that make you feel more anxious.
- For example: You might have a thought like, “I’m going to fail my exam tomorrow.” A therapist can help you see how this thought isn’t logical or true, and help you replace it with a more helpful thought.
- For anxiety of specific situations (like phobias or social anxiety disorder), CBT can include gradually exposing yourself to your fears.
Medication
Psychiatric medication is another first-choice treatment for both anxiety and depression.
Antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), are not only effective for depression — they’ve been shown to be effective for anxiety, too.
Some examples of antidepressants that are FDA-approved for both depression and anxiety include:
- Cymbalta
- Effexor
- Lexapro
- Paxil
There are other antidepressants, like Prozac and Zoloft, that are FDA-approved to treat depression. While they aren’t yet approved for generalized anxiety disorder, research shows they
Anxiety is also sometimes treated with anti-anxiety medications like benzodiazepines, although these are best used short-term because of their side effects and risks.
Lifestyle Changes
There are also lifestyle changes you can make to improve your overall mental health. These can’t replace professional treatment, but research shows they can help for both depression and anxiety.
These include:
- Mindfulness
- Physical activity and exercise
- Sleep hygiene
- Proper nutrition
- Social support
Resources and Support
Here are some resources to help you learn more about depression and anxiety and to get support during a crisis.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – Call or text: 988
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) –
Mental Health America (MHA) –
Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741741
SAMHSA’s National Helpline – Call: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) –
How MEDvidi Can Help
If you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or both, MEDvidi provides comprehensive online mental health care. You can consult licensed professionals experienced in diagnosing and treating these conditions. Book your appointment to receive a personalized treatment plan that will help you feel like yourself again.
FAQs
Is anxiety and depression the same thing?
Are depression and anxiety considered mental disorders?
Yes, when we talk about “depression” and “anxiety,” we’re typically referring to mental health conditions like major depressive disorder or generalized anxiety disorder. But you can feel mildly or temporarily anxious without having a condition.
