Anxiety and depression are two very different mental disorders that often occur together in individuals with psychiatric conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, social phobia, agoraphobia, bipolar disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

Depression is a mental disorder characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, and low energy. People suffering from depression may also have changes in appetite or sleep patterns, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, poor concentration, and suicidal thoughts. Anxiety is an emotion characterized by an unpleasant state of inner turmoil. Anxiety disorders are medical conditions that cause this type of overwhelming fear and dread. They are characterized by feelings of panic, uneasiness, or apprehension that something harmful or threatening is about to occur.

Also Read: How Moms Can Deal With The Anxiety Of Motherhood

How Are Depression And Anxiety Different?

Anxiety can be very distressing, but it does not last for weeks, months, or years like depression does. People with anxiety disorders are often prescribed medication (e.g., antidepressants, benzodiazepines) to help alleviate some of the more unpleasant symptoms like increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and restlessness. Although some medications used for depression may also be prescribed for anxiety (e.g., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs]), not all anxiety symptoms are alleviated by antidepressant medications.

The best psychiatrists in Bhopal say that the main difference between depression and anxiety is that anxiety disorders typically have a biological basis, while depressive disorders often result from stressful life events or situations. While people with both types of conditions may withdraw from others, those with depression may do so as an adaptive response to feeling chronically sad whereas those with anxiety disorders do so as a result of feeling threatened or helpless. In addition, those with depression may become suicidal, but those with anxiety disorders rarely do.

Anxiety is also more likely to cause physical symptoms such as irritable bowel syndrome and cardiac symptoms like chest pain and irregular heartbeat that may lead a psychiatrist to mistakenly diagnose a person with depression.

Also Read: 5 Ways To Help A Friend Or Family Member With Depression

Conclusion:

While there are many similarities between anxiety and depression from a clinical point of view, they can be distinguished by several distinguishing symptoms and characteristics, says the best psychiatrist in Bhopal. Depression is typically characterized by feelings of intense sadness and despair that last for weeks, months, or years at a time, while anxiety is characterized by feelings of panic or uneasiness that often come and go quickly.