"Ask Me Anything": Ten Answers To Your Questions About Depression Symptoms And Anxiety
Anxiety and Depression Symptoms
Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time, such as when you're taking an exam or performing in the presence of a crowd. But if these feelings persist for a long time or impede your daily activities, you might have an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety and depression are both common conditions that can be treated with medication, psychotherapy, or both.
Depression
Depression can trigger feelings signs of depression returning despair, sadness, and emptiness. These feelings are typically similar to the constant worry associated with anxiety. It isn't always easy to determine what is causing the symptoms of a person. Depression usually triggers extreme sadness or helplessness, irritability, changes in energy and sleep patterns, as well as unexplained aches and pains. It can also lead to an absence of pleasure or enthusiasm for previously enjoyable activities. In some cases these signs and symptoms of depression could cause thoughts of harming yourself or even suicide attempts. If you or someone you know is considering suicide you should call 911 or your local emergency number or text TALK (741741) to connect with an emergency counselor.
Talk to your doctor if depressed over your symptoms and how they affect your life. They may refer you to a therapist that can help. If your symptoms are severe, your doctor might also order urine, blood, and other tests to rule out medical conditions that could trigger depression-like symptoms. This could include thyroid disorders or vitamin deficiencies.
Depression isn't a guarantee from happening, but you can reduce your risk of getting it by eating healthy and getting enough sleep, staying physically active, and engaging in creative activities or taking time to relax often. It is also essential to stay clear of smoking, drinking, alcohol, and other substances.
The symptoms of depression can be caused by a myriad of causes including stressful events or losses, like the loss of a loved-one, divorce, or losing your job. It could also be caused by medical conditions like heart disease or cancer or even by supplements or medications.
The person may be able to recover with psychological counseling (therapy), medication, like antidepressants or a combination of both. If the person is suffering from depression, they may also learn to manage their symptoms. To boost their sense accomplishment, they could attempt to be social, practice relaxation techniques, or complete small tasks (such unloading the dish washer). They could also remind them that these feelings are not permanent and are not the result of their own responsibility. They are trying to improve their mood.
Anxiety
Anxiety can be as crippling as depression, and a lot of people have both. Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent form of mental illness in the United States, and affect 40 million adults. People suffering from anxiety may be concerned about more things than usual such as everyday routine events and activities. Anxiety disorder can cause people to be worried about things that aren't in the right proportion. It can last for months.
There are a variety of anxiety disorders, including particular phobias, that are characterized by fear of a particular thing, such as animals or insects or panic disorder, which is defined by frequent episodes of fear and anxiety that can last for a few minutes (panic attacks); obsessive-compulsive disorder, which involves unwanted thoughts or feelings that cause people to repeat certain actions repeatedly to cope with them. Post traumatic stress disorder, which explains the variety of emotional reactions after a traumatic event that includes disturbing memories, flashbacks, insomnia and nightmares.
The precise causes of anxiety disorders are not fully understood, but there is evidence that life experiences can trigger them in those who are predisposed to them. Lifestyle, genetics and the environment can also play a part. Everyone experiences sadness or depression from time to time. However when the feelings are persistent and cause problems in your everyday life, it is recommended to seek out professional help.
Anxiety symptoms can include a rapid heartbeat, feelings of a lack of reality or fear, trouble concentration and focusing muscles, fatigue and headaches. Those with anxiety often have difficulty sleeping and can become irritable and angry easily. Children can become isolated or unable to be social with other children.
Physical activity, healthy eating habits, regular rest, relaxation techniques and medications can help reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral symptoms of depression (this post) therapies are key to treating depression and anxiety. Treatments that address specific anxiety issues can be beneficial for those with anxiety, for instance Systematic Desensitization Therapy and Exposure therapy. This involves exposure to situations slowly you're scared of in a relaxed setting.
Treatment
There are many ways to treat anxiety and depression which include psychotherapy and medication (talk therapies). Talk therapy can help you to manage your emotions and address the root causes of your emotions. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as well as dialectical behavior therapy, and exposure therapy are just a few examples of these. Other types of psychotherapy, like interpersonal therapy and exposure therapy, can also be beneficial. You can get immediate relief from anxiety using medications. They can also help you understand how to cope better. Antidepressants are prescribed to treat depression and anxiety. Other medications can also be effective. Your doctor will take into consideration your medical history, your symptoms and any other treatments you're undergoing when deciding which treatment is right for you. Be sure to inform your doctor about all medications you're taking, such as vitamins and herbal supplements, because they could influence your treatment.
For people with both anxiety and depression it is important to determine the areas of their lives that are under stress and work to reduce the effect these stressors have on your mood. Making changes to your eating and sleeping habits, exercising regularly and spending time with your friends and family, avoiding alcohol and drugs as well as getting enough rest and changing your reactions to stressful situations and figuring out ways to decrease your anxiety can all help ease both depression and anxiety.
Depression can cause you to feel hopeless and depressed, making it difficult to concentrate on the things that make you happy or to believe that life has a purpose. This is particularly true in young people. They may be tired, angry or angry frequently and may not be able to recognize that they are depressed. Depression can also be manifested by a lack of energy, inability to concentrate or think clearly, or suicidal thoughts.
Anxiety disorders can be characterized by worries and fears that transcend the normal worries of everyday life, such as work or health issues, or relationships. In addition to emotional and physical symptoms, anxiety disorders may cause other issues such as tension in muscles, headaches sweating, indigestion nausea, and difficulty breathing.
Your doctor will perform an examination of your body and will ask you questions about your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. They might also order lab tests to check for an underlying health issue which could be the cause of your symptoms, for example low blood sugar, hypothyroidism or anemia.
Support
It can be difficult to distinguish between anxiety and depression because their symptoms tend to overlap. Both conditions are manifested by irritability, difficulties concentrating or remembering, unexplained pains and aches, as well as changes in energy and sleep patterns. Depression is manifested by a negative all or nothing thinking pattern. It can also trigger or worsen anxiety. Someone who is depressed can also be anxious about the future and feel that everything that happens will be disastrous. This is a typical combination known as comorbidity, which means that more than one illness or condition can coexist at the same time within the same person.
Both anxiety and depression are treatable. Both can be treated with psychotherapy, medication, and lifestyle modifications. Psychological treatments, such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic therapy that alters unhelpful thinking patterns or coping techniques can be used in conjunction with antidepressant medication. To treat depression and anxiety, lifestyle changes include getting enough rest, improving eating habits, and decreasing alcohol and drug use.
If you know someone who seems to be struggling with depression or anxiety, try to be supportive. Encourage them to seek help and remind them of the people who look after them. Direct support can be provided by helping with chores, accompanying the person to a doctor's visit, or taking them out to social gatherings. Encourage them to try something that may make them feel better. Also try to help them find the reason to be there by interacting with others or assisting them in their volunteer work.
Learning about depression and anxiety can help you recognize the symptoms. Being aware that these disorders have a biological vulnerability and are treatable can promote self-compassion and help you avoid feelings of shame and guilt. For more resources, visit the Anxiety & Depression Association of America or ask your doctor for the referral to an expert in mental health symptoms health who specializes in anxiety or depression. You can also find online or local support groups. Just remember, anxiety and depression aren't an indication of weakness. they're indications that you need assistance!