The Connection Of Anxiety And Depression

Often we are quick to label the feelings that we havecan manifest itself through physical symptoms such as
on a daily basis; someone who is feeling sad may saydifficulties in breathing, increased heart rate, diarrhea,
they are feeling depressed; someone who is worriedvomiting, sweating, shaking, and more.
about a particular incident may describe it by sayingAnxiety and depression can easily be co-occurring -
they are having an anxiety attack. These words havemeaning that they occur together with their own
become the vernacular of a generation; so much so, inseparate and independent symptoms; or comorbid -
some cases, that we have a difficult time recognizingmeaning they occur together and their symptoms
and defining what symptoms could really be related tooverlap. Researchers have even studied the existence
clinical conditions. There are many people whoof anxiety and depression together and found that
experience anxiety in a severe and persistent basis;over half of the people who experience major
and others who would be diagnosed as experiencingdepression also experience severe and persistent
depression. But what most people don't realize is thatanxiety.
anxiety and depression are connected more oftenThe connection is so prevalent between anxiety and
than not.depression that clinicians have developed terms that
Depression differs from periods of sadness becausecan help them diagnosis their patients who are
of its intensity and frequency. Depression is often apresenting with a myriad of symptoms. For instance,
persistent state of melancholy that colors activities ofagitated depression refers to a depressive state that
daily life. It can be triggered by many events oractually presents as anxiety including feelings of
environmental factors - or by nothing at all. In somegeneral panic and fear. Akathitic depression is a
cases heredity or changes in the physical body can bedepressive state that also presents as anxiety but
the greatest cause of depression. In either case, thedoes not include feelings of panic.
feelings associated with depression are often theIn addition, it has been found that ongoing feelings of
same.anxiety can actually trigger depression. And doctors
Sufferers report feelings of intense sadness, apathy,have noticed that where there's smoke there is often
irritability, and negativity. There are also physicalfire. Persistent feelings of panic and apprehension can
symptoms that those who are depressed reportcause sufferers to experience mild to severe
experiencing including stomach problems, insomnia ordepression. Researchers are still studying the links
constant fatigue, lack of appetite, headache, nausea,between anxiety and depression and their commingling
and general pain throughout the body. In some caseseffect on each other.
the feelings are so powerful that they render theWhat is clear, however, is that anxiety and depression
sufferer incapable of going about normal activities.can be managed and treated through a variety of
Anxiety is defined by persistent and severe feelings oftherapies and medication that have found great
panic and fear - either in a general sense or insuccess in the marketplace. Often when the overall
response to a particular event or situation. Anxiety isfeeling of anxiety is removed, the depression will lift as
considered to be an umbrella term under whichwell. If you are experiencing any feelings of anxiety
different kinds of anxiety fall including generalizedand depression it is important to immediately see your
anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias, anddoctor so an appropriate treatment plan can be put
obsessive-compulsive disorder. Anxiety, like depression,into motion.