Anxiety and Depression: How Are They Connected?
What Causes Depression?
Depression is a serious mental health disorder that is much more than being a bit sad or “bummed out.” It can cause a person to feel hopeless, worthless, empty, anxious, and lonely. It can also cause a person to experience difficulties remembering things or thinking clearly, along with irritability, sexual dysfunction, over- or under-eating, and sleep issues.
Depression is a complex disorder that does not have one single cause. It is often the combination of a few co-existing factors within a person that can lead to developing depression. These include unbalanced brain chemistry, genetic factors, biological factors, stress or trauma, or the use of certain medications, drugs, or alcohol. Every person is unique, and depression can affect lives in various ways, causing difficulties getting through the day, maintaining relationships, holding a job, or feeling “normal.”
What Can Cause Anxiety?
It is normal to feel a little bit of anxiety in your day-to-day life. If you are stressed at home or have a nerve-wracking presentation to give, your body will react accordingly. On the other hand, anxiety disorders like social anxiety, generalized anxiety, panic disorders, and phobias will involve repeated episodes of fear, terror, worry, or anxiety that are persistent or not consistent with the situation at hand. Sometimes there will be nothing going on at all to trigger an anxiety attack, or the reaction will be disproportionate to the problem.
Like depression, there is not one single cause or “anxiety gene” that can be identified in every single person who has symptoms of an anxiety disorder. Sometimes a medical issue can trigger anxiety symptoms, be a side effect of medications, or be caused while going through drug withdrawal. Other common factors that may contribute to developing an anxiety disorder are stress, having relatives with an anxiety disorder, living through trauma, and having other mental health disorders.
Is There a Link Between Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety and depression are two of the most common types of mental health disorders found in people across the planet. They are both categorized as “internalizing disorders,” emotional and behavioral disorders that cause a person to keep their symptoms to themselves or experience them “on the inside”, with feelings of low self-esteem, social withdrawal, and unexplained physical symptoms developing due to the burden of keeping the problem to oneself.
Having one condition can cause you to develop the other or can cause the other to worsen. Anxiety is sometimes a symptom of depression (or it may precede the presentation of major depressive disorder), while depression can be triggered by an anxiety disorder. Both conditions cause high levels of negative affectivity, causing negative emotions, poor self-concept, and various negative emotions.
Some other commonalities between the two disorders include the following:
- They are more often found in women than in men
- They commonly coexist in an individual within the same time frame
- They are both “moderately heritable,” meaning that around 40% of people who have an internalizing disorder will have family members who also have the same disorder
- They can both be triggered by a person having experienced early childhood trauma or life adversity like neglect
- Both tend to emerge in people during their late teens and early 20s
- Neuroticism is a personality trait that can result in the development of both anxiety and depression
- They can be treated with a combination of psychological counseling, medication, and healthy lifestyle changes.
- Both anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder are highly comorbid and have symptoms that are not separable, making it important to treat both disorders together, at the same time, if both are present in an individual.
What You Can Do to Overcome Anxiety and Depression
Overcoming anxiety and depression is not as easy as taking a pill or smiling more. There are often a variety of factors that have triggered your mental health issues, including underlying emotional pain or trauma, physical health issues, brain chemistry changes, or lack of self-care, and each of these issues must be dealt with in a safe and healthy way. Some things you can do to overcome anxiety and depression include:
- Get help as soon as possible, as these conditions can worsen over time if left untreated. Therapy can be a great help to you as you work on overcoming anxiety and depression
- Live a healthy lifestyle, eating well, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly
- Stay socially active, and build a strong support group around you, so you have people to talk to, who will be there for you when times are tough, and who will also be there to celebrate your wins and have fun together
- Take anxiety or depression medications on time, as prescribed. These medications will help balance brain chemistry but must be used regularly to have their desired effect
- Take up a spiritual health practice, like meditation, breathwork, or yoga for stress reduction
- Work on interpersonal skills and life skills, so you can deal with issues before they can cause you to feel overwhelmed or worried
- Avoid alcohol and drug use, as these substances can make anxiety and depression worse, especially if you begin to rely on these substances to get through the day, as this can cause you to develop a co-occurring substance use disorder
You Behavioral Is Here to Help
If you are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression that interfere with your everyday life and happiness, please contact You Behavioral Health today. We can connect you with the right therapist or psychiatrist online through a secure and confidential internet portal, and they will be able to help you regain control over your life and learn new coping techniques and healthy behaviors that may lessen the severity of your mental health disorder.
We offer 100% online treatment for mental illnesses like anxiety and depression, as well as PTSD, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, mood disorders, and other mental health conditions. Each of our therapists is experienced and compassionate and will individualize your treatment using cognitive behavioral therapy, evidence-based therapies, and holistic treatments to find what works for your unique needs.
Because our services are offered online, we provide the most convenient and efficient method of obtaining mental health treatment. Even if you are traveling or only have time for appointments on your lunch break, you must log into our secure web portal from your phone, laptop, or tablet and instantly connect with your therapist at your scheduled time.
We are in-network with many major health insurance providers, and if you are unsure whether your insurance covers online therapy, we are happy to help you figure it out. You are not alone with your anxiety or depression, and we understand how difficult it can be to pick up a phone or take the first step. If you call us, rest assured you will be treated with the respect and dignity you deserve, and we will take your concerns seriously. You are an important individual, and we are here to help. Our verified and certified therapists can work with you to start down the path to better mental health. Call today at (855) 206-2268 to get started.