Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and Depression

Depression is regarded as a severe state of having low spirits and misery. Anxiety, on the other hand, is characterized by continually worrying or uneasiness about given events with uncertain outcomes. Quintessentially, women are at higher risk of suffering from the two conditions (Stancius et al. 8). The depression rates in children also increase every decade. Teens are equally affected by depression. Adolescents are significantly affected as they do not understand how to manage problems that may come up with that stage. Mental instability is the leading cause of disability worldwide, as most of the cases go untreated. According to World Health Organization, “At a global level, over 300 million people are estimated to suffer from depression, equivalent to 4.4% of the world’s population” (World Health Organization 5). Similar treatment can be administered for the two conditions. Some conditions make the two situations different; however, the terms share many characteristics that usually result in the misdiagnosis. In cases where both diseases are present, treatment can be complicated. Untreated symptoms of depression and anxiety have adverse effects on the patient’s life; the identification of the conditions can be challenging (Yohannes, Abebaw, and George, 1). Depression and anxiety are two different conditions which in most cases, occur concurrently.

Many people with depression usually experience bouts of anxiety. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, significant cases of depression are generally accompanied by anxiety (Anxiety and Depression Association of America). It, therefore, typical for a depression patient to experience low moments coupled with nervousness.  With the right treatment, this process can be a matter of the past, and one can heal from the conditions. It is essential for people battling depression to seek help as the condition contributes highly to suicide cases (Yohannes, Abebaw, and George, 1). Treatment helps people to get back to business as usual.

The symptoms in most depression and anxiety patients could be severe for one to identify; therefore, one needs to understand the manifestation of the two conditions. Each one of us has felt sad at some point in life. However, for clinical depression, the heights of sadness make it a different story. Some of the symptoms of depression include; having trouble making fundamental life decisions and poor concentration. The patient may also experience regular fatigue and a constant feeling of pessimism and hopelessness. Most of them are highly irritable and experience different conditions of restlessness. In some cases, they may experience eating disorders. In anxiety, patience always feels tensed.

The co-existence of depression and anxiety can cause severe health conditions in the life of the patient. More than 50% of the patients battling depression do experience anxiety (Everyday Health). The situation is referred to as comorbidity. In mental health, the most popular comorbidity is the pairing of depression and anxiety. It is essential to look at the symptoms of depression among anxiety patients when they are put on primary care, likewise for depression patients. Excessive stress triggers bodily reactions as a result of the internal or the external worry, as asserted by Walter Cannon, a Harvard physiologist. “This response corresponds to an area of our brain called the hypothalamus, which—when stimulated—initiates a sequence of nerve cell firing and chemical release that prepares our body for running or fighting,”(Van and Bessel). The process results in a chemical imbalance in the brain, which may result in both anxiety and depression.

Another theory that explains the occurrences of the two conditions at the same time is the fact that their symptoms may overlap during diagnosis (Everyday Health). There is a thin blurred line between the two states, which makes it t challenging to observe the underlying problem. As asserted by Dr.Deacon, “And so for the clinician, it can get difficult to tell them apart. There certainly is a lot of overlap.” (Everyday Health). One genuinely needs to understand the medical disorders to tell the difference between the two, unlike other comorbid situations like in Hepatitis and Cancer. Also, there are no laboratory tests that are carried out to diagnosis the two conditions, so the medical personnel relies on the characteristics that surround the two states, which may overlap. Problem with sleep is an example of issues that occur in both depression cases and anxiety. The situation is caused by things that trigger stress. In some cases, the clinicians tend to recognize one state and find it vto understand the other as a result of the similarity in characteristics.

Anxiety symptoms, just like depression, fluctuate from time to time. In situations where someone experiences Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), the patient is likely to suffer depression after three years (Wu, Zhiguo, and Yiru, 2). This assertion is according to a survey done, and 24% of the participants in the study battled depression three years after being diagnosed by anxiety disorders. 16% of the members who participated in this survey suffered from both anxiety disorder and depression. Also, most of the clinicians in China, especially those with busy schedules, do not have time to conduct all the relevant tests. In most cases, capture depression cases and label it “depression with anxiety” or “depression with anxious symptoms” (Wu, Zhiguo, and Yiru, 2). The idea behind that is that they may not have time to carry out a test that may confirm the comorbid situation.

The stigma associated with mental disorders may prevent many people from seeking medical attention as soon as the symptoms become notable. If the psychological conditions are not treated quickly, it worsens with time, and it may contribute to the pairing of the other disorder (Wu, Zhiguo, and Yiru, 4). Most patients visit general hospitals that may not have a psychiatry department. If the department is present, the patient may not receive the best care in some situations, as it is not one of the departments that are prioritized in general hospitals. The brain may further be affected if the patient does not receive the best, leading to both depression and anxiety. The medical personnel in public hospitals also have limited knowledge in the diagnosis of the two conditions and may couple the two states. The management of the two disorders may be hard with the entry of the comorbid disorder. The secondary disease may complicate the control of the primary situation, which may contribute to distress and the patient losing interest in necessary activities.

Anxiety and depression are illnesses of the brain. Several theories support the idea that they emerge from the brain, which explains their comorbidity. The mind is said to be made up of several neurotransmitters. The brain also relies on a given chemical to function correctly. Depression and anxiety are linked to the imbalance of this offered chemicals, which affect the function of the brain. The patients are given anti-depressants, which acts on neurons creating a balance. That was the brain that can be able to control the activities that occur in the person and limit occurrences like aggression and fear.

However, common the two disorders do not always occur together. Some patients may be diagnosed with anxiety disorder but may not have any of the depression symptoms.  In other situations, the patient might be diagnosed with extreme depression but with traces of anxiety in them known as the subsyndromal levels of stress. In another clinical combination, the patient might be diagnosed with fully-fledged depression and anxiety, as well. Some patients also may experience some signs in both depression and anxiety, but they might not meet the criteria for the diagnosis of the two conditions. This idea justifies the fact that depression and anxiety may only occur in some situations.

Risk Factors

There is a thin line between the factors that cause anxiety and those that contribute to depression. Examining the risk factors support the evidence that the two are comorbid. Genetics is an important aspect when considering the risk factors associated with both anxiety and depression. One is likely to suffer from anxiety and depression if a close relative, especially parents, have been victims of this given condition. There is no specific gene that has been discovered as a depression and anxiety gene. Medical conditions, such as suffering from chronic illnesses, may hugely contribute to one having both anxiety and depression. The pain associated with diseases may add to someone being mentally affected, and this may cause the imbalances in the brain, leading to depression and anxiety.

Lose of a loved one can contribute to depression among some people. In children, for instance, losing a parent before they are of age, maybe a traumatic experience. Grief can also add to someone having a lousy mood for the longest time. Some become separate themselves from others after a loss of relatives, and this might affect their psychology. Some may engage in substance abuse, which highly contributes to one having depression or traits relating to anxiety. Traumatic experiences in one’s life, such as violence and sexual abuse, can lead to issues like self-harming and bad memories occasionally.  The bad memories may trigger depression and anxiety in a person, especially if the person lives in constant fear of a similar incidence.

Living in distress contributes to the two conditions. A stressful environment like war zones or extreme activity workspace may contribute mainly to anxiety and depression. In a survey conducted among Chinese health workers to determine the levels of depression and anxiety among health workers because of the stressful work conditions.” An estimated 25.67% of physicians had anxiety symptoms, 28.13% had depressive symptoms, and 19.01% had both anxiety and depressive symptoms. More than 10% of the participants often experienced workplace violence, and 63.17% sometimes encountered it.” (Gong, Yanhong, et al.). Other issues that might contribute to stressful conditions, unfortunate financial circumstances, and family issues. It is essential for someone to engage in physical exercises, regularly engage with other people, or seek medical attention in situations where they are in stressful zones. One’s personality can also affect their mental wellness. People with low self-esteem issues and oversensitivity to criticism may suffer depression or anxiety.

Therapy for depression and anxiety

The similarity between the medicines administered for the two conditions explains the relationships between the two terms. Treatment is tailored to ensure that it covers the symptoms in both disorders. Treatment involves several forms of psychotherapy. The most common type of psychotherapy is cognitive-behavioral therapy. In this given treatment, the focus is on the symptoms that may worsen the situations, and facing one’s fear is part of the treatment administered in this given treatment. Besides, the patient is subjected to interpersonal therapy and problem solving ideas, which ensure that both anxiety and depression are countered.

Medication is also a therapy that is administered in both anxiety and depression cases. The symptoms of anxiety and depression occur together ion that may take care of the two situations. The conventional medicines for both patients include administration of the Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). The patient is monitored, and in case the two medications are not effective other drugs can be considered.

Self-care is an essential aspect of the treatment of any health condition. One can manage both anxiety and depression by ensuring that they manage their thoughts and avoiding issues that may trigger the two states. Stress management is a critical aspect of self-care. Other topics that are essential in self-care include engaging in relaxation exercises like yoga, replacing negative thoughts with positive ones, and joining a support network.

Depression and Anxiety in Children

It is usual for children to feel anxious in different situations, but their parents or guardian should be careful when the condition becomes a day to day thing. When the issue intensifies, the child might be defiant to some activities and may also be sad in most of the occasions. The outcomes of this condition may adversely affect their growth, leading to them being obsessive or wanting to possess beautiful things in life only. More than 30% of the children suffer from this given anxiety disorders, their academics, and participation in other activities might be affected (Cummings et al. 816). If the condition worsens, they can suffer depression as a result of worrying too much and the many sad situations surrounding him or her. The child also may not be in a position to manage other stressors, and this will make them prone to different stressors. The child will be put in a situation where he or she has to seek medical attention often. Along with depression, anxiety can affect a child’s cognitive skills. Their social skills, mental and physical health are concerned. Their views on things grow negative most of the time, and the child can, from time to time, have suicidal thoughts.

Conclusion

Depression and anxiety are, on most occasions, comorbid, and they substantially have adverse effects on the mental health of the people affected. The impact on mental health affects the growth and development of their thoughts. The long term effects are observed when they suffer issues to do with the maintenance of relationships with others and poor performance when it comes to activities of daily living. Depression and anxiety are likely to develop as a result of someone’s experience after a traumatic event, and in some few cases, the condition can be inherited. Treatment should be offered to the people affected so that they may be in a good fight with their day to day struggles. The issue of mental wellness is a universal campaign nowadays, and everyone has to ensure that people advocate for more funding from the government to run programs associated with it. People should also be aware of the symptoms that might be related to the two disorders to seek medical attention on time.

Works cited

Anxiety and Depression Association of America. “Depression and Anxiety.” 2018.

Everyday Health. “Does Anxiety Trigger Your Depression?” 2014.

Cummings, Colleen M., Nicole E. Caporino, and Philip C. Kendall. “Comorbidity of anxiety and depression in children and adolescents: 20 years after.” Psychological Bulletin 140.3 (2014): 816.

Gong, Yanhong, et al. “Prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms and related risk factors among physicians in China: a cross-sectional study.” PloS one 9.7 (2014): e103242.

Stanciu, Marius M., et al. “The connection between gender, academic performance, irrational beliefs, depression, and anxiety among teenagers and young adults.” Romanian Journal of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Hypnosis 1.2 (2014).

Van der Kolk, Bessel A. The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Penguin Books, 2015.

World Health Organization. Depression and other common mental disorders: global health estimates. No. WHO/MSD/MER/2017.2. World Health Organization, 2017.

Wu, Zhiguo, and Yiru Fang. “Comorbidity of depressive and anxiety disorders: challenges in diagnosis and assessment.” Shanghai archives of psychiatry vol. 26,4 (2014): 227-31. doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-0829.2014.04.006

Yohannes, Abebaw M., and George S. Alexopoulos. “Depression and anxiety in patients with COPD.” European Respiratory Review 23.133 (2014): 345-349.