Anxiety and depression are both mental disorders. Anxiety and depression can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or socioeconomic status. There are many symptoms that people with anxiety or depression experience, such as feelings of worry and distress and low self-confidence.
There is a vast difference between anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression are severe emotional states that affect our thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Many people do not understand this difference and why treating those takes so much time. This article will outline what’s different between anxiety and depression and offer real-world strategies you can use to understand the difference between anxiety and depression and effectively treat them.
Difference between Anxiety and Depression
Nervousness and depression are closely related. But it’s essential to understand the distinction between the two. Anxiety and depression can affect almost anyone at any time. However, they uniquely affect each of us and respond to different treatment methods. The critical difference between the two disorders is the cause. The following are some differences between these disorders:
Psychological Symptoms
The best way to differentiate anxiety and depression is to differentiate them with the help of symptoms. Both mental health illnesses have different symptoms, and this section will help you to understand the psychological symptoms of depression and anxiety. The following are psychological symptoms of anxiety:
- A person with anxiety worries about the long-term future instead of focussing on the present life.
- Anxiety patients also have uncontrollable thoughts and think that something will go wrong with them.
- Anxiety patients also avoid the situations that could cause them anxiety.
- Anxiety patients think about death due to the physical symptoms of anxiety.
- Depending on the nature of the anxiety, symptoms can differ. A person with a general anxiety disorder will worry about specific events, topics, and activities. On the other hand, a person with a social anxiety disorder might experience fear of rejection or meeting people.
Like anxiety, depression also has psychological symptoms. The following are the psychological symptoms of depression:
- Depression patients assume nothing will happen positively with them, others, or the world. In short, they will feel hopeless.
- Depression patients might also feel worthless because they think they are not valuable to the world or their families.
- A depressed person will think differently due to hopeless feelings.
- Depressed people will also think about dying as they think life is not worth living or they are a burden on others. A person with significant depression might experience suicidal thoughts.
- Physical symptoms
Anxiety and depression also have physical symptoms. The following are physical symptoms of anxiety:
- Lack of concentration
- Difficult to sleep
- Dizziness
- Gastrointestinal distress like nausea
- High BP, heart rate, and sweating
- Muscle tension
- Breathing problem
Depression also has physical symptoms. The following are physical symptoms of depression:
- Difficulty in concentration
- Lack of energy
- Loss of appetite
- Slower moving or talking
- Sleeping much or less than an average person
Conclusion
Indeed, depression and anxiety are mental illnesses. But both illnesses have different symptoms that you read in this article. But the common thing is both illnesses need proper treatment.
