The Link Between Anxiety and Depression: What You Need to Know
Understanding more about mental health and mental illnesses can be one of the initial steps towards the development of healthier well-being. Depression and anxiety are two of the very common mental health disorders that can be experienced by people from diverse age groups. While both of them are very distinct from one another in this blog we aim to help you understand the link between anxiety and depression.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety can be explained as an unpleasant emotional state wherein one may experience apprehensiveness concerning future events. It can also be caused because of the presence of real or perceived threats around the individual. Depending on the person’s signs and symptoms of anxiety one can get assessments and diagnosis from a psychiatrist and clinical psychologist. The different disorders categories under anxiety disorder include generalised anxiety disorder, phobias, panic disorder etc. A few of the many symptoms of anxiety can include:
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Breathlessness
- Excessive worry
- Sleep disturbance
- Concentration issues
The intensity and duration of these symptoms along with any other signs can help in identifying the concern in-depth.
What is Depression?
Depression is characterised as a mood disorder that can impact an individual’s cognitive, behavioural and emotional facets of life. It can involve diverse symptoms that should be observed consistently for a specific period for the major depressive disorder diagnosis. A few of the signs and symptoms of depression include:
- Feeling of guilt
- Suicidal ideation
- Sleep disturbance
- Decreased energy
- Hopelessness
- Severe weight changes
The severity of concerns can vary and accordingly, the treatment approach can be developed to suit the person’s needs.
Link Between Anxiety and Depression
It should be noted that the experience of anxiety and feeling low can be subjective and occur in daily life as well. The diagnosis of anxiety disorder and major depression disorder is done by qualified mental health professionals based on detailed assessments, symptoms experienced, duration of symptoms etc.
At times, one may get a dual diagnosis that is anxiety as well as depression. This can lead to an alteration in the treatment plan so that both disorders can be treated effectively. It may also happen that because of chronic anxiety, one also starts experiencing symptoms of depression. Some common risk factors that can contribute towards both disorders include hereditary factors and traumatic situations.
Both anxiety and depression can have a severe impact on the daily functioning of the person such as academics, professional life, social life etc. Some treatment approaches that can be explored especially in the case of dual diagnosis include cognitive behavior therapy, pharmacotherapy and adapting towards healthy lifestyle changes.
Finding the Right Support for Coping with Anxiety and Depression
One of the most important steps of the mental health recovery journey can be finding the right support for the management of anxiety and depression. Some crucial points that you can be mindful of while looking for the right support to cope with mental health disorders include:
Empathetic Approach
Seeking support for mental health concerns takes a lot of courage and you deserve to walk on this recovery journey with empathy. Empathy can help the client open up, feel safe and share about the challenges without any hesitation.
Qualified Professional
A professional who is qualified and certified in supporting individuals to manage anxiety and treatment would be able to look at the concern from diverse perspectives and provide comprehensive assistance.
Additional Certifications
At times you may have a preferred treatment approach such as the use of a particular modality (Expressive Arts Therapy, EMDR etc) and therefore you can look for mental health practitioners who have expertise in that area.
Cost and Accessibility
Mental health treatment can be for a long duration and therefore it is better to have an honest conversation regarding consultation fees and overall treatment costs. Furthermore, accessibility of the professionals near one’s place can save commuting time and expense.
These are just a few of the many factors that can play an impeccable role in finding the right support for coping with anxiety and depression. You can make a list of the top most important factors for yourself and shortlist the organisations accordingly.
Athena Behavioral Health – Your Trusted Depression and Anxiety Treatment Centre
Athena Behavioral Health is a renowned depression and anxiety treatment centre in Gurgaon that believes in you finding compassionate care for your mental health recovery journey. We are committed to offering a safe space from where you can begin your healing journey.
Our team provides systematic care for dual diagnosis so that the journey becomes easier for you. Mental health practitioners use evidence-based treatment approaches for the management of anxiety and depression.
You do not have to cope with all the mental health concerns by yourself – Reach out today and book a consultation with our team to start your wellness journey!
