Anxiety and Depression! Know the Difference

Anxiety and Depression! Know the Difference

Depression and anxiety are two very distinct facets of mental health. These two terms are sometimes confused, but they are entirely different, my buddy. Depression, in contrast to anxiety, can result in major health issues, self-harm, and, in extreme circumstances, death. Let's debunk some misconceptions and explain how these two terms differ from one another.

Anxiety

Anxiety is a quick, frequently transient wave of emotion. Anything can cause anxiety, including obtaining a failing grade on an exam, losing your job, losing a pet, and even overcast weather. More than just feeling down can be anxiety. Any feeling that can be a component of anxiety can come over you in waves, including dread and rage. But when the situation changes, everything will go back to normal.

Symptoms of Anxiety

A sudden loss of appetite

Sleeping too much or too less

Excessive and unrealistic views of a problem

A sense of impending danger or panic of doom

You are too restless or too tired

Stomach upset, noise, vomiting

These could be some of the signs of anxiety, but keep in mind that there are other signs as well. Everybody experiences anxiety at some point in their lives, but these emotions pass with time and external factors. Even though anxiety is transient, you should not disregard it since it could push you into situations that you later come to regret.

You might think of anxiety as cloudy weather. It might remain there for a brief period of time, but eventually it will be carried away by the breeze of joy.

How to Deal with Anxiety?

Everyone has a different way of coping with anxiety, whether it be through meditation, reading a book, playing video games, watching a comedy, spending time with family and friends, or engaging in activities they enjoy or eating their favourite foods. The list goes on and on, but the point is that we can get rid of anxiety by engaging in the activities we enjoy. However, we should be careful not to make it a habit to use alcohol or other harmful substances to cope with worry. Although they could make you feel calmer momentarily, they will eventually hurt you.

Depression 

In contrast to anxiety, depression is a medical disease that lasts at least two weeks and affects a person's capacity for work, play, or romantic relationships. Depression is a disease that needs to be treated just like any other medical ailment, but because it does not manifest physically like other diseases, diagnosing depression can be challenging. Sometimes the only person who is aware of it is the depressed individual. Because many members of our culture still view sadness as a sign of weakness and because those who are depressed are generally thought of as emotionally fragile, discussing depression is still not common in our society, and those who are depressed frequently avoid doing so. Because they feel it is rude to show their emotions in public, men are more prone than women to experience depression.

Symptoms of Depression

A wide range of symptoms can be associated with depression. Following are a few of them:

A low mood

Loss of interest in the things you normally enjoy

Changes in appetite

Feeling worthless or excessively guilty

Sleeping either too much or too little

Poor concentration

Restlessness or laziness

Loss of energy

Recurrence thoughts of suicide

In accordance with psychiatric recommendations, you meet the criteria for the diagnosis of depression if you exhibit at least five of the aforementioned symptoms. Depression has internal manifestations, albeit they don't always emerge as behavioural symptoms. With the aid of X-ray vision, we can see the following changes:

Hormonal irregularity, such as elevated cortisol and thyroid hormone deregulation, is also a component of depression, as are smaller frontal lobes and lower hippocampus sizes.

Scientists still don't fully understand the root causes of depression. We don't have a diagnostic instrument that can precisely forecast where or when it will manifest itself, but it appears to have something to do with the intricate interaction between genes and environment.

It can be difficult to tell someone may appear to be in good health but is actually battling with depression because its signs are imperceptible. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that it typically takes a depressed person ten years before seeking treatment.

Treatments

Depression is treatable with medications that are incredibly powerful. The combination of medication and therapy raises brain chemical levels. Transcranial magnetic stimulation is one other possible treatment that is currently being studied.

Conclusion

So, if you know someone who is depressed, kindly and gently urge them to seek medical attention. You may also offer to help with certain chores, like finding local therapists.

Remind them that sadness is a medical condition just like diabetes if they are feeling guilty or humiliated. Make them think that it is not a deficiency in their character or a weakness. Keep in mind that as more people seek treatment, researchers learn more about depression, which leads to better treatments.

Tags:

mental health, problem of mental health, anxiety and depression

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