Do you think depression and anxiety are related?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (238306)
Walnut Creek, California
October 25, 2018 10:22am CST
Depressive Disorders and Anxiety Disorders are separate categories in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM). But the treatment for either can be a combination of talk therapy and anti-depressant medication, especially SSRIs like Prozac.
Do you think of the two as separate? Or do you (and those around you) tend to experience one when they experience the other. I've noticed, both in my friends and in myself (usually when grieving the loss of a loved one), that when I experience one I also tend to experience the other.
Do you think anxiety and depression are as "separate" as most psychologists seem to think? (Sorry to begin the day with such a depressing topic.)
12 people like this
15 responses
@cindiowens (5120)
• North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
25 Oct 18
I think, while they can be experienced at the same time, they are two distinctly different conditions.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Oct 18
I'd have to agree with you. And that's true "by definition," as the symptom list for each is different. But I still would guess that there's a high and statistically significant correlation between depression and anxiety scores.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
26 Oct 18
@cindiowens By the way, I'm sorry that it didn't "work." Psychiatry is such an inexact "science." It ticks me off.
2 people like this
@cindiowens (5120)
• North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
26 Oct 18
@TheHorse I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Agoraphobia. and severe panic disorder. The shrinks tried me on many antidepressants which seemed to highly aggravate the conditions. The only thing that seemed to help was Ativan, which they hate to prescribe. I have learned to deal with it a lot, but am by no means "cured".
2 people like this
@m_audrey6788 (58468)
• Germany
25 Oct 18
I think they are different as depression means something that made you sad while anxiety is all about fears 
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (54715)
• United States
25 Oct 18
I think that they can definitely both be present at the same time.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (91086)
• United States
25 Oct 18
I've experienced anxiety at times and very rarely depression (except when my mom passed away). I think both are separate
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15504)
• United Kingdom
25 Oct 18
No idea really.
I think it depends on the type of anxiety and the depth of depression also.
I do get anxious (as most people do) but it's for specific reasons which that I don't see as outside the norm...I wouldn't say I have any type of anxiety disorder.
I've also had a couple of bouts of depression which got to a stage where I did need medication to function properly for a while...I was a bit anxious then as I was off work so that's pretty normal.
Thinking about it more I think they are different things but I expect you can have both too.
That being said I don't really trust psychologists and psychiatrists because a few years ago 2 doctors said I had antisocial personality disorder and that is total BS.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
26 Oct 18
I hadn't thought about it. Interesting point though. Are there 2 ever experienced separately? Hm.
It does seem like the baseline for anxiety is rising in society though
1 person likes this
@thedevilinme (5216)
• Northampton, England
25 Oct 18
depression is negative thoughts making you ill
1 person likes this
@things4gotten (476)
• United States
26 Oct 18
From my experience with both, they are definitely different. But I think in some cases, they can stem from the same sources of the problems.
1 person likes this
