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Anxiety and Your Depression

THE LINK BETWEEN DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY

Depression and anxiety are sometimes hard to tell apart. While they may seem like completely different conditions, chronic depression can hide anxiety, while people who suffer from general feelings of anxiety may actually be experiencing a symptom of depression. Further, when people begin treatment for depression, the new focus on underlying issues sometimes causes anxiety symptoms, such as frequent heart palpitations, agitation and feelings of nervousness.

Which is it?

Many times, the same individual feels depressed and anxious, either at different times or at the same time. This can make it more challenging to decide whether the main issue is depression or an anxiety disorder. Symptoms that are the same in both conditions include obsessive thoughts or rumination, panicky feelings, stomach upset and racing heartbeat. Symptoms like sadness, lethargy, hopelessness and lack of motivation are more characteristic of depression than anxiety.

Anxiety may be caused by depression

Many times anxiety escalates because of depression and the behavior associated with being depressed. For instance, if depression causes a person to become isolated, he or she may become anxious about being alone. Depression-related anxiety can also result from financial worries due to the inability to concentrate and work effectively while depressed. Students who suffer from depression may experience anxiety about grades.

What to do about anxiety and depression  

Since anxiety and depression are related, they are often treated in similar ways. If medications are prescribed, SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) may be used because these medications target the brain chemical serotonin, which regulates mood. People with higher levels of serotonin experience less depressive symptoms and fewer feelings of anxiety. However, some medications for depression may make symptoms of anxiety worse because raising serotonin levels too much causes a condition called serotonin syndrome which may increase anxiety symptoms.

Anxiety and depression both interfere with the limbic system of the brain – the area that regulates mood. Chemicals like serotonin and others, which are called neurotransmitters, create “good” feelings. When the brain cannot produce these chemicals for one reason or another, feelings of happiness and contentment diminish and feelings sadness, lethargy, anxiety and agitation increase. The goal, then, is to keep levels of mood-regulating neurotransmitters high. While medications can be helpful in this regard, you don’t necessarily need them.

Lifting Mood the Natural Way

Levels of serotonin increase when you exercise, eat a healthy diet and spend time outdoors. That’s why regular exercise and healthy eating habits are so important for people who suffer from depression and/or anxiety disorders. Interestingly, changing the way you think can also raise serotonin levels, which is why counseling and psychotherapy are often helpful.

Since the mind and body are closely connected, exercises that target both, like yoga, meditation and tai chi, can do wonders for people who suffer from chronic symptoms of depression and anxiety. These practices work by calming the mind so that extremes of emotion can be avoided. Guided meditation and hypnosis are forms of mind-body therapy that focus on guiding you to change the thinking habits that contribute to negative emotions.

In some cases, herbal remedies can be beneficial to people who suffer from minor depression or anxiety. One of the most common herbs for depression is St. Johns Wort, but there are many other herbs as well as other nutritional approaches to boosting mood and alleviating anxiety.

More information about natural ways to beat depression and anxiety can be found in here. You will also learn more about how you can use your thoughts and the power of your mind to manage your emotions.

EXCERPT

This article provides an overview of how depression is related to anxiety and suggests ways to manage both conditions.

The Cause of Depression

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF DEPRESSION?

The causes of depression can be difficult to pinpoint. Since more than one factor contributes to the onset of depression in most people, it is almost impossible to say exactly what caused depression in any one person. Depression is not like the flu, where a certain virus is the cause. There are a lot of factors that appear to contribute to depression, and perhaps a group of factors is responsible for causing depression when they come together in a certain way. Many people have a genetic predisposition to depression, but even that in itself does not necessarily mean a person will become depressed. Other factors come into play as well.

Genetics and Depression

Several chemicals in the brain regulate mood and emotions. Known as neurotransmitters, these chemicals include serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. Some people have lower levels of these chemicals available. In depression that is biologically or genetically based, depression symptoms are the result of depleted levels of neurotransmitters. A person who is genetically prone to depression may experience a quick downward spiral when something triggers a low mood. When neurotransmitters levels drop, behavior and thought patterns are affected. This can also happen the other way around; that is, depressive behaviors and negative thoughts can lower levels of neurotransmitters. In this way, depression can literally change brain chemistry and become a biological condition over time if it is not treated. When depression takes hold in this way, at least a short course of medication is often the only way to treat it. However, it is sometimes possible to recognize symptoms of depression and treat the condition naturally before it gets this severe.

Developmental causes of Depression

Some cases of depression are triggered by traumatic early experiences, such as being abused, abandoned or neglected in childhood. The theory behind developmental depression is that it is caused by an insecure upbringing that did not allow a person to grow into a happy, confident adult. The result can be a sense of sadness and loss in adulthood. People with developmental depression may be insecure and feel worthless. They may also have difficulty achieving what they want to accomplish in life or even setting goals in the first place.   

Situational Depression

Situations such as the death of a loved one, the loss of a job or a life-threatening illness can also cause or contribute to depression. While everyone feels down when bad things happen, situational depression can become full-blown clinical depression in certain cases. If a person is biologically prone to depression or has inadequate support or coping skills, he or she may not be able to recover from a stressful situation and may instead become clinically depressed.

Causes of Major Depression

“Major depression” is the term used to describe a severe and debilitating case of depression. Major depression significantly affects a person’s ability to function, and it almost always requires professional, medical intervention. Biology is most likely to be at least partly the cause of major depression, though the condition can be triggered by something else, such as trauma or loss.

Solving the Mystery of Depression

The cause of depression may not be obvious until it is treated. Often a depression treatment that works for one person may not work for another, and that’s because each case of depression has a unique set of causes. If medication works, the depression has a biological component. If counseling works, there may be a behavioral cause or a problem with thinking patterns. If a change in diet helps, some aspect of the depression may have been caused by a nutritional deficiency. If finding a better job after being fired turns depression around, the cause of the depression was most likely situational.

In the end, knowing what causes depression may not be as important as knowing how to treat it. You can find out more about how to treat specific depression causes in Here. The guide provides a variety of options for treatment from which you can develop a targeted plan that works in your own unique case.

EXCERPT

This article explains that depression is a complex condition that may not have an obvious specific cause. A number of possible causes for various types of depression are provided.

Depression Treatment

FINDING DEPRESSION TREATMENT THAT WORKS FOR YOU

Depression is a debilitating condition with symptoms that may include feelings of hopelessness and despair, extreme fatigue and lack of interest in doing anything. People with depression feel drained and often lack the motivation to do anything about their condition. However, no matter what the cause or symptoms, most cases of depression can be treated. The trick is to find the right depression treatment for your particular symptoms.

If you have been depressed for a while, a doctor may have suggested that you try antidepressants. Prescription medications can be part of an overall treatment plan for moderate to severe depression, but it is not the only solution. Especially in cases of mild depression, there are many other things that can alleviate the symptoms, and you might want to try these before using prescription drugs. Here are some suggestions.

Don’t go it alone

Positive energy is contagious, so if you are depressed, find positive people to support you. You may find that you naturally attract or are attracted to people who feel more negative, which will only cause your own depressed feelings to grow stronger. When you are depressed, you need to find positive people to challenge the negative mindset that keeps depression going strong. This does not mean you should completely reject friends or family members who may also have feelings of depression. After all, you wouldn’t want them to reject you. Just be sure to seek out others who can help lift your mood and challenge you to fight your depression.

Take care of your health

There is no doubt that the body and mind are one. If you are not well physically, you will not feel well emotionally either. On the other hand, it’s much harder to feel depressed when your body is in top condition and your energy is strong. One of the best antidotes to depression is regular exercise. Exercise works because it releases chemicals that make you feel good. These chemicals are called endorphins. Exercise also helps to improve the flow of oxygen through your bloodstream, which increases energy.

Another way to stay healthy is to eat well. A diet that is based on fruits, vegetables and whole grains will keep your energy stable, while eating processed foods and foods that are loaded with sugar will send you on a roller coaster of ups and downs that can end up being exhausting. Also be sure to get some exposure to natural sunlight every day. It will probably not surprise you that people who spend more time outdoors are often less depressed. Light therapy in the form of a commercial light box can also be used effectively in the treatment of depression.

Help others

If you are depressed, you probably don’t feel very good about yourself. One way to turn this around is to help others. Whether you do volunteer work or just spend time with a friend who is alone, helping others can be an important part of treatment for depression. When you spend time with other people, especially people in need, you see that everyone struggles with problems. Focusing on the problems of others can be a welcomed distraction from your own problems and depression.

Do things you enjoy

Obviously it’s hard to be depressed when you’re having fun! However, if you suffer from chronic depression, you may avoid doing enjoyable things because one of the symptoms of depression is lack of motivation. Overcoming depression can also become so much the focus of your attention that you approach life with a sense of intensity and the idea that you must work harder to meet your daily responsibilities. This leaves little time for joy. Making time for fun is crucial if you want to overcome depression. Even if you don’t “feel like” doing anything, do something anyway. Take a bike ride around the park, play a game or join a friend for a movie. In short, make fun part of your routine. Before you know it, you’ll look forward to these enjoyable activities and you will begin to notice that you are having more fun with life than you thought!

Find help when you need it

Self help is very valuable for many people, but sometimes persistent moderate to severe depression cannot be overcome without professional help. Don’t be afraid to talk to a professional if you find that “nothing works” when you are trying to overcome depression on your own. More ideas about depression treatments can be found Here. The ebook includes a variety of natural ways to manage depression as well as advice on what to do if you need more help.

 EXCERPT

This article provides practical advice for overcoming depression without prescription drugs, as well as what to do if you need more help.