Depression commonly manifests physically, through stomach pains, headaches, disrupted or excessive sleep, and motor control difficulty. While the causes of depression are unknown, a predisposition for it runs in families and it can be triggered by trauma and adverse life circumstances. Depression is diagnosed more frequently in women and tends to display differently in women than in men - just as it displays differently in adults than in adolescents and children.
Anxiety commonly manifests through physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, excessive sweat, muscle tension, shortness of breath, and the like. Anxiety can have a genetic predisposition in families as well and can be seen in phobias, repetitive behaviors, excessive worry or preparation, inability to focus, and avoidance. Most anxiety disorders occur more frequently in women than men and commonly begin in childhood and build, but onset can be at any age.
People tend to suffer higher rates of depression after giving birth and in late fall through winter. Depression and anxiety often exacerbate each other and people with depression commonly have difficulty concentrating on tasks and conversations. Some people abuse alcohol and drugs or overeat as a way of coping, causing them to develop other medical problems. Depressed people are also at increased risk for self-harm.
Depression is a mental illness which is characterized by prolonged emotional symptoms including:
- Apathy
- Sadness
- Guilt
- Exhaustion
- Irritability
Anxiety is a mental illness which is characterized by prolonged emotional symptoms including:
- Fear
- Worry
- Guilt
- Exhaustion
- Irritability
Diagnosing involves a psychiatric evaluation and physical tests to determine whether a person’s symptoms are actually being caused by a different disorder. A person must have been experiencing symptoms for at least two weeks to be diagnosed with depression and six months to be diagnosed with most anxiety. Every case is unique and requires individual attention, but there are a number of effective complementary ways to treat, including:
- Talk therapy
- Medication
- Adopting a healthier lifestyle
- Systematic desensitization for anxiety