The Relationship Between Anxiety And Depression
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While anxiety is generally considered a high-energy state and depression a low-energy state, anxiety and depression are more closely related than you might think. A person with depression often experiences a lot of anxiety, possibly even to the extent of having panic attacks.1
Anxiety disorders involve more than common nervousness and worry. They can cause terrifying fear about things other people wouldnt think twice about. Many people with anxiety disorders fully comprehend that their thoughts are irrational. But they still cant stop them. Feelings of losing inner control haunt them. This angst is one of the entry ways for depression.2
How Is Depression Syndrome Diagnosed
Everyone may feel sad or down from time to time. However, clinical depression has more intense symptoms that last two weeks or longer.
To determine whether you have clinical depression, your healthcare provider will ask questions. You may complete a questionnaire and provide a family history. Your healthcare provider may also perform an exam or order lab tests to see if you have another medical condition.
Symptoms Of Anger & Depression
Everyone feels angry and depressed sometimes. In most cases, these feelings de-escalate and pass after the triggering situation is over however, chronic anger may underlie clinical depression. Similarly, depression itself may contribute to more intensified feelings of anger. There is no doubt that experiencing symptoms of anger and depression at the same time can be challenging.1
Its important to remember that there are different kinds of anger.2 For example, some people become violent when they feel angry. In those cases, the anger is apparent and dangerous. Other times, anger may be more covert. For example, instead of shouting at someone, you might respond with a passive-aggressive sarcastic reply or gossip behind their back.
Here are eleven common symptoms of anger:1
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Causes Of Depression During Periods
Its not known exactly how PMS causes depression, but its probably connected to the hormonal fluctuations that occur during the second half of the menstrual cycle, sensitivity of the central nervous system to reproductive hormones, genetic factors, and psychosocial factors such as stress.
Changes in levels of progesterone and estrogen can affect levels of serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate appetite, sleep cycle, and mood. Low serotonin levels may lead to feelings of irritability and sadness, unusual food cravings, and trouble sleeping, all of which are symptoms of PMS. In addition to these symptoms and depression while on your period you may also have:
- Anxiety
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Eating too little or too much
- Tiredness or fatigue
What Can I Do If I Have Depression
If you have symptoms of depression, see your healthcare provider. They can give you an accurate diagnosis, refer you to a specialist or suggest treatment options.
If you or someone you know is thinking of hurting themselves or taking their own life:
- Go to the emergency department of your hospital.
- Contact a healthcare provider.
- Speak to a trusted friend, family member or spiritual leader.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Depression is a common condition that affects millions of Americans every year. Anyone can experience depression even if there doesnt seem to be a reason for it. Causes of depression include difficulties in life, brain chemistry abnormalities, some medications and physical conditions. The good news is that depression is treatable. If you have symptoms of depression, talk to your healthcare provider. The sooner you get help, the sooner you can feel better
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 12/31/2020.
References
Recommended Reading: Dealing With Depression During Divorce
Mindfulness Meditation Or Yoga
If you enjoy deep breathing, you might also enjoy practicing mindfulness meditation or yoga to help you manage your anger related to depression. Given that depression means you are probably lacking motivation, this might not be the right fit until your depression is being treated .
However, if you’re feeling motivated enough to try, the act of doing yoga itself may help to reduce your stress and improve your mood. Overall, we know that exercise releases endorphin which leads to reductions in depression.
If you are interested in trying out mindfulness meditation, then you will want to find a meditation that focuses on anger, depression, or the combination of both feelings and emotions. Good meditations will lead you into a deep state of relaxation, help you to release your emotions, and then bring you back to present awareness.
How Often Do People With Bipolar Disorder Cycle
Verywell / Cindy Chung
In the context of bipolar disorder, a mental illness that involves extreme swings in mood, a cycle is the period of time in which an individual goes through one episode of mania and one episode of depression . Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer to how often these cycles occur.
The frequency and duration of bipolar cycles are as varied as the individuals who have them. A change or mood swing can last for hours, days, weeks, or even months.
Typically, someone with bipolar disorder experiences one or two cycles a year, with manic episodes generally occurring in the spring or fall.
A 2010 study of people with bipolar 1 disorder found that mood episodes lasted an average of 13 weeks. On average, people with bipolar will have one or two cycles yearly. In addition, there is a seasonal influencemanic episodes occur more often in the spring and fall.
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Depression Types Unique To Women
Although women are at higher risk for general depression, they are also at risk for two different depression types that are influenced by reproductive hormonesperinatal depression and premenstrual dysphoric disorder .
Does Stress Cause Loneliness
If you are having an issue with depression, there is help out there to support you and that you can count on. You can join support groups and find a therapist to talk to, or call a national helpline for more support. In fact, the suicide prevention hotline is a resource that you can call whenever are feeling severely upset. You can reach them by calling 1-800-273-8255. You can count on this national helpline anytime you need it, and get assistance with mental illness and for suicide prevention at critical moments in your life. Reaching out for help is the most courageous thing you can do in this challenging time.
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Stand Up To Your Inner Critic
As discussed in the section on emotionally focused therapy, being able to stand up to your inner critic will help to alleviate your depression and possibly also reduce your anger. This requires you to acknowledge your anger and emotions, rather than avoiding your feelings.
This is best done with the help of a therapist however, you can also engage in this process by writing about your feelings in a journal, identifying your critical inner voice, writing responses to your critical inner voice
How Long Depression Lasts Depends On Many Factors
Depression affects everyone differently.
Even though there are a few established symptoms of the condition, not everyone experiences them in the same way.
For some people, depression symptoms are persistent over the years. For others, symptoms will come and go at times.
Some research suggests that the symptoms of clinical depression can last an average of 10 months if no other mental health conditions are present.
But this is not always the case. Because there are different types of depression, symptom duration varies greatly.
For example, a depressive episode caused by mourning might last a few days or weeks and often resolves on its own.
In most cases, however, depression requires the support of a health professional.
There are many types of depression, and the type youre experiencing may impact how long or intense your symptoms are.
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Does Depression Cause Anger
In mental health, its far too simplistic to assume that one condition causes another symptom or issue. Instead, its better to assume that there is likely a correlation, and many confounding variables may contribute to this relationship. In this case, depression may trigger more anger, and unresolved anger might exacerbate depression.
How Is Depression Treated
While depression can have dramatic effects on a persons sleep and overall quality of life, it can be treated. After working with a doctor or mental health provider to understand the type and severity of depression, treatment may include:
- Counseling: Depression can be treated effectively with several types of counseling, including cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy . CBT for insomnia is a type of CBT that focuses on managing chronic insomnia.
- Medications: Antidepressants are an effective treatment for depression. These prescription medications usually take time before they begin to improve symptoms and patients may need to try several antidepressants before finding the right fit. A doctor or psychiatrist can discuss the appropriateness of these medications and recommend a specific type.
- Brain stimulation therapies: When medications and other approaches are not effective, some people with depression consider electroconvulsive therapy or other, more recent types of brain stimulation like repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and vagus nerve stimulation . These treatments can be effective but are only provided under the guidance of a trained professional.
Treatment often isnt limited to just one of these approaches in fact, combining medication and psychotherapy has shown higher rates of improvement than one approach alone.
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What Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider
If you have SAD, ask your provider:
- What treatment is best for me?
- How can I prevent depressive episodes?
- Will light therapy work?
- Should I take an antidepressant?
- When should I start treatment?
- How long should my treatment continue?
- What can I eat to improve my symptoms?
- What else can I do to feel better?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that happens every year during a specific season, usually winter. Symptoms can include a lack of energy and feelings of hopelessness. Fortunately, theres treatment for seasonal depression. Talk to your healthcare provider. The provider may recommend a special lamp for SAD. The lamp emits bright light to improve symptoms. Antidepressants and talk therapy can also provide relief. If youve had seasonal depression in the past, talk to your provider about starting treatment before symptoms begin.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 12/07/2020.
References
Try Increasing Your Activities
It can be hard to find the motivation to do pretty much anything when youre depressed. And when your activity level drops, you might feel even less motivated and more tired. This leads to a vicious cycle.
With physical tiredness, you need to rest. But with depression, its the opposite. Sleeping and sitting around often make you feel more tired and also gives you time to sit with depressive thoughts, which can make you feel worse.
One way to break this cycle is to start gently increasing your activities. This is a cognitive behavioral therapy technique known as behavioral activation. The theory is that doing things will help give you the energy to do more things.
Again, start small, and prioritize manageable, reasonable activities that bring some enjoyment, or activities that provide a sense of achievement.
Here are some ideas for gentle activities to try:
- Go for a small walk, and smell the flowers that you pass on the way.
- Watch birds in your local park.
- Make a playlist of upbeat music.
- Move your body in a way that feels good.
- Research a topic that youre interested in.
- Do a jigsaw or a crossword puzzle.
- Make a warm drink.
- Rewatch a favorite movie.
- Have a spontaneous picnic.
For more ideas and for a worksheet to help you monitor your activities and mood changes, you can check out the Behavioural Strategies for Managing Depression worksheet from the Center for Clinical Interventions in Australia.
Recommended Reading: How To Combat Depression Naturally
Healthy Life Strong Mind
Get a Pet
Therapy animals are more common now than ever before, and many studies suggest that they are useful in treating the symptoms of anxiety. Having an animal-usually referred to as a Therapy Animal and Emotional Support Animal-to care for, hold onto, and come home to can make the isolation that often accompanies these conditions to lessen, and can give you a renewed sense of purpose.
Seek Help
Although many insurance providers are hesitant to work with online providers, more and more companies are making the change to offer online therapists as part of their networks. If your insurance does not cover online therapy, this does not have to be a major deterrent because therapists are not paying for the space to deliver in-person therapy, some may offer their services for lower prices, making online therapy a realistic, affordable option for many people. Below are some reviews of BetterHelp therapists, from people experiencing similar issues of depression and loneliness.
Therapist Reviews
“Patricia is excellent, very knowledgeable, empathetic, and helpful. Her professionalism helped make my journey less lonely, and gave me so much more clarity.”
Moving Forward
The Depression After A Hypomania Collapses My Brain
And when I said my brain collapsed afterward, I mean it absolutely collapsed. Really, thats what it feels like. It feels like my brain implodes and Im incapable of even sitting upright let alone writing and being productive. It is so physically disabling that I can barely move. People who think mental illness is all in your head should be in my body for a minute in that state and it would eradicate all such stupid thoughts.
And since that time, I have been in a very bad way. I realize thats not very descriptive but its really how it works. Its a combination of pain, suffering, extreme and unending fatigue, suicidality and physical phantom pains. Its slowed cognition and difficulty thinking and fear that my brain is so unpredictable that I cant leave the house.
I deal with depression on a regular basis and Im absolutely clear on the fact that depression after a hypomania is oh, so much worse.
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Know The Signs Of A Major Depressive Episode
It is very common for a person with depression to be unaware that they are entering a depressive episode. Recognizing the signs in oneself is challenging, but it helps to be able to see an episode coming. By being more aware of the return of depression, an individual can better deal with it: asking for help, reaching out to socialize, taking self-care measures, practicing stress-relief strategies, or making extra therapy appointments. Being aware of a coming depressive episode isnt easy, but there are practices that can help:
Develop A Support System
If you are struggling with depression and anger, you will also want to develop a strong support system. While this might be problematic if you are living with depression, having at least one person you can rely on for support will be helpful.
If there is nobody in your personal life that you feel provides you support adequate for your needs, you might benefit from joining a support group specifically for depression and/or anger. In one of these groups, you will find others struggling through the same challenges as you.
And, unlike a friend or family member, you aren’t likely to be given advice or told that what you are feeling isn’t that bad. Instead, you’re likely to find yourself spending time with people who completely understand your situation.
In addition, if you join a group with a facilitator, you may find that you are offered helpful strategies to better manage your depression and anger. Having a support group who understands what you are going through will be important, especially if you find yourself relapsing after treatment.
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When Antidepressants Are Necessary
âIf you are so depressed that you canât get up to wash or do your chores, and just getting out of the house feels like a tremendous hurdle, medication is definitely the way to go,â she says. âAntidepressants can help take the edge off and allow you to engage in therapy and get out of the vicious cycle.â
Medications may also help by stopping some of the negative thinking patterns that make it difficult to see out of a depression, she says. Thoughts such as âthis will never end and will go on foreverâ make it hard to move forward. âTherapy is beneficial along with medication, especially if you have psychosocial stressors in your life that are contributing to how you feel,â she says.
Some antidepressants are started at lower doses in case there are any side effects. After one or two weeks, doses can be gradually increased — if needed — to get the desired effects on your mood. Antidepressants typically donât work overnight. Some may take longer than others to kick in. It usually takes about six weeks, on average, for antidepressants to begin to have a positive effect on your mood, Virk says. âBe patient and stay in close contact with your doctor.â
The good news is that there are many antidepressants for your doctor to choose from today. If one doesnât work, they can adjust the dose, switch to another, or even add a second medication to the mix.