Immune System In Depression
Increasing studies suggest that psychological stress has an important effect on the immune system , while researches showing that components of immune system such as interleukin-1 , IL-6, soluble IL-2 receptors and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were elevated in depressive patients indicate that the immune system is closely associated with depression. Peripheral inducers of immune cytokines may generate symptoms of depression and in the brain, these inducers may decrease monoamine levels that most current antidepressants aim to increase.
As an important regulator of brain-body interaction, immune mediators such as cytokines affect diverse central nervous system functions involved in depression such as cognition, sleep and reward .
Although IL-1 plays a necessary and sufficient role in the cytostatic effect of stress on hippocampal progenitor cells, IL-6 may also conduce to the inhibition of proliferation . This may be consistent with the hypothesis that hippocampal neurogenesis is necessary for the treatment of depression . Furthermore, mice with IL-6 gene deleted manifested resistance to the development of depressive symptoms induced by stress , which could be adopted as a tool to study the mechanism underlying the pathology of depression and to screen potential antidepressant drugs.
Whats The Link Between Depression And Chronic Illness
In some people, a chronic illness causes depression. A chronic illness is an illness that lasts for a very long time and usually cannot be cured completely. However, chronic illnesses can often be controlled through diet, exercise, lifestyle habits, and certain medications. Some examples of chronic illnesses that may cause depression are diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, kidney disease, HIV and AIDS, lupus, and multiple sclerosis . Hypothyroidism may also lead to depressed feelings.
Researchers believe that treating the depression may sometimes also help the co-existing medical illness improve.
Actions For This Page
- Anxiety and depression in men are common, and effective, evidence-based treatments are available.
- Anxiety and depression are mental health conditions, not weaknesses.
- Taking action may seem difficult but help and support is readily available.
- Its important to seek support for anxiety and depression early the sooner the better.
- With the right treatment, most people recover from anxiety and depression.
You May Like: Why Do I Feel So Depressed In The Morning
Why Does Depression Cause Anxiety
Question: I have depression, but I noticed that Ive been feeling anxious a lot of the time. Why does depression cause anxiety?
Answer: Depression and anxiety often run together. You can think of them as two threads that together weave a fabric. On occasion, we do we see patients who have only depression, without significant anxiety, or only anxiety, without depression. However, usually, over time, one leads to the other. Its hard to feel very anxious for any length of time without this causing depression. By the same token, when someone is depressed for a prolonged period, it eventually brings on anxiety. The good news is that treating depression usually also results in improvement in anxiety because of how the medications for depression work. Increasing serotonin levels in your brain tends to improve both depression and anxiety.N.B. This blog is for informational purposes only and nothing in this should be construed as establishing a doctor patient relationship or the provision of medical advice.
What Strategies Are Often Used In Treating This Dual Diagnosis
Evidence-based research suggests that both anxiety and depression be treated at the same time.
Effective strategies often used in treating these co-occurring conditions include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy CBT is often used to treat people with both disorders. Fears, anxieties and tendencies toward depression are managed by seeking out their root causes. Once uncovered, patients learn how to take control of their emotions and life.
- Antidepressant medications Often combined with CBT, these may be prescribed in treating both disorders. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are new antidepressant drugs that produce fewer side effects than their predecessors.
- Exercise This can be very helpful for both disorders. Physical activity causes feel-good chemicals to be released in the body. This aids in relaxation and feeling of well-being.
- Relaxation techniques This typically involves meditation or mindfulness. These techniques can often help to remedy both disorders and improve quality of life.2
Also Check: What To Do When You Have Severe Depression
The Brain’s Impact On Depression
Popular lore has it that emotions reside in the heart. Science, though, tracks the seat of your emotions to the brain. Certain areas of the brain help regulate mood. Researchers believe that more important than levels of specific brain chemicals nerve cell connections, nerve cell growth, and the functioning of nerve circuits have a major impact on depression. Still, their understanding of the neurological underpinnings of mood is incomplete.
Signs Anxiety May Be The Cause
If you identify with most of these symptoms, you may be experiencing anxiety:
- Cold, sweaty, numb, or tingling hands or feet
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Dizziness
Being diagnosed with a specific anxiety disorder may also mean anxiety is a root cause. For instance, someone who experiences panic attacks or social anxiety may still have symptoms of depression. These may cause someone to withdraw from life, relationships, or social settings. This behavior can trigger feelings of hopelessness and loneliness, which may mimic depression.
Anxiety may also be a more likely cause if:
- You have a family history of anxiety
- You experienced shyness as a child
- You have experienced these symptoms from a young age
People diagnosed with depression may experience feelings of anxiety. The term for this is anxious distress. It is characterized by feelings of tension, restlessness, and difficulty focusing. The sense of hopelessness that can come with depression may cause worry about the future. Those who experience depression and anxious distress may be at a higher risk for suicidal thoughts. It is important to seek treatment in these cases.
Also Check: My Friend Is Severely Depressed What Do I Do
Disconnection From Hope For The Future
While disconnection from childhood trauma is a form of disconnection from the past, this section focuses on disconnection from the future: specifically, being unable to picture a hopeful future for yourselfor even any future at all.
You might assume that a lost sense of the future is just another symptom of depressionpeople get depressed, so they stop planning ahead because there doesnt seem to be a pointbut a lost sense of the future can also cause depression. Researchers confirmed this by studying indigenous First Nations groups in Canada. For generations, indigenous Canadians have suffered the same state-sanctioned abuses as Native Americans in the United States, including being forced off their ancestral land and into reservations. As a result, suicide rates were higher among First Nations people than any other group in Canadabut those suicides were clustered in only half of the 196 indigenous nations. The other half had zero suicides.
Feeling in control of your life is so important to avoiding depression because when you dont control your life, you cant control your future and when you have no way to influence the future, its hard to picture a happy one that feels remotely attainable. If your present reality is brutal and you cant picture a hopeful future, depression is a pretty logical response.
Signs Of Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety disorders share the features of excessive fear, anxiety, and other physical symptoms, such as palpitations and headaches. When you feel anxious, you become vigilant about any potential threats that may harm you . For instance, you may be anxious about public speaking because you anticipate that you may end up embarrassing yourself.
All anxiety disorders have irrational and excessive fears, apprehensive and tense feelings which may also be accompanied by difficulties in managing life. Though there are overlapping anxiety symptoms, there are numerous types of anxiety disorders. Among them are:
Also Check: Can Hormone Imbalance Cause Depression
Does Anxiety Cause Depression
So, can one mood disorder cause another? The short answer is: its entirely possible.
Here are some numbers to consider.
Between 10 percent and 20 percent of adults in a 12-month period visit their healthcare provider for depression or anxiety-related issues, according to the US National Library of Medicine.
Of those people, more than half suffer from comorbiditya co-occurring disorderof the other option.
In other words, half of the people seeking help for anxiety may have depression, and half of the people seeking help for depression may have anxiety.
What we dont know is whether one tends to lead to another more frequently. Its a sort of chicken-and-egg problemresearch is still in its early years in trying to determine whether one tends to cause the other.
Unfortunately, one thing we do know is that patients with both depression and anxiety tend to have a more severe set of symptoms.
And the presence of both disorders not only slows the recovery rate, but tends to lead to more frequent recurrence of one or both disorders once patients have healed.
So, to conclude: though we dont know everything, what we do know is that having both is worse than having just one. And left untreated, each mental illness could get worse.
Treatment For Anxiety And Depression In Teens
The prognosis of comorbid anxiety and depression is worse than either condition alone, with an increased risk of recurrence, higher risk of suicide, greater impairment, and longer duration.
Thankfully, comorbid anxiety and depression in adolescents and teenagers is treatable, especially if caught early. The most commonly used approach for treating both anxiety and depression is cognitive-behavioral therapy . Cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches individuals to catch and challenge negative thoughts, recognize unhealthy patterns of behavior, and identify helpful ways to cope with the difficult symptoms of depression and anxiety.
If the depression, anxiety, or both are on the more severe side, medication may also be incorporated into the treatment plan.
For more information on how Polaris Teen Center can help your teen, please contact our admissions department or call 1-844-836-0222.
Also Check: Major Depressive Disorder Medication List
The Line Between Anxiety And Depression
The diagnosis of depression and anxiety can run along similar lines. In this article, we will look at the conundrum – where is the line drawn between depression and anxiety?
One of hardest things for people with an anxiety disorder is to describe exactly what is actually happening to them. When they go to the doctor, it is hard to put in words, sometimes, the full experience . When people experience panic attacks and dissociative symptoms, this can be increased a hundred fold. How do you transmit across to another person the full experience of what is happening? Obviously, it is very hard for someone who has never experienced the full impact of an anxiety disorder to understand. Ultimately, people relate to each other according to their own experience.
“Oh, anxiety. We all get anxious sometimes. What’s your problem?”
As for the doctor, it is difficult for a doctor to truly get to the depths of what is happening. The physical symptoms of anxiety are one thing, but the emotional and psychological effects run very deep indeed.
The diagnosis of depression and anxiety can run along similar lines. In this article, we will look at that the conundrum – where is the line drawn between depression and anxiety?
What Is The Link Between Smoking And Mental Health Conditions
Smoking is much more common among adults with mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, than in the general population.6 About 3 out of every 10 cigarettes smoked by adults in the United States are smoked by persons with mental health conditions.6 Why smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to experience depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions is uncertain. More research is needed to determine this. No matter the cause smoking is not a treatment for depression or anxiety. Getting help for your depression and anxiety and quitting smoking is the best way to feel better.
Textbox module not selected or not found.
Don’t Miss: Lithium Augmentation Treatment Resistant Depression
Addressing Your Mental Health By Identifying The Signs Of Anxiety And Depression
What is stress, and what happens when we arent able to cope well with stress? Stress can present itself after being fired from a job, going through a divorce or losing a loved one. Even getting married, transitioning to a new job or having a baby can cause stress.
Many people look to define stress as either good or bad, when in reality its neither. Stress is an event we view as out of our control and typically occurs outside our daily routines. How we react shapes our ability to cope with these and other similar events in the future. When individuals struggle to cope with stressful situations, depression and anxiety become more noticeable.
According to the World Health Organization, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting more than 40 million adults every year.
The most common anxiety disorders include excessive fear or anxiety of:
- Specific phobias
- Natural environment heights, storms, water
- Blood-injection injury needles, invasive medical procedures
- Locations airplanes, elevators, enclosed places
Its common for those struggling with anxiety disorders to also struggle with depression or vice versa. Close to 10 percent of the worlds population suffers from anxiety and depression. However, while anxiety and depressive disorders are highly treatable, only a small percent of affected individuals receive treatment.
- Genetics
How Is Genetics Linked To The Risk Of Depression
We know that depression can sometimes run in families. This suggests that there’s at least a partial genetic link to depression. Children, siblings, and parents of people with severe depression are somewhat more likely to have depression than are members of the general population. Multiple genes interacting with one another in special ways probably contribute to the various types of depression that run in families. Yet despite the evidence of a family link to depression, it is unlikely that there is a single “depression” gene, but rather, many genes that each contribute small effects toward depression when they interact with the environment.
Read Also: How To Talk To Your Therapist About Depression
Treatment For Anxiety And Depression In Men
Your doctor is a good source of information and can discuss with you whether what youre experiencing may be anxiety or depression. They can also refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist. Any of these health professionals can help you with an action plan, whether or not you are diagnosed with anxiety, depression or both.
Anxiety and depression are like any other conditions there are ways to treat and manage them.
Lifestyle changes, such as spending time with supportive friends and family, regular exercise, getting enough sleep, maintaining a healthy diet and cutting down on alcohol and other drugs are all worthwhile changes that can help to reduce anxiety and depression symptoms.
Psychological treatments, including cognitive behaviour therapy, are effective in treating anxiety and depression and are often recommended first, particularly for mild to moderate anxiety and depression. Your doctor may refer you to see a psychologist or other counsellor for this type of treatment.
For some people, antidepressant medication might also be an option. Antidepressants can be effective for both anxiety and depression. They usually take at least 2 weeks before they start to help, and it may also take some time for your doctor to find the medication and dose that is most effective for you.
Let Us Help You Restore Your Brains Health
Here at StoneRidge Centers, we aim to restore the brain to its optimal state of health. Our comprehensive curriculum combines evidence-based therapy, nutrition, and exercise. Anxiety and depression dont have to control your life. Our expert staff members can help treat mental health and addiction challenges.
We can help you manage anxiety and depression in a healthy way that will prevent further harm to your brain. Contact us today at 928-583-7799 if you or a loved one are living with anxiety or depression. Were available 24 hours and 7 days a week to answer any questions you may have.
Categories
Contact Us
Also Check: Anxiety And Depression Self Assessment
Depression: Cause And Effects
Depression, like anxiety, may be caused by any number of factors, including:
- Genetics
- Reinforcement
- Social Learning
Depression is an emotional disorder, characterized either by periods of deep sadness or by a “lack of happiness.” Not everyone feels emotionally sad, but those that live with depression often have a hard time of imagining a world that’s happy. Some may even have a “flat affect,” which essentially implies no emotions at all.
Depression may be temporary, or a long-term emotional disorder. After an intense breakup, for example, it’s possible to have depression that may disappear as you learn to cope with the breakup. Anxiety makes it harder for that depression to disappear, because anxiety prevents healthy coping. Depression may also be a long-term disorder one that causes intense feelings of sadness, worthlessness, loss of interest in life, and other depressive symptoms.
Depression is the most common stand-alone psychological disorder, affecting as much as 10% of the population. However, anxiety disorders combined compromise a larger percentage of the population, with some estimates putting the number of people living with some form of anxiety as high as 18% or more.
Why Are Anxiety And Depression Often Co
Its a cycle, says Sally R. Connolly, LCSW and therapist. When you get anxious, you tend to have this pervasive thinking about some worry or some problem. You feel bad about it. Then you feel like youve failed. You move to depression.
These two disorders anxiety and depression have a complicated relationship:
- The chance of acquiring depression is much higher when an anxiety disorder already exists. Nearly half of those with major depression also suffer from severe and persistent anxiety.
- People who are depressed often feel anxious and worried. One can easily trigger the other, with anxiety often preceding depression.
- People with post-traumatic stress disorder are especially prone to developing depression.
- A biological predisposition for both of these conditions if often at the root of an individuals battle. This seems to be true with anxiety disorders even more than with depression. Connolly explains, Some people are just worriers and pass it down.
People with an anxiety disorder should speak with a psychiatrist, therapist or other healthcare professional about their symptoms. Treatment for an anxiety disorder should not be delayed. If not caught in time, depression may find the door wide open for moving in and setting up house in those individuals.2
Recommended Reading: Need A Therapist For Depression