Do I Have Depression, Anxiety, or Both?

We live in tumultuous times. From the stressors of daily life, including work, family, and social obligations, to coming out of the shadow of a three-year pandemic, numerous things can lead a person to develop anxiety, depression, or even both.

The Household Pulse Survey is an experimental data system started in April 2020 to produce weekly data on the social and economic effects of COVID-19 on US households. Not a health survey, but rather an indicator of changing finances, health, and education due to the coronavirus, it nevertheless paints a disturbing picture of the recent surge in diagnosed cases of anxiety disorders and depression.

According to the survey, about one-third of Americans have consistently shown signs of either clinical anxiety or depression. Twenty-four percent of respondents demonstrated clinically significant symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD), while 30% displayed symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

To put these numbers into context, in 2019, 8.1% of adults 18 and over showed symptoms of an anxiety disorder, and 6.5% had symptoms of a depressive disorder.

At Hudson River Care and Counseling, with locations in Hoboken and Teaneck, New Jersey, our expert team of mental health counselors and therapists diagnoses and treats all manner of anxiety and depressive disorders. Because symptoms of the two conditions can sometimes overlap, patients may wonder what they’re dealing with. Our team explains the basics here.

Anxiety 101

Anxiety disorders are a category of mental health conditions that feature excessive nervousness, fear, worry, and apprehension that don’t go away and worsen over time. They not only alter how a person processes emotions and adapts their behavior accordingly, but they also cause physical symptoms like increased blood pressure and nausea.

The underlying cause(s) of anxiety is unknown, though researchers believe genetics, brain chemistry, stress, and your environment may all play a role. Anxiety becomes an anxiety disorder when the fear starts interfering with your daily life, including work, school, and relationships.

There are many types of anxiety disorders; some of the more common include:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

People with GAD worry about everyday things such as health, money, work, and family. However, the anxiety never stops, so everything they do becomes another thing to worry about.

Panic disorder

People with panic disorder have discrete attacks —  sudden, repeated periods of intense fear in the absence of any physical danger. The attacks have a sudden onset, usually triggered by a specific anxiety, and they can last several minutes or more. Once triggered, the panic can paralyze (literally and figuratively) the person until the fear abates.

Phobias

Phobias involve intense anxiety or fear about specific objects or situations, such as spiders,  driving across a bridge, or public speaking. The anxiety becomes so intense that you can’t function until the trigger is removed or goes away.

Treating anxiety disorders usually encompasses two mechanisms, medication and/or psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy, in which you talk with a counselor or therapist about your problems, can help you recognize and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Of particular effectiveness is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which teaches you to change how you think about and react to your anxiety. It may also include exposure therapy, where you confront your fears face to face and get them under control.

Medications to treat anxiety disorders include a variety of anti-anxiety drugs, certain antidepressants, and some drugs like antipsychotics and antispasmodics that are used “off label.” 

Depression 101

Depression is a mood disorder characterized by a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in things you once loved. The disorder changes how you think, feel, and behave, and it may lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. Tasks of daily living fall by the wayside, and at times, your outlook becomes so bleak you may feel that life isn't worth living.

As with anxiety, the exact cause isn’t known, but it’s believed to have multiple contributors. One is biological differences, in which the brain is physically altered from a “normal” person’s. A second is brain chemistry. Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that act on nerves and muscles, and altered levels of these essential communicators likely play a role in depression. A third is changes in hormone levels. Hormones are also communication molecules, and if the levels aren’t properly balanced, you become depressed.

Depression, like anxiety, is treated with a combination of medication and some form of psychotherapy.

If you’re struggling with the symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, Hudson River Care and Counseling can provide you with the help you need to reclaim your life. To schedule a consultation with one of our counselors or therapists, call or book online with us today.