Can You Have Both Anxiety and Depression?

Depression and anxiety are often co-occurring, meaning that people who experience symptoms of depression often experience symptoms of anxiety, and vice versa. In fact, nearly half of patients diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with anxiety. In this brief article, we discuss co-occurring anxiety and depression. Although people suffering from anxiety disorders, such as major depressive disorder or generalized anxiety disorder, may feel helpless and unable to improve their situation, these disorders are responsive to treatment, medications, and lifestyle changes. If you or a loved one is suffering from anxiety and depression, schedule an appointment for depression treatment in Wesley Chapel to begin the process of returning to a normal life. 

Feeling Down and Anxious at the Same Time

It’s normal to feel sad every once in a while. Similarly, it’s perfectly normal to respond to stressful situations with feelings of anxiety. But it’s when these feelings are ongoing that a person may be suffering from an anxiety disorder. Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by feelings of sadness, loss of interest in activities, and difficulty concentrating. Generalized anxiety disorder and similar disorders are characterized by severe feelings of anxiety, panic, or fear. 

Related: Anxiety and Depression’s Effect on the Body

It’s not uncommon for someone with major depression to experience symptoms of anxiety. Similarly, an anxiety disorder can trigger a severe bout of depression. For this reason, patients are often diagnosed with both after having their lives severely impaired. But the bright side — and there is a bright side — is that the same treatment options available for treating depression have been shown to relieve symptoms of anxiety. 

Treating Co-Occurring Anxiety and Depression 

Antidepressants prescribed to treat depression, particularly SSRIs, are widely used to treat anxiety disorders. It is believed that these medications affect the same neurotransmitters that lead to feelings of anxiety. However, there are numerous classes of antianxiety and antidepressant medications and far more drugs within those classes. Finding the right combination and the right dosage for a specific patient is a process that should not be rushed. 

To further elaborate, every person is unique. The treatment plan that works for one person may not work for another. That’s why a person’s entire being must be taken into consideration when they undergo anxiety treatment in Wesley Chapel. Here at FMC Mindbody, we focus on whole-person care and offer fitness and nutritional counseling in addition to cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, yoga, meditation, and spiritual awareness cultivation — whatever it takes to relieve patients of the burden of anxiety and depression. 

Related: How to Break the Cycle of Depression and Anxiety 

Too often, doctors will ignore one aspect of a disorder to focus on another — focusing on feelings of sadness while ignoring feelings of panic. Or they will focus on only one aspect of a person while failing to take the whole person into consideration — focusing on the mind without appreciating the body’s effect on mental wellness. If you or a loved one is suffering from anxiety and depression, schedule an appointment for depression treatment in Wesley Chapel with Maulik K. Trivedi and his team at FMC Mindbody. We promise to take your whole person into consideration and only pursue the treatment options that are right for you.

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