Blogs - Anxiety vs. Depression: Key Differences

Anxiety vs. Depression: Understanding the Key Differences

Is that you’re feeling anxiety or depression? This question weighs on many minds when experiencing certain disruptive symptoms. Anxiety and depression are among the most common mood disorders, and they can often occur at the same time. In fact, one can even trigger the other, making it even harder to distinguish between the two.

According to World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, around 4% of the global population suffers from anxiety disorders. In 2019 alone, 301 million people were affected by anxiety, making it the most common mental health condition. Meanwhile, approximately 3.8% of the population — about 280 million people — experience depression.

Generally speaking, anxiety is associated with feelings of tension, nervousness, or fear, while depression is typically linked to sadness or hopelessness. However, symptoms can vary widely from person to person, which makes diagnosing anxiety and depression a real challenge. That’s why seeking help from experienced, licensed healthcare professionals is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Learn more about anxiety and depression and how to manage each with licensed medical staff via the Estenarh app. Download it now.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a natural response we all experience when faced with stress. You might feel anxious when dealing with problems at work or making an important decision. This feeling often shows up as fear, worry, or unease, and it may cause physical symptoms such as sweating, restlessness, discomfort, or a rapid heartbeat.

However, when anxiety persists over a long period, it could indicate an anxiety disorder, which is a condition that can significantly impact your daily life. Anxiety disorder is a mental health condition in which a person experiences ongoing, excessive worry that doesn’t go away and may even worsen over time.

What are the Symptoms of Anxiety?

Anxiety disorder symptoms include:

• Difficulty concentrating
• Indecisiveness and trouble making choices
• Feeling irritable or on edge
• Excessive nervousness
• Restlessness
• Digestive issues such as nausea, constipation, or abdominal pain
• Heart palpitations
• Sweating, trembling, or shaking
• Sleep disturbances
• Persistent sense of fear or dread about the future
• Avoiding certain situations that may trigger anxiety
• High blood pressure, increased heart rate, and sweating
• Fatigue or feeling easily worn out
• Muscle tension

Types of Anxiety Disorders

An individual may experience more than one type of anxiety disorder at the same time. Below are the different types of anxiety disorders:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD):Characterized by persistent and excessive worry about everyday activities or events.
• Panic Disorder:Involves sudden, repeated panic attacks accompanied by a constant fear of having more attacks.
• Social Anxiety Disorder:Marked by intense fear and anxiety in social situations where a person may feel embarrassed, judged, or rejected.
• Agoraphobia:Involves excessive fear and anxiety about being in places or situations that might cause panic, helplessness, or embarrassment, often leading to avoidance.
• Separation Anxiety Disorder:Characterized by intense anxiety or fear about being separated from people with whom the person has a strong emotional bond.
• Specific Phobias:Involves extreme and irrational fear of specific objects or situations, leading to avoidance behavior and significant distress.
• Selective Mutism:A consistent inability to speak in certain social settings despite being able to talk comfortably in others, most commonly seen in children.

What is Depression?

Depression is a common mental health condition that significantly affects a person’s mood and daily life. A person experiencing depression often feels deep and persistent sadness, which may be accompanied by a loss of interest or pleasure in activities they once enjoyed. This emotional state is typically linked to low energy levels, chronic fatigue, and a lack of motivation.

Living with depression can make even routine tasks feel overwhelming. In more severe cases, depression may lead to thoughts of self-harm or suicide, underscoring the importance of early diagnosis and proper treatment.

What are the Symptoms of Depression?

Depression manifests in a wide range of symptoms that can vary greatly from person to person. Depression symptoms typically fall into three main psychological, behavioral, and physical categories.

• Psychological Symptoms:These are among the most prominent and impactful signs of depression. They include deep, persistent sadness without an apparent reason, frequent urges to cry or scream, and overwhelming feelings of guilt and low self-worth. A person may view life pessimistically, lose hope, and feel helpless or constantly fearful. Often, individuals may fake happiness to hide their pain from others. In severe cases, symptoms can escalate to detachment from reality or recurrent thoughts of death and suicide.
• Behavioral Symptoms:Depression often affects a person's daily behavior. The individual may lose interest in everyday activities and gradually withdraw from social circles. Noticeable personality changes can occur; a previously calm person may become easily angered or act impulsively without regard for consequences. Some may turn to self-harm or unhealthy habits such as smoking or alcohol use as a form of escape. In severe cases, this can lead to complete isolation and even suicidal ideation or attempts.
• Physical Symptoms:Depression doesn't just affect the mind; it also takes a toll on the body. Common physical symptoms include unexplained aches and pains, particularly in the head or stomach, and sleep and appetite disturbances, which can cause weight changes. Fatigue and low energy are also common, with difficulty concentrating and slowed movement or speech. Digestive issues like constipation and rapid heartbeat or breathing are frequently reported as part of the physical manifestation of depression.

Types of Depression

Here are the main types of depression:

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD):This is the most common form of depression. Individuals with this condition experience persistent feelings of deep sadness and a loss of interest in activities that used to bring them joy.
• Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia):Less intense than major depression, but it lasts for a long time, often two years or more, causing chronic mood disturbances.
• Postpartum Depression:A form of depression marked by ongoing sadness, extreme fatigue, and anxiety experienced by women during or after pregnancy.
• Bipolar Depression:Also known as manic-depressive illness, it involves dramatic mood swings that shift between depressive episodes and periods of mania or excessive energy.
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):A type of depression related to seasonal changes, often triggered by reduced sunlight exposure. It usually begins in the fall and continues through the winter months.
• Psychotic Depression:A severe form of major depression accompanied by psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations or delusions, which cause a loss of touch with reality.

Anxiety vs. Depression: A Detailed Comparison of Symptoms

To make it easier for you to distinguish between anxiety and depression, you can refer to this table highlighting the differences in their symptoms.

Start Your Journey to Treat Anxiety and Depression

Finally, experiencing anxiety or depression is not the end of the road. There is always a way forward. Suppose you feel the need for someone to listen to you or guide you through your journey toward treating depression or anxiety. In that case, you can reach out to our team of experienced and licensed medical staff available on the Estenarh app. Book your online therapy session easily with just one click and benefit from a safe, private environment that allows you to speak freely and confidently, thanks to our full commitment to the highest confidentiality and data protection standards.