The difference between anxiety and depression, 7 ways to tell the difference

I believe everyone is familiar with the two diseases, anxiety disorder and depression. So do you know the difference between these two diseases? Because anxiety and depression share many of the same symptoms, many people make the wrong judgment and receive the wrong treatment, which only worsens their condition. So let’s take a look at the differences between anxiety and depression.

1. Depression is often accompanied by anxiety symptoms

Depression is often accompanied by anxiety symptoms, but depression is the main symptom of depression. Anxiety is often just an emotional response shown by patients with depression, and is also accompanied by other emotional responses, such as compulsion, hypochondria, fear, etc. Symptom scales can be used in clinical testing to distinguish the primary and secondary symptoms.

2. Suicidal thoughts

Patients with anxiety disorders do not have suicidal thoughts. Although they are afraid, they do not escape death. However, patients with depression often have suicidal thoughts and even suicidal behaviors.

3. Worrying too much about what might happen in the future

A major manifestation of anxiety disorder is excessive worry about things that have not happened, and the patient will feel painful, while the emotions of patients with depression will be more complicated and accompanied by anxiety.

4. Physical symptoms reflect differently

The physical symptoms of patients with anxiety disorders and depression are different. The physical manifestations of anxiety disorder are mainly related to the autonomic nervous system, such as breathing, heartbeat, sweating, etc.; while the physical symptoms of patients with depression are relatively stable, such as "plum pit qi", pain in the flanks, heaviness all over the body, etc.

5. Avoidance

Anxiety disorder also causes avoidance of certain things due to anxiety, but it is not a generalized loss of interest and intention; while depression is a generalized withdrawal and loss of intention.

6. Feeling upset, panicky, or nervous

Anxiety patients are often upset, frightened, nervous, and have a panic premonition of disaster, accompanied by symptoms such as dizziness, sweating, hot flashes, tremors, numbness of hands and feet, and gastrointestinal discomfort. Anxiety is different from fear. The threats and dangers felt by anxiety are unrealistic or not very clear.

7. Anxiety disorders often co-exist with depression

Clinically speaking, more than 80% of patients with depression will suffer from anxiety. For patients with depression and anxiety, the depression should be treated first and then the anxiety.