Almost everyone feels anxious and depressed from time to time. But a large number of people have anxiety-related conditions. According to the National Institute of Mental Health report, over an average of 19% of American adults, almost one-fifth of the adult population is affected by anxiety, depression, or other anxiety disorders every year.
But the Anxiety and Depression Association report states that anxiety disorders are highly treatable. But only 36.9 percent of people with a disease receive the treatment. The symptoms indicating anxiety and depression can be so common that someone can’t realize they have a mental condition.
What do a depression and anxiety attack feel like?
Anxiety Attack
Anxiety is a mental condition that leads the person to excessive fear, stress, worry, and nervousness. People feel nervous about many things that happen in their life, like making new decisions, working on problems, or going for interviews. However, little fear is normal; it alerts your mind to focus more on a particular task. But when that fear goes beyond that everyday stress and worry, it is a sign of anxiety disorder. It is the most common condition that usually occurs in adults.
When your anxiety reaches the extended and intensive periods, it is a sign of an anxiety attack. An anxiety attack is much lower than just having anxiety. But it is not as severe as panic attacks.
Symptoms of anxiety attacks include feeling tired, excessive sweating, trembling, rapid breathing, difficulty controlling, worry, feeling restless, and difficulty in sleeping.
Depression: Overview of illness
Depression is more similar to anxiety; it can also negatively affect your body. However, depression creates hopelessness, lack of interest, or sadness. It is something that lasts longer more than two weeks and can impact your daily tasks.
Symptoms of depression may include
- loss of appetite
- feeling sad
- low energy
- feeling worthless
- oversleeping or not sleeping
What is the difference between anxiety and depression?
You must have heard the terms depression and anxiety occasionally in your daily life. But, people assume both the terms are the same and are the emotional state of mind. But they both have some distinctive differences between them.
Anxiety and depression are different classes of mental disorders. Depression is a mood disorder; on the other hand, anxiety has its category of conditions. There are also different depression-related conditions such as major depressive disorder, seasonal depression, and bipolar disorder. On the other hand, anxiety also has different types, such as social anxiety, generalized anxiety, and specific phobia.
Difference in symptoms
Distinguishing between symptoms of anxiety and depression is another way to differentiate between them. Anxiety symptoms include fatigue, sweating, insomnia, or isolation. Whereas depression symptoms are almost similar to anxiety, some such as excessive fear and stress are not related to depression.
How to overcome depression and anxiety?
Depression and anxiety can affect all of us now and then. If you feel anxious for several days or weeks or feel like your fear is taking your life, it is good to take the expert’s help. The same is with phobia and panic attacks.
To overcome your depression and anxiety, bringing these simple changes in your life can help in your fast recovery.
Face your fear
People with anxiety and depression always try to avoid situations that scare them. They might stop doing things they want or need. When dealing with anxiety and depression, you won’t be able to test whether the situation is always as bad as you think, so you miss the chance to manage your fear and reduce anxiety. Exposing yourself to your stress and worry is an effective way to overcome these problems.
Try to know yourself
Try to learn about your fear and anxiety. Keep a diary to note down the records of your anxiety and thoughts when and what happens. You can make small and achievable goals to face your fear. It is an effective way to address the underlying beliefs behind your anxiety.
Spirituality
If you are religious or spiritual, it can give you a way of feeling connected to something bigger than you. It provides a way to cope with everyday stress and connect you with a valuable support network.
How to relieve stress and anxiety by exercising?
Exercises are considered essential for maintaining mental fitness and reducing stress. Studies show that it effectively reduces fatigue improves alertness and concentration. It can be beneficial when stress depletes your energy or concentration ability.
When stress starts affecting the brain, the whole body feels the impact with its nerve connection. Exercises and other physical activities produce endorphins, a brain chemical that act as a natural painkiller. Exercises also help improve the ability to sleep, reducing stress and relaxing your mind.
Regular exercises have been shown to decrease tension, improve self-esteem, improve sleep, and elevate mood.
They overcome depression/anxiety with medications and home remedies.
Home remedies
If you are experiencing mild anxiety symptoms, you can cure them at home without any medications. Small changes in the daily routine can benefit you to overcome your mental condition.
Relaxation: include simple activities in your daily routine like yoga, meditations, massage therapy, deep breathing aromatherapy, and long baths.
Exercise your positive thoughts: Negative thoughts are the most common cause of anxiety. Include those activities in your daily routine, replacing your negative thoughts with positive ones.
Natural remedies: Most natural remedies can calm the brain and body. It is an effective way to deal with anxiety. Eliminate harmful activities like smoking, drinking alcohol, or drug addiction. Eat healthy food, avoid excessive caffeine, stay active, and take enough sleep. These simple changes will bring tremendous improvement to your life.
Medications
Doctors usually recommend some medication along with a combination of psychological treatments. It makes your recovery fast and effective. Medication helps to reduce the symptoms associated with attacks. Certain types of drugs are available that effectively manage the symptoms.
SSRIs and SNRIs: they are antidepressants that are recommended as the first-choice treatment for treating anxiety and depression. They are the FDA-approved drugs that include Paxil or Prozac.
Benzodiazepines: it is a sedative that acts as a central nervous stimulant. They are FDA-approved drugs include Alprazolam and Clonazepam. They are addictive, so use them for a short duration only.
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