Did you know that around 50% of those diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with anxiety? Yes, anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health conditions in the world (!). In the US alone, 19.1% of the population aged 18 and older have been diagnosed with anxiety disorders. 

While depression and anxiety can show up solo, they’re often a package deal. And that combo makes your life waaaay more challenging … That’s why it’s so vital to understand how these mental health conditions co-exist so you can spot the signs and get the help you need in time.

Without further ado, let’s talk about the symptoms, how anxiety can lead to depression, and when it might be time to see a mental health professional immediately if the symptoms don’t improve 🤔 Sounds good? Let’s go! 😉

Overlapping Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety

Anxiety and depression share so many symptoms that even a mental health professional might have a hard time telling them apart at first glance. 

Here are the most common overlapping physical symptoms that depression and anxiety disorders cause:

• Headaches or stomach problems
• Trouble concentrating and remembering details
• Fatigue that leaves you feeling tired even after sleeping
• Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep; waking up too early
• According to the American Psychological Association, 55% of U.S. adults who have anxiety and depression report experiencing chronic pain in different parts of the body (mostly related to muscle tension).

Other symptoms that might occur include:

• Feeling irritable, easily frustrated, or restless
• Experiencing intense mood swings and aggression (more common for individuals who identify as men. Plus, these symptoms might be signs of mood disorders)
• Feeling sad or anxious often, which interferes with normal everyday functioning
• Feeling guilty, worthless, or helpless (the symptom is more vivid in depression)

Do these comorbid mental health disorders (which is a fancy way of saying that as mental health conditions, depression and anxiety can co-exist) have distinctive symptoms when they manifest separately? 

Let’s try to find out…  🧐

So, Are You Having Depression OR Anxiety?

There is a higher chance you’re struggling with one of the anxiety disorders vs depression if you: 

• Experience intense and uncontrollable feelings of anxiety or fear about certain situations;
• Experience panic attacks of various intensity (yes, anxiety disorders often go hand in hand with a panic disorder);
• Find it difficult to stop feeling anxious about everyday situations, which might be a sign of generalized anxiety disorders as well;
• Avoid particular situations that might cause potential embarrassment, which is common in social anxiety disorder.

In other words, you just worry TOO much as if there is a constant threat to your well-being in the environment, while in reality, your emotional response is often excessive and unwarranted 😟

… And here are the symptoms that are more associated with depression rather than anxiety disorders. So, symptoms of depression include:

• Negative thoughts mixed with feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness. On the contrary, you might also feel emotionally numb;
• Constant sadness or a sense of hopelessness that lasts for weeks or months;
• Extreme fatigue, which is a common symptom of severe major depression disorder;
• A decrease in appetite or overeating;
• Loss of interest in activities that once brought you joy

❗ Regardless of your symptoms, only a qualified mental health professional can provide a medical diagnosis accurately. So, please talk to your doctor instead of self-diagnosing 🙏

How Anxiety Can Lead to Depression

Anxiety and depression create a vicious cycle that’s pretty hard to escape without seeking help from your mental health provider. But first, let’s find out how exactly the cycle works. 

Let’s imagine your mind is a phone battery. Chronic anxiety — whether it’s generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, separation anxiety disorder, or another form — drains your reserves faster than you can recharge them. And those constant worries can leave you too drained to focus on anything else. Over time, this emotional exhaustion mixed with negative feelings might lead to depression. 

Let us give you a few simple examples. Let’s say you’re too anxious about the upcoming exams. You might spend sleepless nights overpreparing but fail the exam anyway. That, in turn, can lead to the constant feeling of worthlessness, a classic symptom of depression. 

Sure, the ‘anxiety turns into depression’ cycle is more complex. You might be okay after failing one exam, but if that’s the theme for the entire exam season, the constant stress can pile up — in the end, you might feel exhausted, sad, and … depressed 🤷🏾‍♀️ 

But that’s not all. All those worries aka negative thoughts can definitely change the perception of your ‘Self.’  You might catch yourself thinking, “I’m a failure” or “I can’t handle this.” Over time, if the same situation happens again and again without any positive outcome (let’s say, you fail all the exams), you might start to believe those negative thoughts as the only truth about yourself. In the end, you have no motivation to try again and get stuck in the loop of negativity. 

You’d say, ‘But not everyone develops depression after failing the entire exam season.’ And you’d be absolutely right. Again, everything is not that simple because mental disorders are a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. 

The Role of Brain Chemistry in the Formation of Depression and Anxiety Disorders 

You might have a supportive family, a rewarding job (or a college you love attending), and a stable financial background but still feel those symptoms of depression and anxiety creeping in. In fact, you might have never experienced traumatic or stressful events like physical or sexual abuse or anything like that. 

Anyway, one of the reasons for why we feel one way or another is called ‘brain chemistry.’ 

Chemical Imbalances

The intricate dance between neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine — chemical messengers that influence mood and motivation — can sometimes go awry, often due to the combination of genetic and environmental factors, and set the stage for a mental illness.

Serotonin is the ‘feel-good’ chemical that regulates your mood, sleep, appetite, and directly impacts your cognitive processes. Speaking of sleep, around half of adults with mental health conditions like depression and anxiety report struggling with insomnia. When serotonin levels drop, you might feel stuck in the loop of sadness and irritability. It’s as if the world suddenly loses its colors and is no longer exciting. 

Similarly, dopamine, often called the ‘reward chemical,’ fuels motivation and one’s ability to feel pleasure, learn, and make decisions. And a shortage of dopamine can leave you feeling flat, unmotivated, and unable to enjoy life’s small wins. With low dopamine levels, no finished project or a favorite meal can give you that satisfying sense of accomplishment or joy that you once experienced. 

Genetic Predispositions and Environment

If someone in your family has struggled with mental disorders, you may be at a higher risk of developing them as well. This doesn’t mean your destiny is set in stone. What it means is that chronic everyday stress, along with major life events, can disrupt brain chemistry and trigger those feelings of anxiety, and potentially lead to the development of depression.

In some cases, even something as small as not getting enough sleep or overindulging in unhealthy habits like smoking (yes, smoking and mental health are linked) can make things harder.

Treatment Options for Depression and Anxiety Disorders 

The path to tackling depression and anxiety disorders isn’t always clear-cut. This means that what might help one person treat depression and anxiety won’t necessarily help the other and vice versa. Anyway, there are a few treatment methods that have proven time and again to make a real difference. Let’s talk about them a little bit before you decide to talk with your doctor. 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety Disorders and Depression

Developed back in the 1960s, CBT or cognitive behavioral therapy is now the gold standard for keeping a handle on depression, anxiety disorders, and other mental health conditions. 

CBT is a form of talk therapy but with a way more structured approach. It commonly includes a set number of sessions with homework and exercises. 

The main idea of CBT is that thoughts, emotions, and behavior are interrelated — once you change one element, others change too. So, when it comes to those negative thoughts that come with anxiety disorders and might lead to depression, CBT helps you identify, challenge, and replace them with healthier ones. Plus, CBT helps you develop coping skills to manage your anxiety or any other mental health disorder. Those skills often include breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, journaling, etc. 

Let’s imagine that one of the core beliefs about yourself is ‘I’m a failure.’ This thought causes feelings of emotional distress and might lead to avoidance behaviors. You might be way more reluctant to try new experiences, such as apply for a new job or move to your dream place. During a CBT session, a therapist would help you identify and challenge the belief with a healthier one, like ‘I may not succeed at everything, but I can do many things well.’ With time, this new perspective fosters positive emotions and encourages proactive behaviors, such as not being afraid to try new things or get easily upset when things don’t go perfectly. 

Medication for Anxiety Disorders and Depression

If left unmanaged, anxiety disorders can significantly impact mental well-being and overall quality of life. That’s why talk therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), often works alongside medication to help individuals better understand and manage their symptoms.

As for medication, doctors offer prescribed medications called antidepressants, particularly SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) and SNRIs (Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors). Don’t let the abbreviation scare you! 

How do SSRIs and SNRIs work? 💊 In very simple words, SSRIs boost serotonin, that ‘feel-good’ chemical that makes you feel calmer and happier, while SNRIs do the same but also increase norepinephrine, which helps with energy and focus.

If you’re dealing with negative physical symptoms like pains, headaches, or stomach issues — which often accompany anxiety —  SNRIs might be a better option as they improve energy and reduce physical discomfort. 

❗ You should get a medical diagnosis of major depression or anxiety disorders before you start taking any medication. Talking to a mental health specialist would help as self-treatment is not effective and dangerous. 

Other medications that can be used to treat anxiety are: 

• Benzodiazepines. Increase the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that blocks certain signals in your nervous system. They’re fast-acting but prescribed for short-term as, unfortunately, benzodiazepines come with a high risk of dependence.
• Buspirone, often prescribed for generalized anxiety disorder, is non-addictive. The first signs of improvement typically appear within 2-4 weeks.
• Beta-blockers, primarily prescribed for heart conditions, help with anxiety by blocking the physical symptoms, like a racing heart or shaky hands. Sure, they don’t address the root cause of anxiety disorders, but they’re great when you need to calm down before very specific situations that cause short-term feelings of anxiety and fear like public speaking or a trip to the doctor’s office.
• Hydroxyzine. This is an antihistamine that's sometimes prescribed for anxiety as a substitute for benzodiazepines as it comes with a lower risk for dependence. It doesn’t treat anxiety in the long run, but it’s a good option for those who occasionally need immediate relief from acute anxiety symptoms. 

Importance of Early Intervention 

Anxiety disorders affect 40 million American adults every year, and many see improvement with proper treatment. So if anxiety or depression is happening in your life, remember that it's okay to ask for support — you don’t have to face this alone.

Online therapy sessions, in-person sessions, support groups, and even self-help resources (meditation & mindfulness apps, podcasts on anxiety management, books, educational videos, etc.) are all available. But first, we advise you to talk to your doctor, who can guide you toward the right treatments for depression and anxiety. 

❗ If someone you know is hurting themselves or committing any other harmful actions, it’s important to seek help immediately. Reach out to a mental health specialist or call a crisis hotline. In the worst-case scenario, please visit the nearest hospital emergency department ASAP. Again, we’re not here to scare you — we just want you to be aware and prepared to take action when needed.

Final Thoughts

The connection between anxiety and depression is strong. When anxiety disorders stick around for too long, they can drain your energy and leave you emotionally exhausted. Your mental health deteriorates, and soon, that notorious depression comes creeping in. 

Sounds like no motivation or hope here, right? Well, not exactly: understanding this connection is the first step toward breaking the cycle. If you address anxiety disorders early and seek professional support, you can prevent anxiety from spiraling into depression. You’ve got this! 💪💙😊

References

Chellappa, S. L., & Aeschbach, D. (2022). Sleep and anxiety: From mechanisms to interventions. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 61, 101583. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2021.101583

DeAngelis, T. (2024, March 1). More than half of adults with chronic pain experience anxiety and depression. American Psychological Association Monitor, 55(2), 76. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2024/03/chronic-pain-depression-anxiety

Facts & Statistics: Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. Facts & Statistics | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. (n.d.). https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/facts-statistics#:~:text=It’s%20not%20uncommon%20for%20someone,diagnosed%20with%20an%20anxiety%20disorder.  

Mills, K. (Host). (2022, January). What is anxiety and how can we treat it effectively? (No. 1). In Speaking of Psychology. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology/anxiety

Sauer-Zavala, S., Bufka, L., & Wright, C. V. (2023, November 30). How psychologists help with anxiety disorders. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/topics/anxiety/disorders