Anxiety and Depression: When They Co-occur

Anxiety and depression are seemingly different in that they present with different symptoms. When a person often excessive and persistent worry or fear in a fairly constant state, it is anxiety. Depression feels like persistent, pervasive, debilitating sadness overshadowing their days.

So, they are different. But they can co-occur.  They can happen to the same person.

At times, a generalized feeling of anxiety can spiral into depression. Alternatively, feeling depressed can give rise to anxiety. Both are associated with dysregulation of neurotransmitters, which are chemical messengers in the brain that play a critical role in mood regulation, stress response, and other cognitive functions.

All to say, you can have both: anxiety and depression. And it is quite common. But what do you do about it?

Some Similar Symptoms

The two disorders have some similar symptoms such as:

• Irritability
• Quick to anger
• Physical fatigue
• Difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep
• Concentration problems
• Forgetfulness
• Aches and pains
• Stomach disorders

Because the symptoms are similar, mental health professionals may find it difficult to diagnose what you have, more so because many people have both.

Treatment Options for Anxiety and Depression

There are many treatment options for anxiety and treatment for depression and the best thing is first to get a diagnosis and then the treatment.

Medications – conventional medicines may be prescribed by a psychiatrist where required. This can help tide you over the worst phases. Antidepressants include:

• SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) such as Prozac, Celexa, Zoloft, and others
• SNRI (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) such as Cymbalta, Effexor XR, or others
• Bupropion or similar drugs
• Mirtazapine
• Tricyclic antidepressants such as Amitriptyline or others

Psychotherapy – talking to a psychotherapist is beneficial. He or she may help you with behavior modification, cognitive therapy, or problem-solving therapy that will address the root of your issues and help you deal with your problems. Focusing on the problems that you feel you have and talking to a professional about them will clarify things better in your mind. Your therapist can help you learn how to cope with the problems and get your focus back.

Complementary therapies – you can also try complementary therapies such as acupuncture, homeopathy, holistic healing, naturopathy, supplements, and others as adjunctive therapy to conventional methods. Taking charge of your nutrition, doing physical exercise or work, and being passionate about a hobby can also help channel your mind and help.

At Story Wellness, our therapists prioritize a Narrative therapy approach to helping people with depression and anxiety disorders.

For anxiety, it helps in multiple ways.

1. Separating

   Narrative therapy encourages individuals to externalize their anxiety by giving it a name or identity separate from themselves. This can help individuals feel more in control of their anxiety and reduce the sense that it defines who they are.

2. Identifying triggers

   By exploring the stories that individuals tell themselves about their anxiety, narrative therapy can help them identify the triggers and patterns that contribute to their anxiety. This can help individuals develop coping strategies and reduce the impact of these triggers.

3. Reframing anxious thoughts

   Narrative therapy can help individuals reframe anxious thoughts in a more positive light. For example, instead of seeing a situation as threatening, they might be able to view it as a challenge or opportunity for growth.

4. Building resilience

   By focusing on the positive stories in an individual’s life, narrative therapy can help build resilience and increase their ability to cope with anxiety. This can involve identifying past successes and positive experiences and building on those to create a more positive self-narrative.

For depression, narrative therapy helps in various was as well.

1. Identifying and challenging negative self-talk

   Narrative therapy can help individuals identify negative self-talk and beliefs that contribute to their depression. By challenging these negative beliefs and reframing them in a more positive light, individuals can create a more positive self-narrative.

2. Creating a sense of agency and control

   Narrative therapy helps individuals create a sense of agency and control over their lives by focusing on their strengths, values, and goals. This can help individuals feel more empowered and motivated to make positive changes in their lives.

3. Identifying positive experiences

   Narrative therapy can help individuals identify positive experiences and successes in their lives, no matter how small. By building on these positive experiences and developing a more positive self-narrative, individuals can increase their sense of self-worth and self-esteem.

Outpatient Anxiety and Depression Help

If you or someone you love is in a situation where anxiety or depression is overwhelming them, you might feel powerless. It’s tough to go through it, and it’s tough to see someone we love stuck in it.

At Story we can help. Call us today, and let’s talk about your options at our unique outpatient mental health program in Orange County, California.