Although it's impossible to obtain exact statistics, it's estimated that anxiety disorders affect over 300 million people worldwide, and major depressive disorder affects approximately 280 million people.
These mental disorders range from being mildly distressing to incredibly debilitating. Sometimes the severity of symptoms ebb and flow, depending on your specific life circumstances. But, if untreated, both depression and anxiety can affect all areas of functioning, causing financial problems, relationship issues, low self-esteem, and work difficulties.
While anxiety and depression are distinct mental health conditions, symptoms often overlap and exacerbate one another. With that, untreated anxiety disorders may contribute to depressive symptoms. Let's get into what you need to know.
Anxiety Perpetuates Negative Thoughts
People with a generalized anxiety disorder know just how exhausting their thoughts can feel: it can seem like you're stuck in a relentless loop of worst-case scenarios about the future coupled with intense rumination about the past. Unfortunately, once one situation feels resolved, the anxiety symptoms seem to shift to something else. It can feel impossible to just "let go" and relax because things never really feel like they're under control.
However, those who experience depression can also relate to similar recurrent thoughts. For example, you might have deep regrets over the past and a prevailing sense that things will never get better. In both situations, there can be a sense of persistent sadness and hopelessness. In addition, the inner critic within you can feel incredibly hostile.
Anxiety Encourages Avoidance Behaviors
Many people with anxiety, especially social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, avoid triggering situations to manage their emotional distress. While avoidance isn't bad or wrong, constant avoidance can result in other emotional complications, including social isolation and an overall diminished sense of purpose. It also tends to worsen anxiety progressively.
Over time, this pattern can morph into depression. More than just a sad mood, people with depression often have a persistent feeling of loneliness and disconnection from the outside world. Even if things are "going all right," this feeling tends to prevail. Therefore, if you're avoiding "doing life," this may speak to underlying themes of depression or anxiety.
Anxiety Correlates With Chronic Emotional Dysregulation
An anxiety disorder keeps the body in a heightened state of arousal. This means that the fight-or-flight system becomes activated at any sign of a perceived threat. If you find it hard to relax, this may be why.
In turn, you may find yourself responding to stressful events in less-than-ideal methods, such as lashing out at others, withdrawing from social support, self-harming, substance abuse, disordered eating, and more. While these methods provide some temporary relief, they obviously also create more problems.
All coping strategies- even the unwanted ones- are intended to reduce emotional pain. However, they can magnify mood disorder symptoms of irritability, hopelessness, and guilt.
Anxiety May Be a Response to Traumatic or Stressful Events
There is strong evidence connecting how trauma may shape both anxiety and depression symptoms. This is why mental health professionals often obtain a comprehensive childhood and family history when meeting with new clients- it's important to review if any past events may be contributing to current mental health struggles.
If you ever experienced emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, you may now experience anxiety even if you don't exactly know why. This may also be true for symptoms of depressive disorders. Unresolved trauma can perpetuate mistrust toward yourself and the world around you, and this can show up in various trauma symptoms.
Anxiety Can Affect Relationships
People with anxiety may struggle in their interpersonal dynamics. For example, you may feel anxious about emotional intimacy or setting boundaries or trusting someone else. You might have trouble engaging in day-to-day activities with your partner.
Relationship problems can trigger symptoms of depression, including sadness, irritability, trouble concentrating, and feelings of guilt and worthlessness. Therefore, your anxiety and depression may feel heightened if there's an issue between you and someone you love.
Treatment Options for Depression and Anxiety in California
Life with mental illness can feel unquestionably challenging. Whether you're experiencing a major depressive episode, bipolar disorder, or an anxiety disorder, you are not alone. But having support from a comprehensive care team and an experienced mental health professional can make a big difference.
At Resurface Group, we embrace a comprehensive approach when treating anxiety disorders and major depression. We understand the nuanced intersections existing between all mental illnesses, and we strive to provide a compassionate environment where clients feel seen and understood.
Whether you experience anxiety or depression (or both), we are here to support you wholeheartedly. Our dynamic treatment options blend peer-based community, evidence-based talk therapy, and healthy lifestyle changes. Our virtual IOP, Resurface Connect, provides dedicated outpatient services to clients residing in California, and our treatment is in-network with most major health insurance plans.
Contact us today to learn more.
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