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Most people feel anxious or depressed at times. Losing a loved one, getting fired from a job, going through a divorce and other difficult situations can lead a person to feel sad, lonely, scared, nervous or anxious. These feelings are normal reactions to life's stressors. However, some people experience these feelings every day or almost every day for no apparent reason, making it difficult for them to carry on with normal, everyday functioning. These people may have an anxiety disorder, depression or both.

It is not uncommon for someone with an anxiety disorder to also suffer from depression or vice versa. In fact, nearly one-half of those diagnosed with major depression are also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. The good news is that these disorders are both treatable - separately and together. Read on to find out more about the co-occurrence of anxiety and depression and how they can be treated.

What is an anxiety disorder?
Anxiety disorders are a unique group of illnesses marked by persistent, irrational and uncontrollable anxiety. These disorders include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder (SAD) and specific phobias.

What is depression?
Depression is a condition where a person feels discouraged, sad, hopeless, unmotivated and/or disinterested in life in general. When these feelings last for a short period of time, a person may have a simple case of the blues. However, when such feelings last for more than two weeks and when the feelings interfere with daily activities such as taking care of family, spending time with friends or going to work or school, this is called a Major Depressive Episode.

There are three main types of depressive disorders: major depression, dysthymia and bipolar disorder. All three disorders can occur with any of the major anxiety disorders.

Is depression the same as an anxiety disorder?
No, depression and anxiety disorders are different. People with depressive disorders often experience some of the same symptoms of an anxiety disorder, such as nervousness, irritability, and problems sleeping and concentrating. However, each disorder has its own causes and its own emotional and behavioral symptoms.

Does depression cause anxiety or vice versa?
Many people who develop major depression have a history of an anxiety disorder earlier in life. There is no evidence one disorder causes the other, but there is clear evidence that many people suffer from both disorders.

Which should be treated first - anxiety or depression?
As with any illness, treatment should be tailored to your specific diagnosis. This means that a diagnosis of major depression and an anxiety disorder requires a treatment plan designed to help you cope with and reduce the symptoms of both disorders, often at the same time.

Some patients with both an anxiety disorder and depression will find one is diagnosed as the primary disorder and the other a secondary disorder, which may require one disorder to be treated first in order to effectively treat the other. For instance, if a person experiences social anxiety and is depressed because he or she can't go out with friends or attend family functions, the social anxiety may be triggering the depression and may need to be addressed first.

Not everyone who suffers from both anxiety and depression will have one labeled their primary disorder and the other their secondary disorder. These people can often pursue treatment for both disorders simultaneously.

Can depression and anxiety disorders be treated the same way?
Often times, yes. In many cases, therapy can be tailored to an individual in such a way that it works to reduce the symptoms of both disorders. Certain therapies, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (which works to replace negative and unproductive thought patterns with positive ones), are used to effectively treat depression and anxiety disorders. Other therapies are targeted to specific anxiety disorders and may not apply to depression.

Certain medications also have been proven effective in treating both disorders, although this will depend on an individual's symptoms. Scientific research shows that both depression and anxiety disorders respond to treatment with medications including tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Although these medications are often called "antidepressants," they also have "anti-anxiety" effects, which is why a person can have an anxiety disorder and take an antidepressant. Originally they were only used to treat depression, which is why they are named as such, but later clinical trials proved they effectively treat anxiety as well.

For more information on treatment options, click here.

What other steps can I take to treat my anxiety and depression?

• Learn how to choose a therapist and where to find one.
• Consider joining a Support Group.
  
• Try relaxation techniques, meditation and breathing exercises.
  
• Talk with family members and friends and explain how they can be helpful.
  
• Find out how you can help a loved one

Reprinted with permission:
Anxiety Disorders Association of America

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