The Relationship Between Anxiety and Depression

If you are dealing with both depression and anxiety, it can feel like you're being pulled in opposite emotional directions. But you are far from alone. In the United States, an estimated 48 million people deal with anxiety, and research has found that about 59 percent of those with anxiety also show symptoms of depression.

Does anxiety cause depression, given that high correlation? Theories suggest it might, but a causal relationship hasn't been proven. All we know for certain is that depression and anxiety frequently appear in tandem. Both are highly treatable, though, and helping one has the potential to help the other.

What Are Depression and Anxiety?

It's likely you've experienced anxiety at some point in your life. If you've felt overwhelmed by your thoughts before a work interview or asking someone on a date, that's a normal expression of anxiety. However, if you're frequently experiencing anxiety that's disproportionate to a situation or unrelated to any specific event, you may have an anxiety disorder. As with any medical condition, it's important to see a mental health professional for diagnosis and treatment if you think you may have anxiety. Anxiety disorders can also cause physical symptoms, which could include insomnia, fatigue, muscle tension, or digestive troubles.

Similarly, you've probably experienced feelings of depression—trouble concentrating, sleep issues, lethargy, or not wanting to socialize. But major depressive disorder, , according to the DSM-V, occurs when these feelings last for longer than two weeks. It also includes feelings of worthlessness, sleep disturbances (sleeping too much or too little), weight loss or weight gain, and difficulty concentrating.

The Relationship between Anxiety and Depression

Fifty-nine percent of those with generalized anxiety disorder also show symptoms of major depressive disorder. The reason for this overlap has not been proven conclusively, but several theories exist. One is that the relationship between anxiety and depression is related to a biological link in the brain that contributes to these comorbidities. Another theory suggests that both anxiety and depression can be triggered by stressful events—such as loss (of a relationship, job, or person) or interpersonal conflict—so symptoms of both may emerge and overlap.

Does anxiety cause depression? Sometimes anxiety can contribute to depression's development because it's taxing on the body or because it can lead to a habit of negative thinking. However, it's only one of many possible contributing factors. By contrast, depression doesn't typically trigger anxiety.

Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment for depression, so it may take you a few tries to find something that works. Antidepressant medication, talk therapy, or a combination of the two are common treatments. Self-care strategies like exercise or meditation can help by producing feel-good chemicals in the brain, but they're not a substitute for professional help.

If depression doesn't respond to talk therapy or medication, you may also want to consider non-drug treatments like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy. TMS therapy uses gentle magnetic pulses to target the areas of the brain that contribute to depression. It's non-invasive and has proven to be effective for people who don't respond well to other depression treatments.

Treating Anxiety

Anxiety disorders may also be treated with medication, talk therapy, or a combination of the two. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a popular type of therapy because it gives you the tools to directly change the thoughts causing your anxiety, leading to relief. Several antidepressants are also recommended for anxiety. Benzodiazepines, or sedatives, may be used as a fast-acting rescue medicine for anxiety or panic attacks. Relaxation techniques are also recommended, such as yoga or meditation.

Treating One May Help the Other

The good news is that, since many of the symptoms of depression and anxiety overlap, treating one may help with the other—especially if the anxiety presents first. Managing anxiety by working on healthy coping skills may also help depression symptoms down the line. The reverse is sometimes true as well—treating depressive symptoms can reduce the number anxiety symptoms you need to address. It can also give you the energy and focus needed to find the appropriate anxiety treatment.

It may take several tries to find what works for you, but don't be discouraged—relief is out there, and you can find the unique combination of approaches that works best for you.