Why is depression a side-effect of anxiety?

[kristydani]

I have had (and still do have) depression as a side-effect of having anxiety. In the past I have suffered with severe depression as well as self-harm and suicidal thoughts. That was mostly last year, and I am doing much better now. However, I've never really understood exactly why most of us have depression as a result of anxiety. Is it because we get depressed due to the way anxiety makes us feel and act?

What are your thoughts or experiences with this? Why does depression come along with the anxiety?

[Fen667]

My anxiety is a result of my depression, I think. They both seem to go hand in hand though, like a by product of each other. For years I never suffered the anxiety and panic attacks. Just huge swarms of low feelings and sadness. I knew why they were there and, almost, learned to live with them but there's only so much room to store crap in your head until it bursts!!. Went through the self harming stage a few times and came very close to giving up on a occasion. Started the anxiety around 2 years ago and, until recently didn't know what it was!! Cue the worrying about health and all the nasty things i must have!! My fears have eased somewhat recently after seeing doctors, talking and visiting these forums. I know I'll probably have depression with me always but I'm hoping to mange it better.
Take care out there

[mr.blanks1981]

Depression is a response to anticipating being anxious all the time for reasons you cannot change until the moment you die.

[Matt192]

They really do go hand in hand, for me the anxiety causes me to be depressed. Once I got free of anxiety the depression lifted. It's a beautiful month when you finally start to feel better though. There's so much you can do to help your mind recover, the worst thing to do is do nothing.

[HockeyRules]

They really do go hand in hand, for me the anxiety causes me to be depressed. Once I got free of anxiety the depression lifted. It's a beautiful month when you finally start to feel better though. There's so much you can do to help your mind recover, the worst thing to do is do nothing.

Yes....be a fighter ....it is beautiful on the other side.

[Kabukicho]

I definitely have begun to consider the two of them as inextricably interlinked. Some people probably tend more toward depression, and others more toward anxiety. They're just two sides of the same coin. I'm probably 70% anxious and 30% depressed. I never get suicidal or depressed to the point of being unable to move. I get massive panic attacks and insomnia and dizziness and derealization.

Everyone is so different when it comes to these two (one?) things. It's not the common cold we're talking about. It's not even cancer. It's a VERY complex mental situation involving a VERY complex organ that is barely understood by science.

As William Styron put it, if depression/anxiety were North America and science were the explorers of the 1600s, science would right now just be reaching the tip of the Bahamas. Everything else is unmapped territory.

[libertynow]

If say anxiety than brings on depression. Excessive worry turned into anxiety than depression.

Kevin

[After5hock]

If say anxiety than brings on depression. Excessive worry turned into anxiety than depression.

Kevin

That's how mine is.

[TB1]

Like others have said, anxiety and depression can cause each other, but they can both also be caused by the same thing. Low serotonin levels in the brain is a good example, as that can cause all sorts of problems. Being diagnosed with a life-threatening physical illness is another good one, as more than likely your emotions will be all over the place.

[kristydani]

Like others have said, anxiety and depression can cause each other, but they can both also be caused by the same thing. Low serotonin levels in the brain is a good example, as that can cause all sorts of problems. Being diagnosed with a life-threatening physical illness is another good one, as more than likely your emotions will be all over the place.

Yeah, I think a lot of the time most of us can't even really help the fact that we have due to low seratonin levels. Thanks for your response.

[kristydani]

I definitely have begun to consider the two of them as inextricably interlinked. Some people probably tend more toward depression, and others more toward anxiety. They're just two sides of the same coin. I'm probably 70% anxious and 30% depressed. I never get suicidal or depressed to the point of being unable to move. I get massive panic attacks and insomnia and dizziness and derealization.

Everyone is so different when it comes to these two (one?) things. It's not the common cold we're talking about. It's not even cancer. It's a VERY complex mental situation involving a VERY complex organ that is barely understood by science.

As William Styron put it, if depression/anxiety were North America and science were the explorers of the 1600s, science would right now just be reaching the tip of the Bahamas. Everything else is unmapped territory.

You're right. I think they are linked no matter what. I can't really imagine anyone having one and not both of them. Sorry to hear you've had pretty full-on anxiety. I'd say I'm definitely more anxious today than depressed. But last year I think it was an equal playing field with both. The brain is certainly a very complex machine of its own. Anxiety and depression are just two of those complicated disorders that are very difficult for us to completely understand.

[kristydani]

They really do go hand in hand, for me the anxiety causes me to be depressed. Once I got free of anxiety the depression lifted. It's a beautiful month when you finally start to feel better though. There's so much you can do to help your mind recover, the worst thing to do is do nothing.

I'm exactly the same, Matt. For me it's the anxiety that causes my depression afterwards. I'm very glad to hear you've been feeling better and I completely agree with you - one of the worst things you can do is just push the issue aside and try to forget about it. God, anxiety really sucks.

[kristydani]

My anxiety is a result of my depression, I think. They both seem to go hand in hand though, like a by product of each other. For years I never suffered the anxiety and panic attacks. Just huge swarms of low feelings and sadness. I knew why they were there and, almost, learned to live with them but there's only so much room to store crap in your head until it bursts!!. Went through the self harming stage a few times and came very close to giving up on a occasion. Started the anxiety around 2 years ago and, until recently didn't know what it was!! Cue the worrying about health and all the nasty things i must have!! My fears have eased somewhat recently after seeing doctors, talking and visiting these forums. I know I'll probably have depression with me always but I'm hoping to mange it better.
Take care out there

I'm sorry to hear you've been going through that rough stage. I think you're definitely right in saying that they do go hand in hand. That's what many of my doctors and family members have said too. I can relate to you in regards to those very deep, sad periods where the sadness just seems to take over completely. I had that a lot last year, but since being treated for my anxiety I haven't had those depressive episodes as much anymore. I think depression/anxiety is something that you can learn to handle and it doesn't have to rule your life if you're willing to fight it.

Take care and best wishes.

[HockeyRules]

Yeah, I think a lot of the time most of us can't even really help the fact that we have due to low seratonin levels. Thanks for your response.


I was questioned by my Physcologist about the low seratonin level that my GP had stated as the reason for taking Paxil. He pointed out to me there isn't any cost effective way to measure seratonin levels at all. It made me wonder if it is just an excuse to make you accept your present condition and take ssri's and have a reason for it. Oh well.....no biggie as I stopped taking Paxil and I guess my seratonin is better because I notice no difference ..but who knows...lol.