Link between Depression and Anxiety?

[Joe.]

As you know I've been suffering from debilitating anxiety for around a year now ( first panic attack was in last august, 16th, always remember it), but I am not depressed at all. I have a lot going on in my life right now and bar my health I am optimistic about it.
However my question is should I expect depression in the future, as I am still new to all this?
Are they linked totally?

[superchick22684]

Joe,
I'm not a doctor or medical expert of any kind however I've spent some time looking into the linkage between depression and anxiety. Main reason being that I have both however I pretty sure that I was depressed way before I developed anxiety. To try and answer your question I went to the website for ADAA (Anxiety and Depression Association of America) to see if I could track down some statistics for you. In quotes is what I found on their site "It's not uncommon for someone with an anxiety disorder to also suffer from depression or vice versa. Nearly one-half of those diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder."
I'm pretty sure that there isn't a set in stone guarantee that you will develop depression. I have heard that some people feel depressed as a result of the way that their anxiety affects their life or just as a result of the anxiety in general. Hope this helps.

[Joe.]

Yeah, that really helps! Especially the perspective on how anxiety affects life's which can lead to depression, It's all about managing our anxiety. Thanks for the reply. How are you feeling today?
Joe,
I'm not a doctor or medical expert of any kind however I've spent some time looking into the linkage between depression and anxiety. Main reason being that I have both however I pretty sure that I was depressed way before I developed anxiety. To try and answer your question I went to the website for ADAA (Anxiety and Depression Association of America) to see if I could track down some statistics for you. In quotes is what I found on their site "It's not uncommon for someone with an anxiety disorder to also suffer from depression or vice versa. Nearly one-half of those diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder."
I'm pretty sure that there isn't a set in stone guarantee that you will develop depression. I have heard that some people feel depressed as a result of the way that their anxiety affects their life or just as a result of the anxiety in general. Hope this helps.

[superchick22684]

My anxiety has been better lately but I've found that while the anxiety has been manageable the depression is worse. Unfortunately my therapist hasn't been too helpful on advising me other than to suggest that I find ways to distract myself. Thus I'm doing my best to stay occupied with some of my hobbies.

[Anne1221]

Superchick, don't forget exercise! My therapist is always harping on that and I finally joined a gym and now I go for walks and go to the gym and it is helping for depression as well as anxiety. He says research shows that exercise does indeed help depression.

[Anne1221]

Joe, I think you are going to be fine. It's been a year and you are "feeling optimistic". That's a very good sign that you've got the anxiety part only. Best to you!

[Ritch]

As Anne said it is not uncommon for someone to experience both disorders, but they are not a requisite of each other. I think an attempt to predict or anticipate depression will only increase anxiety, just take it one day at a time. If any of us develop depression alongside anxiety we will cross that bridge when we have to :)

[superchick22684]

Superchick, don't forget exercise! My therapist is always harping on that and I finally joined a gym and now I go for walks and go to the gym and it is helping for depression as well as anxiety. He says research shows that exercise does indeed help depression.

I probably do need to try and exercise more. Unfortunately I'm going to have to push myself to do it because the motivation just isn't there right now. Thanks Anne1221.

[Joe.]

Thank you Anne! Best to you as well!

[Ankhsious]

I see anxiety and depression as two different energy states of the same problem.

Anxiety is your life energy telling you that something is not right AND THAT YOU BETTER DO SOMETHING NOW OR ELSE (the latter part is the false signal).

Depression is a lack of life energy because of your view that something is not right and an apathy/loss of motivation accompanied by guilt/shame that you cannot make it right when you know from the OUTSIDE that you should be happy.

So in a sense, whether you know it or not, anxiety may be your body desperately trying to get out of depression. This is how it is in me anyhow.

[pharmacharak]

Hello,
Depression & anxiety both two different things but there is slightly thin line in between. Constant stress cause for depression and eventually results in anxiety...