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Depression and Anxiety: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Management

By on December 14, 2021

How to Reduce Depression and Anxiety

Depression and anxiety mostly occur at the same time. In fact, it’s estimated that 45 percent of suffering people with one mental health problem meet the criteria for two or more disorders. One study found that people with either anxiety or depression have other mental conditions.

How to Reduce Depression and Anxiety

How to Reduce Depression and Anxiety

Symptoms of each condition

Some symptoms of depression and anxiety are almost the same, such as problems with sleep, difficulty concentrating, and irritability. But there are several other key factors that help distinguish between the two.

Symptoms of Depression

Feeling down, sad, or upset is normal.

Physical symptoms and other behavioral changes caused during depression include:

decreased in energy, chronic fatigue, or frequently feeling sluggish

difficulty in concentration, recalling, or making decisions

pain, cramps, aches, or gastrointestinal problems without any known clear cause

changes in weight or appetite

difficulty sleeping, oversleeping, or waking early

Emotional symptoms of depression include:

interest loss or no longer finding pleasure in any activities or daily hobbies

persistent feelings of sadness, or anxiety,

feeling of hopelessness or pessimistic

irritability, restlessness, or anger

Suicidal thoughts or death thoughts

Making suicide attempts

Anxiety

Anxiety, worry, or fear can occur from time to time. It’s usual to experience anxiety before any big event or making any important decision.

Anxiety Symptoms

Physical symptoms and changes in behaviour caused by generalized anxiety disorder are:

feeling dull or fatigued easily

difficulty while concentrating or recalling anything

muscle tension or sprain

Increased heart

grinding teeth and tight gripping

Difficulty in sleeping, including problems fast asleep or restless, uncomfortable sleep

Diagnosis

A self-help test can also help you to identify the symptoms. You know better what’s normal for you. If you are experiencing feelings or behaviors that aren’t normal or if something seems off, this might be a major sign you need to seek help from a physician. It’s better to talk about what you’re experiencing so that treatment can be given early if it’s needed.

With that being said, there are some online self-diagnosis tests available to help you understand better what may be happening.

Popular self-help tests for this mental health conditions include:

depression test and anxiety test

depression test

anxiety test

Managing your symptoms

The main goal to manage depression and anxiety is to create a series of treatment options that can work together to help, and to combat the conditions to some extent.

Give yourself time to feel what you’re feeling — and understand it’s not your fault

Depression and anxiety disorders are medical conditions and they aren’t because of failure or weakness. What you experience is the result of underlying causes and triggers.

Do things that you can control, like making your own bed or cleaning out the trash

In the moment, getting a bit of control or power can help you get through overwhelming symptoms. Completing a task you can manage, such as neatly arranging your books or sorting your room. Do something to help give yourself a sense of satisfaction and power.

Create a morning, evening, or daily routine

Routines are sometimes found to be helpful for people with anxiety and depression. This provides structure and a sense of discipline. It allows you to get space in your day for self-care techniques that can help you control signs of conditions.

Do your best to stick to a sleep schedule

Aim for seven to eight hours each night. More or less than that may complicate symptoms of both conditions. Inadequate or poor sleep can cause problems with your cardiovascular, endocrine, immune, and nervous symptoms.

Try to have something nutritious, like fruits or some nuts, at least once a day because when you’re depressed or anxious, you may look for comforting foods like pasta and sweet food to alleviate some of the tension. But, these foods do not provide much nutrition. So, try to nourish your body with fruits, veggies, lean meats, and whole grains.

Do something that brings you happiness, such as watching your favorite movie or going through a magazine. Also get yourself some time to focus on you and the things you like. Because it is a great way to let your body rest, and it distracts your brain with these things and brings you a boost.

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