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Where does my anxiety end and depression begin?

Chicken_Wings
Community Member

I have generalised anxiety disorder and also depression. I take 1 medication which is meant to look after both.

I don't know if it even matters, but I'm not sure where one ends and the other begins? And would having a better understanding of that make dealing with the two of them easier?

I assume that the fidgeting and shakes along with the tense, feeling I get in the morning are my anxiety. Same with the heart palpitations.
And I assume that the crying, lethargy, loss of appetite and lack of self care are the depression?

But I wonder about the intrusive thoughts. Is that anxiety? And what about that weird feeling of disconnection I sometimes get?
And does the anxiety make me depressed, or does the depression cause me to be anxious?

I don't know if anyone will have any real answer for this, are these questions anyone else asks themselves?

4 Replies 4

Bluey_moon
Community Member

I'm not sure which comes first, it might be like the age old question of chicken or the egg? 

I have GAD and have been told the intrusive thoughts are caused by them. 

The psyciatrist I saw gave me a diagnosis of GAD and obsessive thoughts! My GP thought I might be depressed to but my psyc not so much. 

Either way I take a medication that treats both too. 

I supppose I never thought about it before. 

I guess it might not even matter.

I've found the thoughts are the ones that I find hardest to break so I guess I'm just looking for other ways that I might be able to tackle or control the symptoms when they appear.

Maybe it doesn't matter. 

Thoughts are so hard to control and it is great you are looking at new ways to deal. 

Have you read a book called "the happiness trap" it has some really good techniques to deal with thoughts! 

Take care 

no, I've not read that. I will look it up, thank you.