According to surveys, in the psychiatric department of hospitals, patients often ask doctors a question, “Doctor, am I suffering from anxiety or depression?”
Depression mainly refers to a common emotional and psychological disorder, where individuals typically experience changes in thinking, behavior, leading to extremely negative emotions, and even losing interest in activities they used to enjoy.
At the same time, individuals with depression often exhibit various negative psychological emotions such as lack of concentration, decreased memory, low self-esteem, anxiety, feelings of sadness, weight loss, insomnia, loss of appetite, and more.
Anxiety disorder, on the other hand, is characterized by anxiety as the primary clinical manifestation, often accompanied by symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, palpitations, difficulty breathing, and other related symptoms of autonomic nervous system dysfunction and restlessness.
Due to the long duration, it is crucial for individuals experiencing suspected symptoms to actively seek medical treatment to avoid a lower chance of recovery with prolonged time.
As for whether it is depression or anxiety disorder? There are several key differences between the two that should be carefully examined.
1. Consider the age of onset. Anxiety disorder patients typically experience onset at the age of 35 and above, primarily in the middle-aged and elderly group. On the other hand, depression can occur at any age. According to incomplete statistics, the number of depression patients in China has exceeded 95 million, meaning that on average, there is one depression patient among every 14 individuals.
Moreover, even adolescents can suffer from depression, which is something everyone should be wary of.
2. Different symptoms. Depressed individuals tend to harbor more negative emotions and tend to be more distant from people around them, even losing interest in their hobbies. In contrast, anxiety disorder patients are usually functional but may experience sleep disturbances such as difficulty falling asleep.
3. Variation in willingness to seek medical help. Depressed individuals often do not recognize their condition and hence do not actively seek medical attention, remaining confined to their own world. Conversely, individuals with anxiety disorders, due to feeling overwhelmed and impacting their quality of life, often seek medical help proactively.
4. Physiological reactions differ. Anxiety disorders can be triggered and improved by addressing emotions such as fear, worry, unease, tension, panic, etc., whereas depression manifests as excessive sadness, affecting attention, judgment, imagination, reaction, analysis, etc. As the condition worsens, life-threatening behaviors may emerge.
Anxiety disorders do not usually pose a threat to life but can cause excessive nervousness, dizziness, sweating, increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, etc.
By using these criteria as a preliminary assessment, if any signs are noticed, it is advisable to seek medical assistance promptly.
