Depression vs Anxiety: Do You Have One or Both?

While the two terms are often utilized interchangeably, anxiety and depression are distinctly different. However, you can have both at the same time. When acute, they may pass once circumstances improve. If chronic, they both can be classified as a mood disorder. Whether acute or chronic, there is hope. Here’s a closer look at depression vs anxiety.

Please Note—CBD companies cannot provide medical advice and we cannot guarantee that CBD will effectively soothe your mind or body. The data we provide is for informational purposes. Consult with your physician for guidance on all dietary supplements.

Is there a difference in anxiety and depression?

While the two are distinctly different, both can increase the risk of developing the other. You may feel depressed, and your depression may lead to anxiety. Or your anxiety may lead to worry that is so severe that it leads to depression.

The definition from the Mayo Clinic defines the difference. However, depression is more than a bad day. It is feeling the symptoms below for the majority of each day for at least 2 weeks. If any of the symptoms above persist for 2 or more months, you may have a mood disorder.

Symptoms of depression include:

• Sadness, hopelessness, or anxiousness
• A loss of interest in things you once enjoyed
• A lack of energy
• Eating more or less than you used to
• Sleeping too little or too much
• Trouble thinking or concentrating

Symptoms of anxiety include:

• Overwhelmed by worry
• Cranky or on edge
• Sweaty or shaky
• Like you're out of control

What is the main difference between stress and depression?

Stress refers to either a strong emotion or a physical symptom. For example, texting can cause thumb and wrist stress. An impending deadline at work can cause emotional stress. Emotional stress is something we can often self-identify.

Chronic emotional stress puts your body in a constant state of fight or flight mode. This poses a variety of health risks, including increasing your risk of both anxiety and depression.

Symptoms of stress include:

• Inability to concentrate or complete tasks
• Trouble falling asleep or staying awake
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Memory problems
• A change in eating habits
• Feeling angry or irritable
• Having trouble functioning at work
• Getting sick often
• Headaches, stomach, and body aches

The longer you are stressed, the more the symptoms above can evolve. However, alleviating your emotional stress is often (not always) faster and easier than managing anxiety and depression.

Self-care activities such as massage, meditation, exercise, and even 20 minutes in nature can rapidly reduce your stress. In times of high stress, you will need to take a reactive approach. This might include:

• Delegating some of your tasks
• Politely declining new obligations
• Bowing out of commitments
• Scheduled self-care
• Quality time with stress-free loved ones

In times of low stress, take a proactive approach by continuing with self-care and scheduling in gaps. Scheduled gaps allow space if you get backed up or overwhelmed. This space should include pre-scheduled weekend and full-week getaways.

Is anxiety the root of depression?

Not necessarily. It can increase your risk of depression, but it’s not always the cause.

What is most important, is that you avoid self-diagnosis. There are a variety of factors that can contribute to your current state that may not be something you can address solo. For example, thyroid problems can increase your risk for many of the symptoms mentioned above.

Even if you can identify whether you are experiencing anxiety vs depression, you should seek medical attention. A specialist in your area of concern can provide you with a variety of tools and resources to manage your symptoms.

What are the dangers of depression?

Acute and chronic depression pose a variety of risks, that increase with the duration of your symptoms.

Whether you have a diagnosed mood disorder or have fallen into depression after an event (such as the unexpected death of a loved one) you are not alone—and you don’t have to suffer in silence.

According to John Hopkins Medicine, the risk for the medical conditions below increases when you are depressed:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Back problems
• Arthritis
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure

How to treat your symptoms?

The first step is scheduling an appointment with a medical professional. They will likely run a variety of tests to determine if there is an underlying medical cause. Once your medical professional determines whether it is anxiety vs depression, they will discuss your treatment options.

There are a variety of traditional and alternative depression and anxiety treatments to explore. Patience is required, as you’ll have to find what works for you.

This might include:

• Goal setting
• Physical activities
• Nutritional changes
• Nutritional supplements
• Creating a sleep routine
• Mindset shift strategies
• Positive lifestyle changes
• Talk therapy
• Biofeedback
• Brain stimulation therapy
• Hypnosis
• Acupuncture
• Meditation
• Alternative therapies
• Depression and anxiety medication
• Nutritional supplements or CBD for depression and anxiety

Can therapy help?

Depression and anxiety counseling can be highly effective. The right counselor provides a safe, nonjudgmental, and compassionate place to share. You can talk about every area of life, including the root cause of your acute or chronic symptoms. Then you will explore a variety of tools and resources to help manage your symptoms.

Select your counselor with the same attention to detail you place in all other major life decisions. For example, don’t just select someone nearby who is covered by your insurance, or within your budget. Or the top name or two who populates when you perform an online search for “anxiety therapist near me”.

Ensure your therapist:

• Is a personality fit, which may take a session or two to determine.
• Specializes in your area of opportunity or the past traumas you want to discuss.
• Provides your preference in live or virtual sessions.
• Is available at times that easily fit into your schedule.
• Has the cultural background or experience required to be effective.

Cultural factors include—gender, sexual orientation, religion, race, comprehension of your ethnic culture, and more.

Considering CBD for depression and anxiety?

CBD is one option to discuss with your medical professional. If you determine it is the right fit for you, we suggest products that are:

• USDA-Certified Organic or made with organic ingredients
• Third-Party lab tested
• Have an online third-party certificate of analysis
• Processed from US-grown hemp flowers
• Pure with no toxic additives or fillers
• Clearly stated milligrams per serving

In addition to the bullet points above, Holmes Organics products are processed to filter out the THC to 0.0%.

Choose from Gummies, Softgels, or Oil. CBD oil is your most versatile option as it can be mixed into foods and beverages and applied topically.