Signs of Anxiety

Anxiety is characterized by feelings of panic, obsessive and chronic worry, chest pains, trembling, irrational fears and avoidance behaviors. If you have anxiety, you feel afraid or anxious and you may not even know why.

Signs of Depression

If you are depressed, you may feel sad and helpless and want to withdraw socially. Fatigue and insomnia are common, and you might lose interest in the things that once brought you pleasure.

Causes

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, anxiety disorders can be caused by brain chemistry, life experiences, heredity or personality. The cause of depression is not fully known, but heredity, brain chemicals, psychological factors and environmental factors are likely to contribute to depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Anxiety and Depression Together

Depression and anxiety can appear together, with one starting first. About half the people who experience anxiety also experience depression. The opposite is also true. One condition may trigger the other in certain individuals.

Differences in Treatment

Anxiety disorders can be successfully treated with cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxation techniques and anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications. Depression is usually treated with psychotherapy, antidepressant medications and light therapy.

Source:

University of Maryland Medical Centers: What causes anxiety disorders to develop?

National Institute of Institute of Mental Health: What causes depression?