Depression or Anxiety?

Depression or Anxiety, which is it?

All the person can feel is this internal ache, a sense of uneasiness, peril, possible failure, and a sense of missing out. But what is the person suffering, Depression or Anxiety, or does it even matter which?

When suffering sever psychological pain most people reach the point of seeking help, or at least a diagnosis. Without a degree in psychology or any formal education that would allow a person to know the symptom difference between Depression and Anxiety, it would be very easy for a person to miss self-diagnose. In fact it is very easy; if not quite common for even trained practitioners to miss diagnose the two very opposing psychological states.

Where would you even begin any attempt at deciphering whether a person is experiencing Depression or Anxiety? I believe the first port of call would have to be directed at finding an explanation of the main difference between these two opposing but surprisingly often connected psychological states.

It is not uncommon for people who have a history of Depression to eventually begin presenting with symptoms of Anxiety, or visa versa. And if some particular medications are more suited to treating one or the other of these psychological states, it is obvious that practitioners involved in assessing and prescribing medication for such conditions need a clear understanding of the symptom difference, because in many cases an incorrect diagnosis and prescription could easily severely aggravate the psychological state being treated.

In a quick reference, it is important to understand that Depression is associated with sense of utter hopelessness where the person believes there is absolutely no point in even trying to possess or work on goals, while in contrast the person suffering Anxiety is frantically obsessed with making sure that everything is being attended to and is under control so as to prevent any non preferred situations from eventuating. There is a huge difference in these conditions when present in their maximum form, but they can be very difficult to tie down to a specific diagnosis if they present in milder forms, especially when it is very characteristic for them to alternate in turn. Even though they exist at different ends of the psychological spectrum, Depression can and often is followed by bouts of Anxiety, just as Anxiety can eventually lead to a dose of Depression. How can this be?

Depression is initiated when a person believes there are obstacles to life ever being able to unfold the way the person desperately demands, whilst Anxiety will rear its head when a person is desperately running in the ‘prevention mode’ of desiring to make sure that all bases have been attended to so as to prevent any unwanted events from taking place.

People who have suffered depression for a period of time, upon experiencing any improvement in their psychological state, can easily and often do, find themselves next in the anxious state of wanting to prevent any chance ever converting back into a state of Depression, and so begin to suffer Anxiety.

People who have been experiencing Anxiety for a period of time can eventually conclude that this Anxiety is going to be the obstacle and factor ruining any chance of their life ever evolving into the type of life they demand, and hence find themselves suddenly suffering Depression.

This may all sound like some really sinister twist with no way out or possibility of recovery, but there is a general theme or should we say a common denominator that is worthy of identification, and maybe holds the key to an answer. They both have an attachment to people’s desperate desire to be able to control their life affairs. Is this the problem, and what would the answers be?