Anxiety Vs. Depression: What Are The Differences?

Both anxiety and depression are medical disorders that can affect a person’s way of life. Many people think that anxiety and depression is the same thing, which is not correct. A diagnosis of anxiety does not mean that you are suffering from depression.

 

The Clinical Symptoms

There is a notable difference in the clinical symptoms of anxiety verses those of depression. Some of the clinical symptoms may be similar but when all the symptoms are put together, it paints a totally different picture of a disorder.

 

Anxiety clinical symptoms include:

• Having worried thoughts, fear or phobia, a belief that something will go terribly wrong
• Apprehension over the future
• Intense feeling of needing to avoid situations
• Feeling like the future is hopeless
• Lack of feeling that positive things will happen
• Negative emotions
• Possible suicidal thoughts

 

Depression clinical symptoms include:

• Listlessness
• Feeling alone and hopeless
• Doubt of one’s self worth
• Unwilling to believe that will be good things coming in the future
• Fear or phobia that things will get worse
• Possible suicidal thoughts

 

The Physical Symptoms

Like the clinical symptoms, the physical symptoms can be similar. But there are notable differences that will differentiate between anxiety and depression. Both can leave you feeling exhausted and emotionally/physically drained.

With depression, the exhaustion is constant. With anxiety, though, this exhausted feeling only occurs after an intense anxiety attack. Also read the difference between anxiety and panic attack.

 

Anxiety physical symptoms include:

• Shaking
• Sweating
• Intense feeling to flee the situation
• Fast heart rate
• Hyperventilation
• Bowel issues
• Stomach pain
• Chest pain

 

Depression physical symptoms include:

• Lack of energy or motivation
• Complete lack of emotion
• Slowed thinking and/or behaviors
• Severe headaches
• Sleep problems
• Noticeable appetite changes

 

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• Difference Between Therapist and Psychiatrist

• Difference Between Counseling and Psychotherapy

 

Anxiety Vs. Depression: A Comparison Table

Anxiety	Depression
Extreme exhaustion after an anxiety attack.	Extreme exhaustion all the time.
Fear of the future.	Fear that things will not change.
Sweating, shaking, increased heart rate.	Lack of energy, slowed thinking and/or behaviors.
Emotions on overdrive	Lack of emotions
Having worried thoughts	Feelings of self unimportance