Symptoms of depression and anxiety can become difficult to notice. The unpredictability of life can come with experiences and events that trigger short-lived mood disorders which do not necessarily need a diagnosis.
However, the two mental disorders are usually connected because, of similar symptoms and the complexity that lies in the fact that both can stem from natural reactions to life experiences.
Five symptoms of depression and anxiety
Distinguishing between sadness and depression can be challenging if the term is used loosely.
According to Psychology Today, sadness is a natural response to disappointments, losses, and setbacks, whereas depression is accompanied by other symptoms that can affect your behaviour and general immune system in ways that you might have not imagined.
On the other hand, the occasional feelings of anxiety are also entirely normal. Whether it is fear from an outcome of a job interview, or an acceptance into a university, when the brain deals with such uncertainty, those feelings of terror and panic are usually a survival response. However, it becomes an illness once it affects your everyday activities
If you have noticed some of the below-listed symptoms for at least two weeks, it is important to see a professional that will help bring light back into your world.
- Feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness
- Anxiety, agitation, and restlessness
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering things, and making decisions
- Appetite disturbance, including loss of interest in eating and weight loss or overeating and weight gain
- Fatigue and lack of energy