Do I Have Anxiety, Depression, or Both?

It can be challenging trying to describe how you’re feeling in the best circumstances. But deciphering your mood when you’re anxious or depressed? That can seem impossible, especially because these conditions often go hand-in-hand. 

You don’t have to come up with the answer or a label on your own. Dr. Peter McAllister and his compassionate team specialize in treating psychiatric and neurological disorders at Ki_Ketamine and can help you understand and address what’s affecting you. 

Have you noticed changes in your mood or energy levels? Here’s what you should know about anxiety and depression and how they can coexist.

Anxiety basics

It’s completely normal to experience worry, stress, or anxiety from time to time. However, an anxiety disorder causes a more persistent and severe response.

Common signs of an anxiety disorder include:

• Fear
• Overthinking or obsessing 
• Restlessness or an inability to relax
• Envisioning worst-case scenarios
• Problems focusing

Anxiety disorders can also cause physical symptoms, ranging from shortness of breath and heart palpitations to muscle tension and chest tightness.

Depression basics

This disorder involves a depressed mood. However, like anxiety, depression symptoms are far more persistent and severe than general sadness.

Depression affects your ability to function, as well as your mood. Common signs of this condition include:

• Exhaustion and problems sleeping
• Changes in appetite
• Loss of interest
• Unexplained physical aches or pains

Depression can also cause feelings of hopelessness, sadness, worthlessness, self-harm, or suicide.

Similarities between anxiety and depression

While anxiety and depression have unique symptoms, they also share some as well, such as:

• Problems sleeping
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or focusing
• Persistent dark or negative thoughts
• Restlessness and irritability
• Changes in weight or appetite
• Digestive issues

That can make it tricky to determine which you’re dealing with — or if you have both.

If this sounds familiar, consider your energy level and thoughts on the future. Anxiety typically comes with racing thoughts and worries that lead a person to feel high-strung. Depression often reduces energy levels, causing people to have less interest or motivation to do anything.

However, nearly half of people with anxiety and depression have both conditions at the same time.

The link between anxiety and depression

The challenge with these conditions is that they often cause one another. More simply put: Depression can cause worry, and worry can cause depression. This leads to a feedback loop, constantly fueling your symptoms.

Fortunately, the Ki_Ketamine team can help if you have treatment-resistant anxiety, depression, or both.

The most important thing to understand is that both anxiety and depression are treatable conditions, even if you haven’t responded to other therapies, such as counseling and traditional medications.

We specialize in ketamine infusion therapy. Unlike other medications, ketamine alters a specific chemical messenger in the brain, which helps create new neural connections. This approach offers numerous benefits for anxiety and depression because it makes the brain more adaptable. 

It gives you the ability to develop more positive feelings and thoughts. It also provides results more quickly than traditional medications.

Whether you have anxiety, depression, or both, there are ways to help improve your symptoms and everyday life. If you’re struggling to find effective treatment for an anxiety or depressive disorder, contact Ki_Ketamine to schedule a consultation with our experts in Stamford and Westport, Connecticut, today.