Depression and Anxiety

Depression and anxiety are different thought. At first you may seem both are similar. But we can say, anxiety and depression are fraternal twins of mood disorders.

Under depression person become hopelessness, despair and anger. They lose their self-confidence. Energy level becomes low.

A person with anxiety disorder, experiences fear, panic or anxiety in certain situations where there is no need of fear. It requires special treatment. Otherwise the person with anxiety loses their ability to work and hard to keep good relationship.

Most of the time same treatment is given to treat anxiety and depression. Generally antidepressants treatment is used for anxiety and behavioral therapy is used for depression.

Type of Anxiety Disorder

• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder

People with an anxiety, emotionally they may feel irritable and apprehensive. Some time they may fear about bad thing that happens to themselves or to their loved ones.

People with an anxiety disorder may have a number of physical symptoms, including

• Shakiness
• Muscle aches
• Sweating
• Cold and clammy hands
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Racing heart
• Dry mouth

Treatment For Anxiety Disorder

Following are some techniques that are commonly used to treat anxiety.

• Medication

  Benzodiazepines also called "minor tranquilizers" are commonly used to treat anxiety. These include Xanax, Ativan and Klonopin. The main problem of this drug is that there is a chance of recurrence of panic and anxiety symptoms when the medication is stopped. Symptoms of anxiety often diminish, when the depression is healed.

  Some people use kava herbal treatment. Kava treatment has no side effect.

• Exercise and relaxation techniques

  One of the important parts of treatment is relaxing the body. These relaxation techniques include abdominal breathing, progressive muscle relaxation and biofeedback. Mental health professionals are expert in how to teach relaxation or stress reduction. You can learn these techniques from mental health professional.

  Exercise reduces metabolizes excess adrenaline and thyroxin in the bloodstream, skeletal muscle tension and discharges pent-up frustration and anger. Thus regular exercise reduces some anxiety.

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy

  It is psychotherapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps patient to alter anxious self-talk and mistaken beliefs that give the body anxiety-producing messages. Avoid negative talking about you. Try to speck positively like " sure, I can handle my anxiety".

• Monitoring diet and nutrition

  Caffeine and nicotine are one of the prone of anxiety and panic disorder. Some people has allergy of some food like sugar, certain sensitive or additive food. Take guidance from some nutritionally oriented physician or therapist about diet.

The Benefit of Exercise for Anxiety and Depression

There are emotional and psychological benefits of exercise. These are

• Confidence

  Keep mind busy in doing some physical activity, which offers a sense of, accomplish. Meeting challenges can increase self-confidence.

• Distraction
• Interaction
• Healthy coping

Resources for Fighting Depression:

• Self Help for Depression
• End Depression Now
• Conquer Stress, Depression & Anxiety