How to Differentiate Between Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and depression are two of the most common of the mental disorders classified as neuroses. Millions of people worldwide are affected with these often difficult conditions every year. While anxiety and depression often go hand in hand, they are not the same thing. It is important to be able to differentiate between the two.

Instructions

Differentiate Between Anxiety and Depression

• 1

  Become well-versed in psychology. This will help you understand both conditions better. One of the first things you will learn is that people with depression are generally "down" in their moods, while anxiety sufferers are "wound up."

• 2

  Pay attention to the waxing and waning of symptoms. In depression, symptoms are typically worse in the morning. In anxiety, symptoms tend to reach their peak in the evenings. Of course, there are always exceptions to these rules.

• 3

  Probe for any underlying emotional causes. Even though many cases of anxiety and depression are clinical in nature, some are brought on solely by feelings run amok. In depression, these are usually feelings of intense sadness, grief or low self-esteem. In anxiety, the feelings are usually those of worry and uncertainty.

• 4

  Watch a person's body language. For someone with depression, a slumped posture, downcast eyes and closed-off stance (folded arms or crossed legs) are typical physical expressions of the condition. In anxiety, an inability to sit still, shifty eyes and overall shakiness are common.

• 5

  Monitor sleep patterns. Someone who wants to stay in bed and sleep all the time may be suffering from depression. On the other hand, a person who has great difficulty falling asleep due to racing thoughts may be suffering from anxiety.