Anxiety or depression

[gphillips97]

Can anxiety (probably health anxiety) make you think and feel like you have depression without actually being depressed? Don't know if this makes sense or not.

[charlotte1706]

Yes it makes perfect sense. I often feel down and helpless but I know I don’t have depression. I just get so upset and frustrated that I have anxiety and that I let it win- if that makes sense! You’re not alone in feeling like this don’t worry!

[Laura2012]

I have severe anxiety and a mild form of depression.

It was a bit of a shock to me that I actually was depressed, (the anxiety was undeniable!) but after thinking about it a lot, I realised for me they are closely linked because my anxiety makes me have feelings of depression. After worrying or being anxious for long enough I start to feel down and negative. Bit of a vicious circle though cuz it seems to never end.

I did CBT and found that to be very useful.

Sending happy thoughts! X

[Jeff1943 in reply to Laura2012]

Laura2012, I think you are absolutely right, I've always thought that we can get depressed about the symptoms of anxiety disorder. It's so obvious - a double whammy.

I call it secondary depression where the depression is a result of anxiety. This sort of depression is caused by the depletion of of our nervous energy caused by fighting anxiety. When the anxiety is resolved so will the depression.

[b1b1b1]

You should check with an eye doctor. This will uncover a problem, if any, and also reduce your anxiety.

[b1b1b1]

Sorry, I think the above reply somehow got in the wrong place.

[Kel76]

I have felt that way to at times, mainly this last time when my anxiety was pretty relentless on easing back down for like 3 weeks which for me that was longer than my normal "flare up" as I call it. Hoping you will feel better soon. 😊

[gphillips97]

Thanks to everyone for the help. The only problem is that I haven't had an actual panic attack since February. Just feel uptight, tense and a lot of mental "uneasiness", if that makes sense