What illnesses are related to depression?

You may have symptoms of anxiety if you suffer from depression. By the same token, you may be depressed if you suffer from an anxiety disorder.

An anxiety disorder is one where anxiety is so prominent and troublesome that you may have to change and restrict the way you go about your life. There are things that you simply may not be able to do or places that you cannot go, on account of your anxiety. In a worst-case scenario you may be anxious in so many areas of your life that your anxiety disables you. If this is the case, you need to be treated for your illness.

Some psychiatrists feel that anxiety is a form of depression, which is masked by the symptoms of anxiety. Others think that the two illnesses bear no relation to each other because you can develop secondary depression during the course of an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety and unexplained physical symptoms are closely linked to depression. One can lead to the other if you are not treated promptly. Unfortunately, you risk developing both illnesses if you have been ill for a long time.

Anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders need to be treated and, fortunately, there are several effective treatments available.

DSM IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) contains a number of different anxiety disorders that, like all other diagnoses, can overlap. Often more than one disorder is present at the same time.