what is the difference between stress, anxiety and depression?
May 15th, 2009 | by Michael |
Suesunflower asked:
I am wondering if and how they are related to each other. My father tried to committ ******* by overdosing on heart meds. My mother starved herself to death later in life. I am anxious about events, cry often and sometimes feel hopeless. Do I have a problem too?
JONATHAN
I am wondering if and how they are related to each other. My father tried to committ ******* by overdosing on heart meds. My mother starved herself to death later in life. I am anxious about events, cry often and sometimes feel hopeless. Do I have a problem too?
JONATHAN
3 Responses to “what is the difference between stress, anxiety and depression?”
By sweets on May 16, 2009 | Reply
there is really no major difference, they are all linked together cuz one causes the other. you have been through alot, you could very well be suffering from depression , it is normal these days, see your doc.
By WishinIwasdifferent on May 18, 2009 | Reply
It’s possible you have a problem, depression can happen just because of certain events being hard on you. It is not always something that needs medication, but sometimes just therapy. You can have forms of depression that aren’t due to events, and that would need medication and most likely would not go away. My mom has been struggling with depression for a long time and sometimes it is very hard to diagnose what it is exactly, she just recently found a doctor who figured out why the medications she was taking weren’t working, she’s actually bipolar.
Anyhow, Generalized Anxiety Disorder? Well I have GAD, and that’s not GAD symptoms. GAD just makes you worry about things you normally wouldn’t… it makes it hard to sleep, sometimes you use the bathroom a lot at night and you will worry about things that could lead you to getting hurt or sick. Doesn’t sound like GAD to me.
Stress,well we all know what stress is, and this could be stress but it sounds like it’s gotten past that. If it was stress it’d just make you jumpy, maybe a bit down but not what we would consider depressed. Try talking to a physocologist about it, a professional would be able to help more than I or most Yahoo users can. Good luck.
By LV-Therapist on May 21, 2009 | Reply
A good question! While each of these expereinces are unique in nature, they all can be intermixed.
STRESS is a response to any event which is perceived to alter or threaten our well–being. The experience of stress is a cognitive (thought) process.
How we view the events of our life is subjective and will influence its effect. Whether an event is viewed in a positive or a negative light, it will produce a response. For instance, going on a 1st date is exciting for some and terrifying for others. In both instances there is cognitive and emotional tension that can be met by a stress response.
ANXIETY is a cognitive function that can produce an emotional sense of discomfort, uneasiness and or distress.
It is based in apprehension, doubt or fear about whether an event will occur or the outcome of the event. Along with this is a lack of confidence in one’s ability to cope.
In its severest form, anxiety will produce panic attacks wherein an individual will experience sudden, discrete periods of intense anxiety, fear and discomfort.
DEPRESSION is a disorder of mood. It involves varying levels of sadness and despair and a loss of interest in previous sources of pleasure.
Levels of Depression can range from a case of the “blues” to severe, disabling psychosis. It can be expereinced for brief periods of time, or it can be an ongoing mental illness.
Everyone expereinces levels of stress, anxiety (worry) and depression during their lifetimes. The real question is how does it effect the quality of life overall.
If the tensions of life are overburdening, the stress response can produce physical symptoms ranging from headaches, muscle tension and insomnia to heart attack and stroke.
The same is true for both anxiety and depression. They can be a brief experience that are only minor discomforts, or either can produce dibilitating effects that have significant impact on living.
Mental health disorders are believed to have genetic factors; however this is only to a potential for a disorder. It is NOT a direct link.
Many individuals have parents or other blood relatives that have expereinced mental illness and have never manifested any disorders.
I hear that you are affected by the events of your mother’s death and your father’s mental health. Perhaps a few visits with a therapist or counselor could help you look at your life and come to terms with these past events.
Only you can ultimately know if you have a “problem”. Occasional feelings of hopelessness do not indicate depression. Sometimes life can be a significant challenge.
When you say you cry “often”, does this mean every day and to a significant degree, or are you responding to emotional circumstances where crying might be appropriate.
Does your anxiety about events keep you from moving forward with your life?
From a cognitive behavioral standpoint, I wish to remind you: you are in control of what you think and therefore what you “feel”.
For some more in-depth information on these topics, I invite you to visit my website:
And by all means, if you are having difficuties moving along with your life, take the time, invest in yourself and see a counselor or therapist. It doesn’t mean you are weak or “crazy”, but rather, it means you care about yourself and are not afraid to ask for help.
Good fortune.