Depression, Stress & Anxiety
... Are They Connected?
Depression
Depression is a serious medical condition that affects millions of people. It's a mood disorder that involves the body, mood and thoughts. It affects the way you feel about yourself, the way you think about things, and your eating and sleeping patterns. It may start suddenly or build up over a period of weeks, months, or even years. [Read more ...]
Stress
If you ask a dozen people to define stress, explain what causes stress for them, or how it affects them, you will probably get 12 different answers. That's because there is no definition of stress that everyone agrees on. Yet, stress is a normal part of life that we all experience in varying forms and degrees every day. It's the body's way of rising to a challenge and preparing to meet a tough situation. It can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or anxious. In small quantities it's good and can help you be more productive. On the other hand, too strong of a response to stress, or persistent and unrelenting stress, can be harmful. [Read more ...]
Anxiety
Anxiety is a feeling of uncertainty, uneasiness, apprehension or fear. Everyone experiences anxiety periodically, but some people experience more than their share and suffer anxiety to such an extent that it disrupts their lives. [Read more ...]
Depression, Stress and Anxiety - Are They Connected?
Absolutely! The relationship between depression, stress and anxiety is a complex one because the symptoms often overlap, and you may suffer from any one, two, or all three. For example, anxiety can be a symptom of stress overload - it can also be a symptom of depression - stress can precipitate the development of anxiety disorders, and anxiety disorders can be made worse by stress - and, extended periods of stress can contribute to the development of depression.
And then there is the apparent two-way relationship between depression, stress, anxiety, and your physical health. This is called the mind-body connection. Research supports the findings that excessive anxiety can actually change brain chemistry - that stress increases the risk of illness - and, that serious illness can cause anxiety.
The bottom line is that depression, stress and anxiety can impact your mood, and your mood impacts your physical health.