Depression vs Anxiety

Posted by kylemarshall04 @kylemarshall04, Oct 31, 2018

I feel anxiet but prescribed meds for depression? Why can someone explain this to me?

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@kylemarshall04- Often anxiety & depression are linked together because they often go hand & hand together (in my opinion). Either way I have experienced anxiety for many years and was given Klonopin back in the day to help me calm my fears. I credit this drug for taking back my life and have chosen to remain on the same dosage (1.0 mg) each day now for over 20 yrs.
I saw a Psychiatrist for approx. 4 months and through our discussions he felt that depression was not my issue, but for many, one triggers the other and vice versa. I also trust that God had His hand in all this. If we ask I believe He will provide an answer and often direct us through people (in this case a physician) to provide a path for wellness for me. Jim @thankful

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Anti-depressants sometimes help with anxiety, too. The class of drugs known as Benzodiazepines (benzos), tranquilizers, are usually reserved specifically for anxiety that is severe and/or intractable. It's important to take either type of drug exactly as prescribed and report any side effects that are persistent or troubling to your doctor. Anti-depressants usually take time to work as compared to benzos that offer immediate relief but can have withdrawal symptoms when discontinued (after long-term use). Therapy is often combined with medication for depression or anxiety, and there are techniques you can learn to lessen or shorten your periods of feeling anxious, one of which is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

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Somehow I do not think depression and anxiety are an either or. I think of them as the evil twins as they seem
to go together. Any thoughts...……..
Ainsleigh

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Thank you for comments

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@ainsleigh

Somehow I do not think depression and anxiety are an either or. I think of them as the evil twins as they seem
to go together. Any thoughts...……..
Ainsleigh

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The two certainly go together for me and for others I know. It seems to me that they certainly work in concert, with anxiety worsening one's depression and having depressive thoughts exacerbating the anxiety one feels about situations. There is situational anxiety that occurs when one is faced with a distressing circumstance that isn't always present like Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) that befalls one frequently over things that shouldn't ordinarily cause more than momentary discomfort. Too, there is a difference between feeling sadness for a period of time, say over a loss, that doesn't stay with a person regardless of inputs from the outside world and clinical depression that has its own indicators. It's all very complicated, and that's one reason that people are often evaluated for both conditions when presenting themselves for help.

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@guener

The two certainly go together for me and for others I know. It seems to me that they certainly work in concert, with anxiety worsening one's depression and having depressive thoughts exacerbating the anxiety one feels about situations. There is situational anxiety that occurs when one is faced with a distressing circumstance that isn't always present like Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) that befalls one frequently over things that shouldn't ordinarily cause more than momentary discomfort. Too, there is a difference between feeling sadness for a period of time, say over a loss, that doesn't stay with a person regardless of inputs from the outside world and clinical depression that has its own indicators. It's all very complicated, and that's one reason that people are often evaluated for both conditions when presenting themselves for help.

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@guener, you have posted some very valid information, based on my experience and background as a therapist. I don't think many doctors we go to for pain relief in this group (primary physicians) are well educated in this subject. Why wouldn't we have depression and anxiety? Often we have little control over how much pain or when it will appear. Sadly, some PM doctors reply very poorly to our situation. How do we handle this? So glad we are have a special group for this issue. I look forward to seeing responses on my email.

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@lauren123

@guener, you have posted some very valid information, based on my experience and background as a therapist. I don't think many doctors we go to for pain relief in this group (primary physicians) are well educated in this subject. Why wouldn't we have depression and anxiety? Often we have little control over how much pain or when it will appear. Sadly, some PM doctors reply very poorly to our situation. How do we handle this? So glad we are have a special group for this issue. I look forward to seeing responses on my email.

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I have had depression and anxiety for my entire life, and I'm relieved that even at a late age I was able to find help. Still, this didn't happen for me until things were getting out of control in my daily life, and I was evaluated *finally* for both conditions. Primary care physicians in my current practice work in concert with psychiatrists, but I'm lucky in this way (now). It took me a couple different medication trials and plenty of therapy to become as stable as I feel today. Nonetheless, there are times when the depressive thoughts do return, albeit less intensely, and the anxiety can hit me over even relatively simple things that others would breeze through. Today I largely use CBT to help me work through the hard moments, knowing that my distress will pass. It is indeed great that Mayo has devoted an entire group to addressing these problems and to provide a sounding board for those seeking context or other information.

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@guener

I have had depression and anxiety for my entire life, and I'm relieved that even at a late age I was able to find help. Still, this didn't happen for me until things were getting out of control in my daily life, and I was evaluated *finally* for both conditions. Primary care physicians in my current practice work in concert with psychiatrists, but I'm lucky in this way (now). It took me a couple different medication trials and plenty of therapy to become as stable as I feel today. Nonetheless, there are times when the depressive thoughts do return, albeit less intensely, and the anxiety can hit me over even relatively simple things that others would breeze through. Today I largely use CBT to help me work through the hard moments, knowing that my distress will pass. It is indeed great that Mayo has devoted an entire group to addressing these problems and to provide a sounding board for those seeking context or other information.

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This started two months ago , i am a very adhd type of guy i am dealing with custody issues for my son I have a 2 yr old son and a baby on the way. Im 36 yrs old and THIS JUST NOW caught up with me, i feel like i cant care for my wife and kids financially if i dont fix this , is this a permanent reality i may be dealing with?

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In addition i have been over weight in my opinion for past couple years , in two months since this started i have gone from 230 to 210 my appetite is far less i eat small lunches and dinners and go bathroom 2 times a day

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Anxiety and depression are a team on my playing field. Medications can be of help. Thing is from my experience it takes work and there are no magic pills. There are medications that can help and I don't believe they are meant for long term use for everyone. There have been times I have needed medication to help through a rough spell. In the past I was caught in a sick mental health system where everyone was medicated and no one was receiving anything more. Medications are not meant to "fix" things but to help.
I know that my GP offers referrals when she realizes something can be worked with better with the help of a specialist-why there are specialists. The role of a GP has changed in that they are there for the basics and referrals. Insurance is the main culprit in so many changes-the way I see things. A new world for all of us.
Hope the weekend is tolerable for all.

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