What is the difference between anxiety and depression?

Answer 1

Depression is a consistent sadness that persists for an extended periods of time. Anxiety can happen with specific triggers such as work or social situations. The two are not mutually exclusive, but one, or both can persist at the same time.

Answer 2

Depression usually pulls the plug on any energy you have. It is characterized by hopelessness. Even things you love meant nothing to you. Mind is sludge.

Being stressed is usually the opposite. You're tightly wound up, maybe even 'speedy.' You're anxious, jittery, mind going a mile a minute. This is usually caused by something you know about: trouble at work, loved one is angry with you, possible bad news coming...

Answer 3

dysphoria isn't a disorder it just means ur unhappy with life, depression is a disorder and that means there's something wrong with ur brain. There are ways to help dysphoria and methods that don't require medicine.

Answer 4

There are three main categories of depression: Major Depression, Dysthymia, and Bipolar disorder. The main differences between Major depression and Dysthymia is that in Dysthymia, symptoms are less severe and less constant than in Major Depression, but last for a long time--often years. Major depression usually occurs in much shorter "episodes." Bipolar disorder is generally a combination of Major Depression and Manic episodes. There is no medical meaning for "clinical depression;" it's a lay-person's term that probably refers to Major Depression, but confuses people. Though Dysthymia involves less severe symptoms, it can be very destructive to ones self-esteem and functioning in the world. The fact that it can last a very long time means that it can actually shape a person's personality. A person with Major Depression may be very happy between episodes, whereas one with Dysthymia for years, can see the world as being a bleak place in general.

Cynthia Lubow, MFT

WomensPsychotherapy.com

Cynthia@WomensPsychotherapy.com

Answer 5

This is a question I ask myself a lot. My best way of describing the two is using monsters. I know this sounds very childish and it is but it proves a point. So say you have a green monster named TED. And say you have a very dark and black monster named BILL. Now Ted is usually happy but one day he was very mad and and just in a horrid mood. You say hi to Ted and ask him, are you happy?. Ted (In a bad mood) Replies yes but I don't want to be bothered now. So since Ted doesn't want to be bothered he isn't a very nice monster to be around so you go ahead and talk to Bill. Now Bill has no confidence in himself, and you are talking to Bill and you ask him are you happy?. Bill (the depressed monster) replies, I'm not happy, never will be and never am. Just these two different monsters and how they reply to a certain question such as "Are you happy?." shows a lot about them. When you are depressed it is usually because of something horrible that has happened in ones life. Or sometimes it isn't. But in most cases it is and a lot of people have a reason for feeling depressed or sad. When a person is depressed they "bully" themselves. They never brag or say good things about themselves. And a depression usually lasts much longer than a bad mood. A bad mood can be cured by a snickers bar, but when your depressed the cure is much harder to find and lasts for an extended amount of time.

Answer 6

A bad mood is 'acute' (sudden onset and short in duration) and is usually caused by something that happened, such as oversleeping, then being stuck in traffic when you're already late for work. But a bad mood will go away without any medical treatment, and is usually no cause for concern.

A person can feel sad or depressed at times, yet not be clinically depressed. It can be caused by a number of things, such as a disappointment (such as not getting the promotion you wanted), a breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend, the loss of a pet, etc. But a true depression is more 'chronic' (gradual onset and longer lasting), and the cause is often unknown. Depression is a mental condition of feeling a deep, profound sadness with no joy of life. A person who is clinically depressed usually needs medical and/or psychological treatment.

Answer 7

happiness means happy and depression means sad