9 signs of anxious depression and how treatment can help you

Anxiety and depression are two distinct mental health disorders. While some people experience one or the other, many individuals exhibit overlapping symptoms. In fact, research shows that 50% to 75% of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) meet the criteria for anxious depression. At Psychiatry Treatment Centers, our team specializes in mood disorders. In this article, we’ll explore the signs of anxious depression and how treatment can help you manage your symptoms.

9 signs of anxious depression

Anxious depression is a mental health condition that can affect how you feel about yourself, your outlook on life and your overall well-being. As a result, it can interfere with everyday tasks and your relationships. Someone with this disorder experiences the symptoms of depression and the symptoms of anxiety at the same time. 

Common signs of anxious depression include:

1. Persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness

Some of the biggest signs of anxious depression are emotional, and they feel different from the occasional low mood. Even though they might come and go, these feelings of sadness or hopelessness tend to linger beneath the surface, sometimes leading to feelings of guilt and loneliness as well.

2. Excessive worry

Experiencing worry, nervousness or uneasiness at the same time as sadness and hopelessness is another telltale sign of this mood disorder. The fact that these two opposing states of mind coexist often helps providers distinguish anxious depression from generalized anxiety disorder or a panic disorder.

3. Irritability or agitation

Sometimes people with anxious depression feel more irritable or angry than sad and hopeless. Your irritability can also be a sign that you’re experiencing stress and anxiety. This might look like getting impatient with your partner over something trivial or feelings of general agitation that seem out of the ordinary for the situation. 

4. Sleep disturbances

Research shows that sleep and mental health are deeply connected. Mental health disorders, like anxiety and depression, can lead to sleep problems, and sleep issues can worsen your mental health. This cycle can be hard to break without support.

5. Fatigue

People with anxious depression often experience fatigue during the day. While it’s true that sleep problems might be behind this symptom, feeling anxious or emotionally drained can also be exhausting. So, you might feel fatigued even after a full night’s rest.

6. Body aches and pains

Anxious depression can also cause physical symptoms. You might feel sore in places you usually carry stress, like your shoulders or back, or you might experience more stomachaches and headaches than usual.

7. Difficulty concentrating or focusing

Having trouble focusing, remembering things and making everyday decisions can also be signs of this complex mood disorder. When anxious or depressed thoughts take over, it can be hard to focus on your work, to-do list or anything else. You might feel like your mind tends to wander more often, even when you really need to concentrate and make day-to-day decisions.

8. Racing thoughts

Many people with anxious depression have difficulty quieting their thoughts. These uncontrollable thought patterns could be focused on how things could go wrong and might not reflect the realities of your situation.

9. Appetite changes

If you have anxious depression, you might lose interest in food or be more prone to overeating. You might even forget to eat sometimes because you’re too preoccupied with what’s been on your mind lately. Appetite changes like these can affect your energy levels, weight, self-esteem, and other aspects of your physical and mental well-being.

Treating anxious depression

Getting help is the first step toward recovery. Even though 60% to 70% of patients with both disorders experience anxiety first, it’s often the symptoms of depression that prompt them to seek professional care. Therapy is usually the first line of treatment. A licensed mental health professional can help you gain more insight into your thoughts, feelings and behaviors; teach you valuable coping skills; and recommend additional treatments, such as:

Medication

Along with therapy, your provider may also prescribe an antidepressant or antianxiety medication to help you manage your symptoms better. Your provider can help you find the right medication and dosage for your condition, review any possible side effects, and make meaningful adjustments as needed throughout the course of your care.

TMS therapy

Some people experience a level of anxious depression that isn’t responsive to traditional treatment methods. In this case, your provider may recommend transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). TMS is a non-invasive, outpatient therapy that uses electromagnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain linked to emotional regulation. The goal is to help these areas function more efficiently, helping you become better equipped to manage your symptoms.

Get treated for anxious depression at PTC Med

If you’re experiencing symptoms of anxious depression that interfere with your daily life and have persisted for more than two weeks, consider meeting with a provider at PTC Med. Located in California and Georgia, PTC Med offers individualized, evidence-based mental health services, including TMS therapy and more. In addition, Spravato® (esketamine) treatment is offered at our California locations.

Reach out to our team by phone today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment. You can also book your initial appointment online now.