Major depression is characterized by feelings of sadness, hopelessness and worthlessness, issues with sleeping and eating, trouble concentrating, fatigue and physical symptoms such as headaches and nausea. Someone suffering from major depression can also develop symptoms of anxiety. People can suffer from depression and an anxiety disorder at the same time. Sometimes, the anxiety may develop after someone has already been suffering from depression, or the other way around. Depression can worsen when someone begins to experience symptoms of anxiety.
Panic Attacks
Some people who suffer from anxiety have panic attacks. Symptoms of panic attacks include fear of dying and losing control, feeling detached from one's surroundings and physical symptoms such as trouble breathing, racing heart, chest pain, stomachache, dizziness and sweating. It's usually a sign when someone starts to experience panic attacks while depressed that the depression is worsening. You can get help for panic attacks by seeing your doctor and a licensed mental health professional such as a social worker or psychologist.
Obsessions and Compulsions
Another anxiety disorder that can develop while someone is depressed is obsessive-compulsive disorder, which is characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. Someone may begin to have overwhelming thoughts that won't go away, which produce compulsive behaviors that seem out of the person's control. For example, a person may become extremely overwhelmed by the thought of dirt, which could result in her washing her hands over 100 times per day. Someone who is also depressed may become extremely fatigued by these thoughts and trying to keep up with the compulsions.
Trauma
Anxiety can be brought on by a traumatic event. Someone who is depressed and experiences a traumatic event is already struggling when the event occurs, which means the person may be more likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The person may experience an increase in depressive symptoms along with nightmares, flashbacks, irritability and numbness.
Suicide
Thoughts of suicide are one symptom of major depression. However, not everyone who is depressed has thoughts of suicide. Someone who begins to experience symptoms of anxiety along with symptoms of depression may experience an increase in thoughts of suicide. The situation may begin to seem more hopeless, which can lead someone who wasn't experiencing thoughts of suicide to experience them. If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide or know someone who is, get help immediately. Go to your local emergency room, call 911 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
