Depression and stress are two conditions that can affect a person's mental health. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that stress is caused by an event that makes a person feel frustrated, while depression results in a sadness and feeling hopeless. The Mayo Clinic notes that chronic stress can increase a person's risk of developing depression. Some of the symptoms of depression and stress are similar, such as sleeping and concentration problems, though they differ in mood and behavioral symptoms.
Sleeping Problems
Both depression and stress can disrupt a person's sleep, affecting the duration and quality. When a person has depression, she will either not get enough sleep at night and wake periodically, or she will get excessive sleep. Even if the person gets more than 8 hours of sleep a night, it is not likely to be a restful sleep. Sleeping problems coupled with depression result in fatigue or a lack of energy. Stress can also affect a person's ability to fall asleep and can cause fatigue as well, says the NIH, causing the sufferer to sometimes experience nightmares related to the stress.
Trouble Concentrating
A person with depression can have extreme difficulty concentrating, which affects his ability to learn and get work done. Stress can also decrease a person's ability to concentrate, especially when he is preoccupied with a traumatic event.
Mood Changes
When a person is stressed, mood changes are few though irritability and loss of temper might be demonstrated. Depression, on the other hand, is characterized by significant changes in mood. A depressed person, for example, will feel worthless, hopeless and helpless. The patient may also have inappropriate feelings of guilt and blame herself for things that are not her fault. Like a person under stress, a depressed person can also be irritable and agitated. Depression also carries the risk of suicidal thoughts.
Physical and Behavioral Symptoms
Depression can also result in some behavioral changes. For example, the patient may withdraw from social activities and people close to him. He may also have a change in appetite, either eating more or less than usual, which results in a change in weight. When a person is stressed, he can display multiple physical symptoms. Examples include twitching and muscle tension, sweating, headaches, dry mouth and abdominal pain; the NIH notes that abdominal pain may be the only symptom of stress in a child. The stress can also make the person feel dizzy, and result in sexual problems. Rapid breathing and heart rate are also possible. Gastrointestinal symptoms may also occur, such as diarrhea and frequent urination.
