Anxiety and depression are common mood disorders. They’re often mentioned together but are two separate conditions:
Anxiety is your body’s natural response to stress. It’s normal to be anxious before a job interview or a big presentation. But if these feelings have become your constant companion, it can interfere with your ability to focus and get things done.
If your feelings of anxiety become excessive or they affect your quality of life, it could be due to an anxiety disorder.
Depression is marked by a profound sense of sadness or hopelessness. Everyone feels sad now and again, but if your feelings last for weeks, even months, it’s important to seek professional help.
Anxiety and depression affect everyone differently, but there are signs to watch out for.
Common symptoms of anxiety include:
Common symptoms of depression include:
Never assume that you’re clinically depressed or suffering from an anxiety disorder. All these symptoms can point to other causes, so make sure that you see Dr. Weng and his team for a professional assessment of your symptoms.
Anxiety and depression are common feelings that nearly all humans experience. Still, these emotions tend to come and go or improve over time. If you regularly feel panicked or downcast, it could point to an underlying medical issue. Dr. Weng can determine the underlying cause and develop a custom treatment plan to help you feel better.
To diagnose anxiety and depression, Dr. Weng completes physical and neurological exams and has you fill out a questionnaire.
There’s no single test to diagnose anxiety or depression, so your provider might also order diagnostic imaging, like an MRI, or lab tests, like a complete blood count (CBC). These tests can pinpoint underlying medical issues like a hormonal imbalance and a nutritional deficiency.
Treating anxiety and depression is tricky and depends on how severe your symptoms are and how they’re affecting your life. Usually, Dr. Weng recommends conservative, all-natural treatments, including:
If these treatments don’t provide relief, you might benefit from prescription medications like antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs.
To receive treatment for anxiety and depression, make an appointment at Dr. Weng by calling the office or booking online today.