A concerning trend today is how casually we label ourselves and others with mental health conditions. ‘I have OCD because I like things being organised.’ Mental health conditions cannot be diagnosed based on mere assumptions, internet searches, or social media posts. Instead of labelling ourselves or relying solely on internet searches, it is better to seek a proper assessment from a qualified mental health professional.
Qazi SimraÂ
A Common Misconception
We often hear people say, “I have depression because I’m constantly worried,” or “I am anxious all the time; I think I have depression.” It is also common to hear someone say, “Today I am depressed,” as if anxiety and depression mean the same thing, or as if depression lasts for a day and disappears the next.
Although anxiety and depression can co-occur, they are two distinct mental health conditions with different symptoms and different treatment approaches.
Why Does This Confusion Exist?
People often use the terms anxiety and depression interchangeably because they assume that both simply mean sadness or emotional distress. In addition to that, limited mental health awareness, social stigma, and the lack of open conversations about mental health in Kashmir further contribute to the misunderstanding. Even today, many people in Kashmir hesitate to talk openly about their emotional struggles because of the fear of being judged. This lack of awareness and dialogue is one of the main reasons why the confusion continues to exist.
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a feeling of fear, worry, or apprehension about things that may happen in the future. It is a natural response to stress or perceived danger.
The common symptoms may include: restlessness, being constantly on edge, racing thoughts, irritability, sweating, shortness of breath, muscle tension, insomnia, nausea, and heart palpitations, among others.
Feeling anxious occasionally is a normal part of life. We all experience anxiety at different points in our lives. For example, a student may feel anxious before an examination, someone may feel anxious before a job interview, or a person may feel anxious before getting married. Such experiences are completely normal.
However, anxiety becomes a concern only when it is persistent, excessive, and begins to interfere with our relationships, work, studies, or daily functioning. That is when we should reach out for professional help.
It is important to note that not all anxiety is a disorder. It becomes a mental health concern only when it significantly affects a person’s ability to function in everyday life.
What Is Depression?
Depression is a mood disorder characterised by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, and anhedonia—the loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyable.
Some of the common symptoms of depression include:
– Depressed mood for most of the time, nearly every day.
– Significant weight loss or weight gain.
– Changes in appetite.
– Psychomotor agitation or slowing.
– Persistent fatigue or loss of energy.
– Difficulty concentrating and indecisiveness.
– Insomnia or hypersomnia.
– Recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation.
These symptoms cause significant impairment in important areas of daily functioning, making it difficult for a person to carry out everyday responsibilities.
According to the DSM-5, the symptoms must be present for at least two weeks for a diagnosis of a major depressive episode. If left untreated, a depressive episode may last for six to twelve months.
This also explains why we cannot casually say, “I am feeling depressed today,” and then the next day, “Today I’m fine.” Depression is not a temporary mood or emotion that comes and goes within a day. It is a clinical condition with specific symptoms, duration, and impact on daily functioning.
Anxiety and Depression: Understanding the Difference
Aspect – Anxiety – Depression
Main Emotion:
Fear, worry, and apprehension
Persistent sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, and helplessness
Physical Symptoms
Heart palpitations, muscle tension, sweating, trembling, and difficulty sleeping
Low energy, persistent fatigue, changes in sleep and appetite, slowed movements or speech, and unexplained body aches in some people
Behaviour
Avoiding situations that trigger anxiety or excessive worry
Social withdrawal, loss of interest in activities (anhedonia), and reduced motivation
Duration
Anxiety may come and go, but when it is excessive, persistent, and difficult to control and affects a person’s daily functioning, it may indicate an anxiety disorder
Symptoms persist for at least two weeks and significantly affect daily functioning
Although anxiety and depression can occur together, they are not the same. Many people who experience anxiety may also experience depression, because some symptoms may overlap and both may involve similar biological mechanisms. Despite this overlap, they remain distinct conditions.
Not everyone who worries has an anxiety disorder. Worry is a normal human experience. Similarly, depression is much more than sadness. It is not an emotion that appears one day and disappears the next.
Breaking Common Myths
We often hear people say that “strong people don’t have anxiety,” or “strong people don’t get depressed.” These are common myths. As a psychologist, I have personally heard people say, “You are a psychologist; you shouldn’t feel this,” or “You shouldn’t feel that way.” But that is no different from saying that a doctor should never experience a headache or body ache.
Mental health conditions can affect anyone, regardless of their strength, gender, education, or profession.
A concerning trend today is how casually we label ourselves and others with mental health conditions. It is common to hear—”she has depression,” “you have anxiety,” similarly, obsessive compulsive disorder is often misunderstood: “I have OCD because I like things being organised.” Mental health conditions cannot be diagnosed based on mere assumptions, internet searches, or social media posts claiming “PSYCHOLOGY SAYS…”
Instead of labelling ourselves or others, or relying solely on internet searches to diagnose symptoms, it is better to seek a proper assessment from a qualified mental health professional. Early recognition and timely intervention can make a significant difference in recovery and overall well-being.
The writer is a psychologist
si**********@***il.com