Anxiety and Depression: What’s the Difference?

Many patients who arrive at my clinic are in search of treatment for anxiety and depression but what is the difference?

Anxiety like symptoms can range from insomnia, nausea, agitation, palpitation, dry mouth, overthinking, shortness of breath, poor, concentration, uneasy and restlessness. These can feel like a persistent state of heightened agitation, usually triggered by fear, excessive worry and stress.

Depression like symptoms can range from lack of motivation, insomnia or excessive sleeping, irritability, forgetfulness, heavy, dizziness, dull, clouded, disconnected, slow to move and spiritually fatigued. They can feel like a deep numbing emptiness and sadness and can be triggered by loss, hopelessness, or feelings of worthlessness.

Anxiety and depression might be noticeable in work, career or relationship stress or a bereavement, bulling, abuse, an end of a relationship. Women also may feel this more deeply around the time of a period or during ovulation and throughout the menopause.

Where does anxiety and depression come from?

Generally anxiety or depression can affect us all at one time or another, perhaps over a short period of time, a few weeks to a few months or it can be apart of our general constitution, perhaps woven into the fabric of who we are from childhood.

In Chinese medicine both anxiety and depression derive from energetic imbalances within the mind and body and arise for a variety of reasons depending upon the individual. Mostly a root imbalance within ones constitutions, making an individual more susceptible to symptoms of anxiety or depression.

Often external lifestyle factors can cause an intensity to symptoms such as diet, alcohol, recreational drugs, traumatic events, big life changes, like moving house, getting married, bereavement, long term illness.

What is Anxiety Disorder and Depressive Disorder?

When severe, anxiety can strike in the form of panic attacks, social anxiety, phobias, post traumatic stress, perinatal anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder. These can be overwhelming, disabling causing distress on a daily basis for long periods of time, and can appear as if anxiety arises for no reason at all.

Depressive Disorder can manifest as severe feelings of despair and hopelessness, self harm or suicidal feelings. Experiences of psychosis with delusions, paranoia, hallucinations or hearing voices are also possible which can be disturbing and very upsetting.

Whilst five element acupuncture is effective at relieving symptoms of either disorder, it is important and necessary for regular treatment with your GP, talking therapist and possible prescribed medication.

If you are suffering with Anxiety or Depressive Disorder and need urgent support, please click on the link below

How do I relieve symptoms of generalised anxiety or depression?

Five element acupuncture is an effective and safe form of natural treatment which focuses on balancing your vital energy by clearing blocked and restoring depleted energy. Both styles of treatment can ease, relieve and ultimately stop anxious and depressive experiences. Coaching is also an effective adjunct too, providing a space to explore the root of any anxious or depressive feelings, as well as triggers and narratives.

Eckhart Tolle, a spiritual teacher and best selling author of “The Power or Now,” states “All negativity is caused by an accumulation of psychological time and denial of the present. Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry – all forms of fear – are caused by too much future, and not enough presence. Guilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness, bitterness, and all forms of non forgiveness are caused by too much past, and not enough presence.”

Five element acupuncture and coaching are a combination of treatments that really focus on the present moment keeping generalised symptoms of anxiety and depression at bay.