How Are Anxiety Attacks and Depression Related?

Anxiety attacks are when the body reacts to stress. Often the stress is something that happens to the individual that is having the attack. Many times, the anxiety is caused by depression. Depression and anxiety, most of the time, walk hand in hand with one another.

Most people who have an anxiety attack will suffer from an anxiety disorder. These include obsessive compulsive disorder, general anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder and panic disorder. They will generally bring on depression.

Chances are, if you go to the doctor for anxiety, that you will get a prescription for both anti-anxiety medication as well as anti-depressants. This is because the doctor will not want you to take anti-anxiety medication for a longer period of time. Anti-anxiety medication, once called tranquilliser, usually consists of Xanax, Klonopin or other types of newer medications designed to take the edge off of an anxiety attack. But this is just a mask for the anxiety. You need can take these to get the edge off of the anxiety, but they are not the cure.

In most cases, there is an underlying cause for the anxiety attacks. Depression is the major factor. This is why you will also get an anti-depressant to help alleviate the anxiety attack symptoms. Doctors believe that a chemical imbalance is the major factor in why people have anxiety attacks. When you take the anti-depression medication, you will start to balance out the chemical imbalance that causes the anxiety or panic attacks.

The depression medication prescribed is usually Zoloft, Paxil or another SSRI. These help release serotonin into your bloodstream and to your brain, balancing out the lack of this chemical in your brain. People who suffer from anxiety attacks often feel better once they are on one of these drugs. The drugs allow them to focus, be less depressed and feel better about themselves.

While some people may experience only one anxiety attack, others may have them often. In some cases, anxiety attacks can interfere with your job, your family and other aspects of your life. This is why it is so important for you to follow up with your doctor and get the right treatment.

Doctors may do tests for thyroid conditions and, if you are menopausal, for hormone imbalances. They will want to pinpoint why you are having anxiety attacks. If there is no physical cause, they will send you to a counselor who will then treat you for your anxiety as appropriate. You may be diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder, panic attacks or general anxiety disorder. If you have undergone stress, you may be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

All of these conditions can be helped by treating it with anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medication. It may take a few weeks before your depression lifts after taking the anti-depressants, which is why you will have the anti-anxiety medication on hand. Once the anti-depressants have taken effect, you will find that you do not need to take the anti-anxiety medication as often.