Two symptoms coexist as two dark entities of the same room: anxiety and depression, living under the absolute control of these two conditions completely limits the quality of life, in the field of mental health this reality is well known, since about 60% of people with depression also suffer from an anxiety disorder.
This is not a trivial matter; In fact, the clinical symptoms associated with this type of psychological disorder can become chronic in many cases; However, in order not to seek specialized help or have a valid and adequate diagnosis, it is common to find many patients who reach an extreme where the idea of suicide arises.
- Irritability.
- Discomfort.
- Anhedonia.
- Guilt.
- Negative feelings.
- Despair.
- The daily life of this person overwhelmed by anxiety and depression gradually becomes a fast-moving arena scenario where it sinks more and more at every moment.
These are very complex situations that require the best assistance, the best therapeutic approaches to respond to a fact that is undoubtedly seen more and more frequently.
So in many of these cases we are faced with an anxious-depressive mixed disorder, a clinical reality in which several symptoms converge, different characteristics that professionals must identify as soon as possible.
“Our greatest glory is never to fall, but to rise every time we fall. “Confucius?
The link between anxiety and depression is well known in the psychological and psychiatric field, and experts such as David Barlow, director of Boston University’s Center for Mood Disorders, say that even from a neurobiological point of view, they seem to share the same processes.
Studies such as Emory University (Atlanta, USA) They have obtained revealing results, both realities have their origin in our cerebral amygdala, that is, the structure in which our center of fear is located is sometimes very reactive. This results in a disproportionate experience of any event or stimulus, accompanied by very intense negative emotions.
With depression our reality freezes, suspends in a state where we feel helpless and hopeless, yet this excessive fear means that, in turn, we do not stop anticipating ideas, seeing tomorrow with great anxiety, anguish and despair.
On the other hand, the reason we have managed to develop these conditions or why we are more susceptible to them would be, for many specialists, a genetic factor, coupled with the context in which we live and the lack of tools to deal with different circumstances. .
The first question that can come to mind is: if I suffer from anxiety and depression, do I suffer from some kind of psychological disorder?For, faced with this question, we must understand that we are all able to live these realities at certain times in life.
The problem arises when these states become persistent and appear together, clinical manifestations must coexist permanently (more than a month) and to the same degree, in addition these characteristics need to appear:
On the other hand, the most striking feature of this pathology is how extreme many patients can reach: poor hygiene, social isolation, inability to work . . . Epidemiological data tell us that only 50% of people with this disorder are diagnosed in primary care (either because they do not seek care or because they are not referred to specialized professionals).
Therapeutic approach depends on many variables, but the most important is the personal reality of each patient, there will be those who will have mild symptoms and therefore benefit from a psychological approach; in other cases, where the situation is most serious, psychological intervention will be complemented by a pharmacological intervention.
In all cases it is more practical for patients to benefit from a multidisciplinary approach, without excluding, for example, social, care and psycho-educational aspects, as the person with mixed anxiety-depressive disorder needs as much support as possible. be the most common strategies:
Finally, we’ll put a little more emphasis on one aspect. It should be noted that many people suffer from anxiety and depression, however, the fact that these symptoms appear with the same intensity resulting in a mixed anxiety-depression disorder is something more special that, unfortunately, is not always adequately identified. do not hesitate to ask an expert for help to always have the best response, attention and advice.