Anxiety disorders is a huge, ambiguous category that covers a lot of disorders, such as panic disorder and attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social phobia, other more specific phobias, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

However, all of these medical conditions can lead to even more health problems and emotional problems, so you may need treatment in a number of areas. One medical condition that may develop is depression. While many incorrectly use the term depression to describe an intense sadness or feeling of despair and hopelessness, depression is more than just a day or being upset about something. Depression isn’t short term, and its effects are not short term either.

Depression can truly stop your from living your life. If you are worried that you may be developing depression in addition to other medical conditions surrounding anxiety disorders, see your doctor immediately.

There are a number of symptoms associated with depression that you may show. Some clues to you that depression may be a problem are

• a loss of appetite or change in appetite
• having no sexual drive (or a change in sex drive that is noticeable and more long term)
• muscle aches and pains (including spasms that are uncontrolled and sudden)
• an acute inability to concentrate
• feeling afraid or confused at common points in the day
• getting easily angered
• not caring about things you used to love or enjoy doing
• not being about to understand or express to others (or yourself) why you feel sad
• hating yourself or thinking bad thoughts about your self or self being
• and thinking about death often (suicide included).

If you are experiencing three or more of these symptoms on a daily basis, you should see your doctor and talk to him or her about depression right away. Just one of these symptoms may not be a big deal, but a combination of several points to a problem.

Depression can also lead to thoughts of suicide in the worst-case scenario. If you have thought about killing yourself, even one, you should get help right away. Tell someone you love or call 911 or a local hotline for support. If you can’t do these things, drive to a local emergency room of a hospital near you, go to your doctor or therapist’s office, or, at the very least, go to a public place. Give yourself some time to think about things before making any decisions about your life or safety.

Remember, depression is a real medical illness. Don’t believe your friends who say that it is “all in your head”. Over 20 million Americas suffer from depression at some point another, and it can affect any age, gender, race, religion, or ethnicity. You can find good options for treatment to help you, from medication that inhibits certain receptors in the brain to therapy to help you talk about the things that are making your depressed.

In the end, it is simply important to realize that you can feel better and there is help. Having depression is nothing to be ashamed about, and modern medicine makes it possible for you to overcome your depression and your anxiety disorders in order to live a healthy life.

My Story…

I never believed that I was depressed or there was anything wrong with me. In retrospect, I saw several of the symptoms in myself months ago, but I refused to believe it was depression. “I’m just having a bad day” I thought to myself.

I would get angry at the little things around me. My kids would annoy me or get on my nerves, I would get upset when my wife wouldn’t make love to me. I perceived this as a problem with me and our relationship. And specifically, I believed that she must have been cheating on me because she wasn’t interested in sex. I would work myself up in a spellbinding tizzy, so to speak, to the point of near hysteria.

I would break down, regularly, and cry for no good reason. My wife would ask me why, and I would respond that I didn’t know. There must be something wrong with me, with the way I’m feeling. Nothing seemed to matter anymore, nothing seemed “real”. I never had thoughts of suicide or killing or death, but I did not find joy in the things I used to.

I eventually got help at the request of my wife to “talk to someone.” It was low key, through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offered through my job. I was able to talk through my problems anonymously, and they helped me see a little more clearly. I seeked out professional help soon after that, and have been going regularly ever since. Its all covered at least in part by insurance.

Now, I’m feeling more in control, and healthier and happier overall. the EAP counselors really helped me find my sense of self again, and clear away at least some of the clouds. I can’t say I’m cured…because I don’t believe that to be the case. But I’m not on medication and feeling better about things, about myself, and finding happiness again. Which is really the most important thing.