How depression can lead to anxiety

Depression can indeed lead to anxiety, since these two mental health conditions are closely related, often co-occurring and worsening each other.

It’s not uncommon for depression to trigger anxiety symptoms, resulting in what’s known as comorbid depression and anxiety.

I had a lot more anxiety about trivial, seemingly insignificant things that I didn’t have before I was depressed. Luckily, that same anxiety also disappeared once my psychological state improved.

Let’s investigate what the research and studies have to say about how depression can pave the way for anxiety:

1. Neurochemical imbalance

Both depression and anxiety share common neurotransmitter imbalances, particularly involving serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.

• • Depression can cause low serotonin levels, which not only affect mood but also play a role in regulating anxiety response.

This can impair the brain’s ability to handle stress and make it more susceptible to anxiety once a person is already suffering from depression.

2. Rumination and negative thought patterns
   

A lot of people who have suffered from depression know all too well that it often involves persistent rumination, where individuals obsessively dwell on negative thoughts or past failures.

That dwelling on thoughts was so stubborn for me that I would lie the entire night awake, worrying about every little thing going on in my existence.

• • This rumination can evolve into catastrophic thinking, where one becomes fixated on potential future disasters or worst-case scenarios.

• • These worries can fuel anxiety, chiefly generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which happens when people have extreme, uncontrollable worry about everyday events.

3. Stress response system overload

People with depression experience elevated levels of cortisol (stress hormone) due to a deregulated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.

• • Chronic exposure to high cortisol concentrations can leave the body in a state of heightened arousal.

That isn’t good, since it makes us more prone to anxiety and other illnesses.

• • This can create a vicious cycle where the stress response becomes overactive, potentially leading to persistent symptoms of anxiety such as restlessness and hypervigilance.

4. Loss of control and increased fear

One of the core symptoms of depression is a sense of helplessness and lack of control. When individuals feel powerless over their own emotions, it can lead to:

• • Fear of the unknown or an inability to manage future challenges can trigger anxiety.

• • The anticipation of negative events can result in anxiety disorders like panic disorders or social anxiety, becoming a source of chronic worry.

5. Social withdrawal and isolation
   

Psychological issues frequently lead to social withdrawal, as people may feel too fatigued and disinterested in social activities. However:

• • This isolation can potentially lead to anxiety when one is forced to re-engage socially due to increased sensitivity to social interactions.

• • The lack of social support makes individuals more vulnerable to anxiety and other stressors.

The main takeaway is that humans are highly social animals, requiring regular face-to-face interaction to remain healthy and content.

6. Sleep disturbances

Sleep issues such as insomnia or hypersomnia are common in depression.

I was struggling a lot with insomnia when depressed, and it’s very hard to get out of because it’s a cycle that keeps the sleep disturbances in place.

Poor sleep can consequently increase the risk of developing anxiety:

• • Lack of restorative sleep can impair cognitive function, leading to increased irritability and poor decision-making.

• • The fear of being unable to sleep can even create anticipatory anxiety, where individuals become anxious about their ability (or rather, inability) to rest.

7. Low self-esteem and fear of judgment

Depression can erode a person’s self-esteem and make them doubt their abilities and worth. This can manifest as anxiety in situations that require social interaction or performance:

• • For example, someone who has developed low self-confidence due to depression may experience social anxiety due to the fear of being judged or rejected.

• • This sense of shortcoming can lead to avoidance behaviors, possibly leading to depression or anxiety.

8. Physical symptoms and health anxiety
   

Depression can cause physical symptoms such as headaches and muscle pain. These unexplained physical symptoms may trigger health-related anxiety (often called hypochondriasis):

• • Individuals may worry excessively about their health and interpret harmless symptoms as signs of severe illnesses.

• • This can lead to a cycle where anxiety about one’s health worsens depressive symptoms, creating a feedback loop of mental distress.

Conclusion

While depression and anxiety are distinct conditions, they are strongly connected.

Depression can trigger anxiety through mechanisms like chronic stress, negative thinking, and social isolation.

Understanding this bond is fundamental for seeking appropriate treatment, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and lifestyle changes that can help break the cycle of depression and anxiety.

Please consider joining our forum and Facebook if you enjoyed reading this and would like to chat with like-minded peers about anything depression related.

It would certainly go a long way toward making my dream of creating a thriving, supportive community a reality!