Depression and Anxiety: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Running head: DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY
Depression and Anxiety
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DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY 2
Depression and Anxiety
Depression is also referred to as affective disorder. It refers to a condition where an
individual experiences extreme sadness (Oatley, Keltner and Jenkins, 2006). A normal person
may feel sad from time to time. There are various factors that may bring sadness. These
include losing a loved one through death or being hurt by someone. The sadness that is
experienced by a depressed person goes beyond the sadness experienced by the average
person. This sadness is extreme and chronic in nature. The sadness is too much to the extent
that the person might never experience the feeling of happiness. For an individual to be
diagnosed with depression, they must present with the kind of sadness described above.
There is a certain criterion that is universally accepted for diagnosing depression.
Anxiety is an emotional disorder that comes in different forms. Mostly, it involves
great fear towards someone or something. People who experience this problem lack personal
confidence and tend to greatly avoid that which they fear. There are various forms of anxiety.
These include obsessive compulsive and panic disorders. An individual suffering from
anxiety disorder experiences great tension and fear when they interact with the object that
they fear. Scientists have not yet established the cause of the disorder. Despite this, some risk
factors have been identified. These include extreme stress and genetical predispositions. The
criteria used by medical professional to diagnose the condition looks at three things. One, any
changes in the function of the brain is monitored. Secondly, the doctor establishes whether
the person is experiencing stress. Thirdly, the doctor investigates whether the individual is
genetically predisposed to the condition. This is done through carrying a family history
assessment. Anxiety disorders can effectively be managed to help the affected person lead a
more productive life.

DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY 3
Comparing Different Theories
According to Sternberg (2016), depression refers to mood disorder that prevents
people from living a normal life. Persons suffering from depression cannot socialise normally
within their family or at work. Sternberg (2016) further adds that as many as 27% of the
world’s population is suffering from depression. There are several factors that may cause
depression. These include losing a loved one through death or losing a source of livelihood.
McDougall (2015) on the other hand defines depression as state of sadness that is brought
about by interacting with negative stimulus in the environment. Negative stimuli refer to
anything that invokes the emotion of sadness. If an individual is consistently exposed to such
stimuli, their risk of suffering from depression increases. Freud (2018) observes that
depression is caused by removal of positive reinforcement in a person’s environment. An
example is losing a job. When a person loses a job, they also lose positive reinforcement such
as interacting with people. Freud adds that depressed people exhibit less social interaction
compared to normal people. According Thibaut (2017), a person may suffer from depression
if they lack social skills. Thibaut defines depression as a condition of extreme sadness
brought about by lack of social interaction. People who possess social skills are more likely
to suffer from depression compared to those who possess these skills. A person who lacks
social skills has a very rigid personality structure.
Diagnosis of Depression
For an individual to be diagnosed with depression, they must have exhibited the following
symptoms. One, they have experienced extreme sadness in a period of not less than two
weeks. Extreme sadness means that the person finds no pleasure in any activity that they
engage in. Secondly, the person should have sleeping problems. Depressed people usually

DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY 4
have a hard time sleeping. They may sleep for as little as 4 hours a day. In extreme situations,
the person may be servery sleep deprived. Another symptom that is used in diagnosis of
depression is being slowed down in one’s actions. Individuals with depression may not be
able to make rational decisions. In addition, they may not be eating well. These two factors
contribute to slowing down. Reduced concentration is another symptom that is used in
diagnosis of depression. The concentration span is too low that conversing with the affected
person becomes extremely challenging. Some other symptoms include extreme guilt and
feelings of worthlessness. Due to this, the self-esteem of depressed persons is too low.
Therefore, there is a tendency for these people to have suicidal thoughts. Depression is the
most common emotional disorder. It is worth noting that the condition can be relieved
through establishing a helping relationship with a counsellor. This should be combined with
medications such as antidepressants.
Diagnosis of Anxiety
It may not be easy to diagnose anxiety disorders at times. It is primarily the role of the
doctor to diagnose. However, if the doctor is unable to decide whether a person is suffering
from anxiety disorder or not, they may refer the client to a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist is
specially trained to diagnose and manage psychological conditions and disorders. A
psychologist or another mental health specialist may also be in a position to diagnose and
manage the condition. These specialists carry out the diagnosis process through asking
questions and using appropriate tools. Due to the high level of expertise, these professionals
are very precise and are likely to diagnose the correct psychological condition that an
individual is suffering from. During diagnosis, there are two main things that the
professionals will look for. First, they will want to understand the length of time that a person
has been exhibiting the appropriate diagnostic symptoms. This information is very important
since it helps rule out normal anxiety form anxiety disorder. It is common for a person to fell