Mansha Maheshwari
Every year about 42.5 million Americans are affected by some sort of a mental condition
(Pietrangelo & Cherney, 2017). Anxiety is a mental health disorder which is characterized by
feelings of anxiousness and worry (Smith, Robinson, & Segal, 2017). It is categorized as an
ongoing condition which can be very threatening to one’s mind and body (Mayo Clinic Staff,
2017). Different anxiety disorders with varied symptoms they generally include: being constantly
worried, the inability to relax, and difficulty concentrating (Tracy, 2016). These mental health
disorders are related to psychological stress as it is characterized by the feeling of strain and
pressure. The physical impacts of depression and anxiety result in the outpouring of stress
Furthermore, depression is caused affects the mind and the body controlling the
hippocampus, in the limbic system as well (LaBracio, 2016). The hippocampus is where the
the body’s ability to control and manage stress is weakened (LaBracio, 2016). Depression makes
someone’s hippocampus very small and affects the brain which affects the physical health and
mood. With physical symptoms, the body feels low as it contains low amounts of dopamine and
other chemicals (Deardorff, 2017). Also, the feelings of sadness and negatively cause the heart to
send signals to the brain which then causes havoc in the central nervous system (Smith,
Depression is triggered through many different components. Serotonin and dopamine are
two examples of neurotransmitters that are usually deficient (Walia, 2016). Physicals symptoms
of depression are very vague but they can help in determining if depression exists because of the
Running Head: THE OVERWHELMING EFFECTS OF ANXIETY & DEPRESSION 3
severity of pain it can cause (Hellerstein, 2011). Some of the most frequent causes include:
sleeping problems, appetite changes, headaches, muscle aches, and fatigue, and weakened
immunity (Deardorff, 2017). Appetite changes such as irritable bowel syndrome can be slowed
because of depression and how it affects each body (Hellerstein, 2011). This connects to stress as
cortisol has also other effects such as shrinking the size of the brain, affecting multiple regions
including the concentration and decision making abilities of an individual (Carbonell, 2009).
axis releases a hormone, cortisol, which prepares the body to respond to stress (LaBracio, 2016).
High levels of cortisol results in chronic stress, which can affect how a person remembers and
learns things (Carbonell, 2009). High levels of cortisol creates more pronounced sleeping affects
such as insomnia and without the sufficient amount of sleep, the human body becomes more
prone to physical illnesses and weakens the immune system (Deardorff, 2017).
Moreover, anxiety caused affects the mind and the body by controlling the nervous
system. Anxiety symptoms are an emotion of fear, constant tension, and chronic anxiety which is
the body’s “flight or fight” response (Hellerstein, 2011). Some important symptoms to note
while dealing with anxiety are thoughts, physical sensations, and behaviors (Hellerstein, 2011).
Thoughts are always presented as an expression of reality but they can also be anxiety symptoms
as they cause overthinking (Smith, Robinson, & Segal, 2017). Anxiety is not limited to the mind
as it also affects the body and causes physical sensations. Those sensations are anything that can
cause pain to the body such as headaches, dizziness, and etc (Pietrangelo & Cherney, 2017).
Responding to physical sensations while experiencing is important as they can affect the mind
and aggravate pain and cause unusual behaviors to worsen the state; feelings can cause a
Running Head: THE OVERWHELMING EFFECTS OF ANXIETY & DEPRESSION 4
disturbance as they overtake a mind with fear and question many things (Smith, Robinson, &
Segal, 2017). This connects to stress as being overly stressed or anxious can trigger heart
fluttering which can lead to chronic conditions such as heart or respiratory diseases. It is best to
calm down and to terminate the stress response so the body and heart can return to the original
These two disorders, depression and anxiety dominate the body and mind due to the
excessive amount of stress (Pietrangelo & Cherney, 2017). Having high or low levels of cortisol
can be threatening to the body and mind as it affects the fear center in the brain and depletes
memory (LaBracio, 2016). Anxiety, depression, and stress play a huge role in heart palpitations
as they are the first hand sponsors of the physiological, psychological, and emotional changes
within a body.
Depression and anxiety maintain a strong connection, but both of those conditions
exhibit different responses such as: hopelessness, despair, anger, fear, and anger (LaBracio,
2016). Anxiety is a dangerous condition which is hard to overcome because it causes many
problems such as chronic medical conditions (Hellerstein, 2011). Anxiety is more common than
others such as panic and obsessive compulsive disorders (Hellerstein, 2011). Depression is
considered a low energy state while anxiety is considered the opposite (Pietrangelo & Cherney,
2017). Anxiety and depression are both caused by malfunction in the brain chemistry (Smith,
Robinson, & Segal, 2017). The symptoms for depression are long lasting and harder to resolve
compared to anxiety (LaBracio, 2016). Patients with both disorders are more likely to have
suicidal thoughts than with just depression or anxiety (Pietrangelo & Cherney, 2017).
Running Head: THE OVERWHELMING EFFECTS OF ANXIETY & DEPRESSION 5
Everyday depression and anxiety take over many people’s ability to function properly
due to their feelings of prolonged sadness and stress. There is a strong correlation between
anxiety and depression due to the common factor of stress. Both of these conditions when
combined can be very deadly as both of these conditions cause major emotional and physical
damage. As a community people must take action to find ways in research to help patients with
anxiety and depression. The amount of awareness regarding these disorders isn’t enough to better
the conditions of multiple patients who suffer for these disorders. Having both conditions and not
knowing when to seek help can deteriorate a person’s mind as these symptoms of these
conditions continue to manifest into their lifestyle. Therefore, this issue should be treated with
full attention and should not be taken lightly as it can change someone’s perspective and lifestyle
References
Aschwanden, C. (2013). The curious lives of the people who feel no fear (Vol. 217). Retrieved
from
http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=6a923505-1e8d-4984-92c7-ea
4d912b6710%40sessionmgr4007&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=8
5973974&db=sch
Carbonell, D., Ph.D. (2009). Struggling with anxiety symptoms? Retrieved November 23, 2017,
from Anxiety Coach website: http://www.anxietycoach.com/anxietysymptoms.html
Deardorff, W. W., Ph.D. (2017, July 1). 4 tips to help cope with chronic pain and depression.
Retrieved November 23, 2017, from Spine-health website:
https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/depression/4-tips-help-cope-chronic-pain-and-d
epression
Hellerstein, D., Ph.D. (2011, July 14). Depression and anxiety disorders damage your brain,
especially when untreated. Retrieved November 23, 2017, from Psychology Today
website:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/heal-your-brain/201107/depression-and-anxiety-
disorders-damage-your-brain-especially-when
LaBracio, L. (2016, March 10). How stress affects your brain (in TED-Ed GIFS). Retrieved
October 24, 2017, from TedEd Lessons Worth Sharing website:
http://blog.ed.ted.com/2016/03/10/how-stress-affects-your-brain-in-ted-ed-gifs/
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017, October 13). Generalized anxiety disorder. Retrieved October 24,
2017, from Mayo Clinic website:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/generalized-anxiety-disorder/symptoms-
causes/syc-20360803
Pietrangelo, A. P., & Cherney, K. (2017, September 11). The effects of depression in your body.
Retrieved October 30, 2017, from Healthline website:
https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/effects-on-body
Smith, M., M.A., Robinson, L., & Segal, J., Ph.D. (2017, October). Anxiety disorders and
anxiety attacks. Retrieved November 4, 2017, from HELPGUIDE.ORG website:
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/anxiety-disorders-and-anxiety-attacks.htm
Tracy, N. (2016, June 15). Relationship between depression and anxiety. Retrieved November
23, 2017, from HealthyPlace website:
https://www.healthyplace.com/depression/anxiety-and-depression/relationship-between-d
epression-and-anxiety/
Running Head: THE OVERWHELMING EFFECTS OF ANXIETY & DEPRESSION 7
Walia, A. (2016, February 19). How depression affects brain structure and what you can do to
change it back. Retrieved October 31, 2017, from Collective Evolution website:
http://www.collective-evolution.com/2016/02/19/how-depression-affects-brain-structure-
what-you-can-do-to-change-it-back/