Can Depression Cause Anxiety?

Can Depression Cause Anxiety?

Depression and anxiety are often talked about as separate conditions, but in reality, they frequently overlap. Many people who struggle with depression also experience anxiety, sometimes at the same time and sometimes in cycles. This connection can be confusing, especially when symptoms seem to blur together. The answer is yes—depression can cause or intensify anxiety, and anxiety can also worsen depression.

Depression affects how the brain regulates mood, stress, and emotion. When depression is present, the brain’s ability to manage stress is often weakened. This can lead to constant worry, nervousness, restlessness, or a sense that something is always wrong. Even small tasks or decisions can feel overwhelming, triggering anxious thoughts that wouldn’t normally appear.

Another reason depression can cause anxiety is the loss of control and uncertainty it creates. Depression often disrupts motivation, concentration, and confidence. As people notice themselves struggling to keep up or feeling disconnected from life, anxiety can develop around performance, relationships, or the future. Worry becomes a response to feeling stuck or unsure.

Depression also changes sleep patterns, which plays a major role in anxiety. Poor sleep increases stress hormones and lowers emotional regulation. When the body is exhausted, the mind is more likely to interpret situations as threatening, making anxiety symptoms more intense.

There’s also a biological connection. Depression and anxiety share many of the same brain pathways and neurotransmitters, including serotonin and norepinephrine. When these systems are out of balance, symptoms of both conditions can emerge together. This is why people often feel both low and on edge at the same time.

Emotionally, depression can create constant internal tension. Feelings of guilt, self-criticism, and hopelessness can lead to racing thoughts and fear of making mistakes. For some people, anxiety becomes a way of trying to regain control in the face of emotional numbness or despair.

It’s important to know that experiencing both depression and anxiety does not mean someone is “worse off” or harder to help. This combination is extremely common and very treatable. When depression is addressed, anxiety often improves as well, and vice versa.

Depression and anxiety are not personal failures. They are interconnected mental health conditions that affect how the brain processes stress and emotion. Life is short, and struggling with both doesn’t mean you’re stuck this way. With the right support, balance and relief are possible.

If you or a loved one are struggling with mental health issues, please give us a call today at 833-479-0797.