Is it possible to have depression and anxiety at the same time?

Answer From Craig N. Sawchuk, Ph.D., L.P.

Depression and anxiety are different conditions, but they commonly occur together. They also have similar treatments.

It's not unusual to feel down or have the blues now and then. And everyone feels anxious from time to time — it's a typical response to stressful situations. But severe or ongoing feelings of depression and anxiety can be a sign of an underlying mental health condition.

Going through a major depressive episode can lead to the start of an anxiety disorder. It's also common for depression to be triggered by an anxiety disorder, such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder or separation anxiety disorder. Many people have a diagnosis of both an anxiety disorder and clinical depression.

Symptoms of both conditions usually improve with talk therapy, called psychotherapy, medicines such as antidepressants, or both. Lifestyle changes to improve sleep habits, increase social support, reduce stress and get regular exercise also may help. If you have either condition, don't use alcohol, tobacco or recreational drugs. They can make both conditions worse and interfere with treatment.

With

Craig N. Sawchuk, Ph.D., L.P.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Oct. 15, 2024 See more Expert Answers

See also

  1. Addison's disease
  2. Adjustment disorders
  3. Adrenal fatigue: What causes it?
  4. Alzheimer's: New treatments
  5. Alzheimer's 101
  6. Understanding the difference between dementia types
  7. Alzheimer's disease
  8. Alzheimer's genes
  9. Alzheimer's drugs
  10. Alzheimer's prevention: Does it exist?
  11. Alzheimer's stages
  12. Ambien: Is dependence a concern?
  13. Antidepressant withdrawal: Is there such a thing?
  14. Antidepressants and alcohol: What's the concern?
  15. Antidepressants and weight gain: What causes it?
  16. Antidepressants: Can they stop working?
  17. Antidepressants: Side effects
  18. Antidepressants: Selecting one that's right for you
  19. Antidepressants: Which cause the fewest sexual side effects?
  20. Antidepressants and pregnancy
  21. Atypical antidepressants
  22. Back Pain
  23. Binge-eating disorder
  24. Blood Basics
  25. Borderline personality disorder
  26. Breastfeeding and medications
  27. Dr. Wallace Video
  28. Dr. Mark Truty (surgery, MN) better outcomes with chemo
  29. Can zinc supplements help treat hidradenitis suppurativa?
  30. Hidradenitis suppurativa wound care
  31. Celiac disease
  32. Child abuse
  33. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
  34. CJD - Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  35. Clinical depression: What does that mean?
  36. Clinical trials for hidradenitis suppurativa
  37. Coconut oil: Can it cure hypothyroidism?
  38. Complete blood count (CBC)
  39. Complicated grief
  40. Compulsive sexual behavior
  41. Concussion
  42. Concussion in children
  43. Concussion Recovery
  44. Concussion Telemedicine
  45. Coping with the emotional ups and downs of psoriatic arthritis
  46. Coping with the stress of hidradenitis suppurativa
  47. COVID-19 and your mental health
  48. Creating a hidradenitis suppurativa care team
  49. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
  50. Cushing syndrome
  51. Cyclothymia (cyclothymic disorder)
  52. Delirium
  53. Depression, anxiety and exercise
  54. What is depression? A Mayo Clinic expert explains.
  55. Depression during pregnancy
  56. Depression in women: Understanding the gender gap
  57. Depression (major depressive disorder)
  58. Depression: Supporting a family member or friend
  59. Diabetes and depression: Coping with the two conditions
  60. Diagnosing Alzheimer's
  61. Did the definition of Alzheimer's disease change?
  62. Dissociative disorders
  63. Vitamin C and mood
  64. Drug addiction (substance use disorder)
  65. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
  66. Fatigue
  67. Fibromyalgia
  68. HABIT program orientation
  69. Hangovers
  70. Hashimoto's disease
  71. Headache
  72. Hidradenitis suppurativa
  73. Hidradenitis suppurativa and biologics: Get the facts
  74. Hidradenitis suppurativa and diet: What's recommended?
  75. Hidradenitis suppurativa and sleep: How to get more zzz's
  76. Hidradenitis suppurativa: Tips for weight-loss success
  77. Hidradenitis suppurativa: What is it?
  78. Hidradenitis suppurativa: When does it appear?
  79. Hidradenitis suppurativa: Where can I find support?
  80. How opioid use disorder occurs
  81. How to tell if a loved one is abusing opioids
  82. Hyperparathyroidism
  83. Hypoparathyroidism
  84. Hypothyroidism: Can calcium supplements interfere with treatment?
  85. Hypothyroidism diet
  86. Hypothyroidism and joint pain?
  87. Hypothyroidism: Should I take iodine supplements?
  88. Hypothyroidism symptoms: Can hypothyroidism cause eye problems?
  89. Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
  90. Insomnia
  91. Insomnia: How do I stay asleep?
  92. Insomnia treatment: Cognitive behavioral therapy instead of sleeping pills
  93. Intervention: Help a loved one overcome addiction
  94. Is depression a factor in rheumatoid arthritis?
  95. Ketamine infusion therapy
  96. Kratom: Unsafe and ineffective
  97. Kratom for opioid withdrawal
  98. Lack of sleep: Can it make you sick?
  99. Lecanemab for Alzheimer's disease
  100. Living better with hidradenitis suppurativa
  101. Low blood pressure (hypotension)
  102. Male depression: Understanding the issues
  103. Managing Headaches
  104. Managing hidradenitis suppurativa: Early treatment is crucial
  105. Hidradenitis suppurativa-related health risks
  106. MAOIs and diet: Is it necessary to restrict tyramine?
  107. Marijuana and depression
  108. Mayo Clinic Minute: 3 tips to reduce your risk of Alzheimer's disease
  109. Mayo Clinic Minute: Alzheimer's disease risk and lifestyle
  110. Mayo Clinic Minute: New definition of Alzheimer's changes
  111. Mayo Clinic Minute: Prevent migraines with magnetic stimulation
  112. Mayo Clinic Minute: Restless legs syndrome in kids
  113. Mayo Clinic Minute: Weathering migraines
  114. Mayo Clinic Minute: Women and Alzheimer's Disease
  115. Medication overuse headaches
  116. Meditation
  117. Memory loss: When to seek help
  118. Mental health: Overcoming the stigma of mental illness
  119. Mental health providers: Tips on finding one
  120. Mental health
  121. Mental illness
  122. Migraine
  123. What is a migraine? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  124. Migraine medicines and antidepressants
  125. Migraine FAQs
  126. Migraine treatment: Can antidepressants help?
  127. Migraines and gastrointestinal problems: Is there a link?
  128. Migraines and Vertigo
  129. Migraines: Are they triggered by weather changes?
  130. Alleviating migraine pain
  131. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
  132. Mindfulness exercises
  133. Mindfulness practice
  134. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
  135. Natural remedies for depression: Are they effective?
  136. Nervous breakdown: What does it mean?
  137. New Alzheimers Research
  138. Nicotine dependence
  139. Occipital nerve stimulation: Effective migraine treatment?
  140. Ocular migraine: When to seek help
  141. Opioid stewardship: What is it?
  142. Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
  143. Pain and depression: Is there a link?
  144. Pancreatic cancer
  145. Pancreatic Cancer
  146. What is pancreatic cancer? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  147. Infographic: Pancreatic Cancer: Minimally Invasive Surgery
  148. Pancreatic Cancer Survivor
  149. Infographic: Pancreatic Cancers-Whipple
  150. Perimenopause
  151. Pituitary tumors
  152. Polymyalgia rheumatica
  153. Poppy seed tea: Beneficial or dangerous?
  154. Post COVID syndrome
  155. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
  156. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
  157. Prescription drug abuse
  158. Prescription sleeping pills: What's right for you?
  159. Progressive supranuclear palsy
  160. Psychotherapy
  161. Reducing the discomfort of hidradenitis suppurativa: Self-care tips
  162. Restless legs syndrome
  163. Salt craving: A symptom of Addison's disease?
  164. Schizoaffective disorder
  165. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
  166. Seasonal affective disorder treatment: Choosing a light box
  167. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
  168. Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
  169. Sleep disorders
  170. Sleep tips
  171. Soy: Does it worsen hypothyroidism?
  172. Staying active with hidradenitis suppurativa
  173. Stress symptoms
  174. Sundowning: Late-day confusion
  175. Support groups
  176. Surgery for hidradenitis suppurativa
  177. Symptom Checker
  178. Tapering off opioids: When and how
  179. Tianeptine: Is safe use possible?
  180. Tinnitus and antidepressants
  181. Transcranial magnetic stimulation
  182. Traumatic brain injury
  183. Treating hidradenitis suppurativa: Explore your options
  184. Treating hidradenitis suppurativa with antibiotics and hormones
  185. Treatment of parathyroid disease at Mayo Clinic
  186. Treatment-resistant depression
  187. Tricyclic antidepressants
  188. Unexplained weight loss
  189. Vagus nerve stimulation
  190. Valerian: A safe and effective herbal sleep aid?
  191. Vascular dementia
  192. Video: Alzheimer's drug shows early promise
  193. Video: Vagus nerve stimulation
  194. Vitamin B-12 and depression
  195. What are opioids and why are they dangerous?
  196. What are the signs and symptoms of hidradenitis suppurativa?
  197. Wilson's disease
  198. Xylazine
  199. Young-onset Alzheimer's
  200. Mayo Clinic Minute: Do not share pain medication
  201. Mayo Clinic Minute: Avoid opioids for chronic pain
  202. Mayo Clinic Minute: Be careful not to pop pain pills