What is the difference between anxiety and depression?

If you want a simple breakdown with examples, see Verywell Mind – Anxiety vs Depression. It compares symptoms clearly.

Think of anxiety as being in a state of constant alert: your heart races, palms sweat, and you feel restless. Depression, on the other hand, feels like being in a heavy fog: you lack energy, motivation, and even small tasks seem overwhelming.

Some people mistakenly think they are the same. But anxiety is future-oriented (“what will happen”), while depression is past- or present-oriented (“nothing will improve”). Both can be serious and need professional help.

Anxiety and depression are two different mental health conditions: - Anxiety is about excessive worry, fear, or nervousness about future events. - Depression is about persistent sadness, loss of interest, and hopelessness. While they can occur together, the core symptoms differ.

Medically speaking, anxiety disorders involve heightened arousal of the nervous system, whereas depression involves low mood and decreased brain activity in pleasure centers. Treatments often overlap (therapy, medication), but diagnosis is different.