Anxiety and depression: Can you have them together?

Written by Laura Longworth

Clinically reviewed by Asst. Psych Jasmine Leyland

4 November 2026

Anxiety and depression can fuel each other.

While they are separate conditions, they share similar symptoms, such as fatigue, irritability, sleep difficulties, changes in appetite, and trouble concentrating. Many people experience both at the same time, which can make their symptoms feel worse.

The way they intertwine looks different for everyone. One person might have panic attacks that increase feelings of hopelessness. Another might feel too depressed to work, which then increases anxiety about money. Having both can be confusing. Many people struggle to unpick which symptoms belong to which condition.

Emotionally, they feel different. Anxiety creates worry and fear, while depression involves persistent sadness or loss of interest.

They often exist together because because overlapping brain circuits and stress systems are involved in both. The amygdala alerts us to threat before we're even aware of it - the fight, flight, or freeze response. Today, both anxiety and depression can emerge when this system becomes overactivated or dysregulated over time.

Living with both can be overwhelming and exhausting. They can create a vicious cycle, each making the other worse. Common coping strategies - isolating ourselves, numbing feelings, or avoiding situations we fear - can shrink our lives, increase loneliness, and add fuel to our worries. 

Many people find that treating one condition helps ease the other. Others benefit from approaches that tackle both simultaneously. Antidepressant medication like SSRIs target the same brain circuits involved in both anxiety and depression. Talking therapies such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy explore the negative thinking patterns and unhelpful coping mechanisms that both conditions feed off.

If you or someone you love is struggling with depression and anxiety, our team can offer compassionate, tailored, and evidence-based care. Reach out here to speak with a clinician.

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