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Difference Between Depression And Ptsd

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What Are The Symptoms Of Depression

The differences between stress, anxiety, ptsd & depression

Depression is more than just feeling sad. Most people with depression feel down or sad more days than not for at least 2 weeks. Or they find they no longer enjoy or have interest in things anymore. If you have depression, you may notice that you’re sleeping and eating a lot more or less than you used to. You may find it hard to stay focused. You may feel down on yourself or hopeless. With more severe depression, you may think about hurting or killing yourself. See Suicide and PTSD.

Joint Features Of Multiple Conditions

The scientists searched for brain regions that were either more active or less active in the participants with mental health conditions than among the control group. As expected, the researchers found that certain features of brain activity were consistent across mood disorders, PTSD, and anxiety disorders.

Perhaps surprisingly, they found the most significant differences between the two groups of participants when they searched for hypoactive regions. The authors outline their primary findings:

detected statistically robust transdiagnostic clusters of hypoactivation in the inferior prefrontal cortex/insula, the inferior parietal lobule, and the putamen.

These regions are significant because they are all involved in emotional and cognitive control. Specifically, they play an important role in stopping cognitive and behavioral processes and switching to new ones.

Senior author Dr. Sophia Frangou explains: These brain imaging findings provide a science-based explanation as to why patients with mood and anxiety disorders seem to be locked in to negative mood states. They also corroborate the patients experience of being unable to stop and switch away from negative thoughts and feelings.

The authors also outline how these findings lend support to earlier studies in people with these disorders, which found deficits of large effect size in stopping and shifting responses in a range of tasks.

How Do I Know If I Have Depression Or Ptsd

Getting an accurate diagnosis is the first step in treating PTSD or depression effectively. Since mental health problems can have overlapping symptoms, its important to find the right diagnosis that explains your symptoms. Getting an accurate diagnosis may begin by speaking to a professional about your symptoms. You may speak to your doctor, therapist, or psychiatrist to get started. If you enter a treatment program, you will go through an assessment process with a professional.

Your doctor or therapist will likely use the DSM as a guide when diagnosing your mental health. You may also go through a biopsychosocial, which is an in-depth questionnaire that explores any potential biological, psychological, or social needs you may have.

When youre seeking a diagnosis, its important to do a psychological evaluation, but thats not all. Its often wise to go through a medical check-up as well. This may involve a physical exam with blood work. In some cases, medical problems like head injuries, malnutrition, tumors, vitamin deficiencies, and other factors can impact your mental health. Sometimes, mental health problems can cause medical complications that also need to be addressed.

Written by: Joseph Raspolich

About Joseph Raspolich: Joe is a writer for California Highlands and has dedicated his career to creating well-researched content so that those that are in search of treatment can find the help they need.

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How Is Ptsd Treated

Medications

There are a number of antidepressants that are approved for treating PTSD. These medications have the added benefit of lifting your depression and anxiety symptoms.

The four prominently prescribed ones are:

  • Narrative exposure therapy

Prolonged exposure therapy is considered the first line of talk therapy defense for PTSD. Its a type of CBT that involves exposing the patient to difficult feelings or situations related to the initial trauma. By doing this in a careful way under a trained therapist, the patient learns to turn off the fear response when those triggers come up.

A New Option: TMS

There is an additional treatment option available that can replace or be used in conjunction with medication for both depression and PTSD: transcranial magnetic stimulation . The FDA has approvedTMS to treat depression it is not yet approved for PTSD and may not be covered by insurance.

The VA has started to use transcranial magnetic stimulation to treat PTSD in war veterans. The non-invasive treatment works by reconnecting neural pathways that become underactive in people with depression and PTSD. TMS has none of the side effects associated with antidepressant medications, and its highly effective. Psychiatrists such as those using it at the VA have seen great success with it. If youve tried medications and therapy but still have symptoms, TMS is a great option.

The Best Resources For People Managing Anxiety

ADHD, PTSD, Bipolar and Depression

One study looked at the link between GADs impact on the veteran community and found a link with PTSD. Out of 884 surveyed vets, 40 percent of people with PTSD were also diagnosed with GAD. These people had more severe symptoms of the anxiety disorder than those who had only GAD without PTSD.

Youll find a lot of people with PTSD will have some form of anxiety disorder. Many will experience panic attacks and have social anxieties, for sure. They might be withdrawn socially and avoid social gatherings, Emrani says. Its important that these people discuss with their medical team to seek out the treatment they need.

Treatment for anxiety disorders could include psychotherapy, or talk therapy, which aims to help individuals directly confront the specific anxieties that are plaguing them CBT, which is also helpful for depression support groups and stress-management techniques, like exercise or meditation. Medications cant cure anxiety disorders, but they could help alleviate symptoms. Antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and beta-blockers are some of the most commonly prescribed.

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How Is Depression Different From Ptsd

Depressive disorders are also similar to PTSD in the symptomology and often in etiology. For our blog on PTSD and depression click here. Depression is not just being moody or sad. Depression is a serious illness where the depressive state can last months or even years and only treatment like psychiatry and psychotherapy can help. A person cannot just snap out of it. Depressive disorders can be caused by the same traumatic events that cause PTSD, as well as difficult life circumstance, medical conditions, grief, and stress. Differentiating between depression and PTSD can be challenging but it can also be a bit more straightforward than trying to do so for anxiety and PTSD. This is because many of the symptoms PTSD and Anxiety share are not typically seen with depression such as vivid flashbacks and hyperawareness. Lets check out the most common depressive disorders and symptoms below.

Depression And The Nervous System

Traumatic experiences can have a significant impact your brain and nervous system even if you arent diagnosed with depression later.

This emotional response to trauma can have a significant impact on your neurological and physiological functions. It may affect your brain chemicals and nervous system.

When faced with intense emotional stress or an unsafe situation, the body naturally engages the fight-or-flight system to help you escape from the threat.

However, if you cant escape the situation, the body engages the freeze response. Here, the nervous system shuts down, or freezes, as a way to protect yourself, like a gazelle playing dead when it cant get away from a predator.

According to polyvagal theory , if your body enters the freeze response, its known as entering dorsal vagal shutdown. Thats because this shutdown state is controlled by a part of the nervous system called the dorsal vagus nerve.

When your body enters this dorsal vagal freeze state, you may experience symptoms of depression, such as feeling numb, disconnected, fatigued, and slow. Triggers from previous traumas may lead your body to enter this state long after the trauma itself has ended.

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What Does The Research Say

Research from 2016 reviewed multiple studies exploring the link between bipolar disorder and childhood trauma. Researchers concluded that trauma didnt just increase bipolar disorder risk. It also seemed to lead to more severe symptoms, including suicidal thoughts or attempts.

In a nationwide study from 2016 , researchers used the Danish Civil Registration System to explore potential links between bipolar disorder, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and a diagnosis of PTSD or acute stress reaction.

Their findings suggest that people diagnosed with traumatic stress had a higher risk of developing bipolar disorder or schizophrenia spectrum disorders. This risk seemed to be highest during the first year following a traumatic stress diagnosis, but it stayed high for over 5 years. Researchers also noted that the link didnt relate to a family history of either condition.

Of course, as other research points out, the link could run in the other direction, too. People often feel more impulsive than usual during manic episodes. This impulsivity can lead you to take risks that might put you in danger or cause other harm, such as:

  • driving too fast
  • trying an extreme sport with taking safety precautions
  • getting in a fight with your boss

These experiences can cause lasting trauma when they have a negative outcome, for you or anyone else.

Coping With Ptsd And Depression After Treatment

What is the Difference Between Acute Stress Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?

Treatment in even the best facility will not cure you, but it will give you the tools you need to process and live with the trauma you experienced and to manage and prevent depression symptoms. One of the most important things you can do to live well with these mental illnesses is to surround yourself with supportive, loving family and friends. Social support is one of the most important factors in good mental health.

Other things you can do include keeping up with regular outpatient therapy, attending support group meetings, making healthy lifestyle choices, avoiding alcohol and drugs, engaging in activities you enjoy, and using healthy coping strategies for managing stress, like deep breathing or meditation. Listen to the story of Ben, who initially struggled after leaving rehab for PTSD and depression:

âI had a pretty good experience in treatment, but once I got home everything felt overwhelming. I had developed PTSD after being in a major car accident that left my best friend dead. I survived, barely had a scratch, which made me feel completely guilty and depressed, as well as traumatized. In rehab, I went through exposure therapy and learned how to face the memories of the accident and behavioral therapy to manage my negative thoughts and depression.

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How Often Ptsd And Depression Coincide

Depression is one of the most commonly co-occurring diagnoses in people with post-traumatic stress disorder. In fact, researchers have found that among people who have a diagnosis of PTSD, approximately 48% to 55% also experienced current or previous depression.

People who have had PTSD at some point in their lives are three to five times as likely as people without PTSD to also have depression.

PTSD and depression may be connected in a number of ways.

Other Key Differences Between Pts Vs Ptsd Include:

Stress is normal and healthy, and stress responses are tools our bodies use to protect us from future trauma. PTS is common after military deployment or exposure to another highly stressful event. As the symptoms arent as intense, PTS often will self-resolve without the need for professional help or medication.

PTSD symptoms are more extreme, repetitive, and often cause problems in everyday functioning. PTSD symptoms do not usually go away on their own, and they can last for months, years, or a lifetime without proper intervention.

Another key difference in PTS vs PTSD is PTS doesnt typically involve some of the more extreme symptoms of PTSD like vivid flashbacks, defeated self-confidence, or suicidal thoughts.

Finally, most people with PTS do not develop PTSD , and developing PTSD does not require first having PTS.

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What Is The Difference Between Pts & Ptsd

PTS and PTSD are characterized by similar symptoms. They can cause you to feel fear and nervousness, have nightmares, and avoid people, things, and situations that are associated with a traumatic event you experienced in the past. Whats different about the two conditions is how intense symptoms are, the duration of symptoms, and what type of treatment is needed and/or will be effective.

Despite their similarities, there are a couple primary differences between PTS and PTSD. First, the length and strength of symptoms will be more intense with PTSD. PTS symptoms will generally self-resolve within days or weeks. Because theres a lack of prolonged symptoms, PTS isnt a diagnosable mental health condition. Comparatively, PTSD symptoms will last for more than a month.

PTSD is an officially diagnosed disorder, meaning most people will suffer from more severe and chronic symptoms. Note that PTS can sometimes be referred to as PTSS , so dont be confused if you hear the longer name occasionally.

Depression Trauma And Ptsd

Four Common Ways In Which PTSD Can Manifest in Your Life

Depression is a common problem that can develop after trauma. When you are depressed, you have feelings of sadness or low mood. And those feelings are longer lasting and can get in the way of your daily life. Learn about the relationship between depression and PTSD, and what you can do to get help.

Reading time: minutes

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What Treatments Are There

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence the organisation that produces guidelines on best practice in health care has not yet developed recommendations specifically for complex PTSD. They caution that the existing guidelines for PTSD weren’t developed for this kind of diagnosis.

You may find standard treatments for PTSD helpful, but many people with complex PTSD need more long-term, intensive support to recover. As part of your treatment you should also be offered support for other problems you experience, such as depression, drug and alcohol use or dissociation. The treatment you are offered may depend on what’s available in your local area.

See our treatment for PTSD page for more about the treatments available, which may be useful for complex PTSD. Or visit our page on self-care for PTSD for tips on how to look after yourself when you have complex PTSD.

Can You Have Both Ptsd And C

It is possible for you to have PTSD and C-PTSD at the same time.

For example, if you experienced ongoing trauma in childhood and, later, survived a natural disaster, its possible to experience symptoms of both.

Just like depression, PTSD and C-PTSD may cause feelings of emptiness, intense sadness or anger, a negative view of the world and of yourself, and trouble maintaining relationships.

Intense emotions, feeling empty all the time, and challenges with interpersonal relationships are common in both BPD and C-PTSD. Those living with BPD may experience paranoia, another symptom of PTSD and C-PTSD.

Many symptoms of dissociative disorders can look similar to symptoms of PTSD and C-PTSD, like depression, memory loss, and feelings of emotional numbness.

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Depression And Overgeneralised Memories

As stated earlier, people with MDD exhibit problems in the retrieval of specific memories and have a tendency to retrieve overgeneralised memories . Although not yet studied in samples of individuals with comorbid PTSD/MDD, studies of separate samples of PTSD and MDD sufferers have shown overgeneralised memory to be associated with the onset and maintenance of PTSD and MDD and to reduce treatment outcome . For example, Dalgleish, Spinks, Yiend, and Kuyken found that the extent to which individuals retrieved overgeneral memories predicted delayed recovery from affective disorders.

The contribution of impaired executive ability to autobiographical memory deficits has also been highlighted . From this perspective, reduced executive control and the subsequent creation of overgeneralised autobiographical memory may reduce the ability individuals with MDD have to incorporate corrective information into their fear structures, subsequently influencing treatment success. Overall, depression-related overgeneralised memories and reduced executive control may promote underengagement and reduce one’s ability to incorporate corrective information during PTSD treatment, consequently hindering outcomes.

What Is The Difference Between Depression And Ptsd

Anxiety and PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a unique mental health issue. In fact, researchers found it to be so unique that it was placed in its own category in the DSM-5. The major difference between PTSD and other mental health problems like depression is that its tied to past trauma. Trauma is always the root of PTSD symptoms, and its an important factor in effective treatment.

Trauma can lead to other mental health problems, including depression, but depression isnt always directly linked to past trauma. Depression may be caused by several factors, including genetic, environmental, and developmental factors. PTSD also has several unique features, including flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts.

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The Relationship Between Ptsd And Depression

Cultura RM / Frank and Helena/ Collection Mix: Subjects / Getty Images

Information presented in this article may be triggering for some people. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.

A diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression commonly co-occur. PTSD is characterized by symptoms of anxiety, flashbacks, and reliving traumatic experiences. The condition develops after a person experiences some sort of traumatic event such as a natural disaster, car accident, attack, abuse, or combat. On the other hand, depression is characterized by low mood, loss of interest and pleasure, and changes in energy levels.

Depression can also be a common response after a traumatic or stressful event, so it is perhaps not surprising that these two conditions can occur at the same time.

Research suggests that approximately 6.8% of all people will develop PTSD at some point in their lives. An estimated 7.1% of U.S. adults experience major depressive disorder in any given year.

Research has found that half of all people with PTSD also have a co-occurring major depressive disorder.

If you’ve received a dual diagnosis, here’s why the conditions may be related.

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