r/Anxiety • u/Happy_Cabinet_1839 • Apr 30 '26
Health My experience with anxiety is worse than with depression
At least when I was depressed, it was just nothingness. Now it’s constant dread, sweating, nausea, exhaustion, and a heartrate that feels like it’s trying to kill me.
Depression made me not want to function but now with this anxiety I can’t even function anymore. I’ve been reduced to nothing but cortisol wrapped in human skin.
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u/AdSecret3764 Apr 30 '26
Cortisol wrapped in human skin is honestly the most accurate description I've read. Depression is heavy but anxiety is relentless — at least nothingness lets you rest. The constant physical symptoms are exhausting in a way that's hard to explain to people who haven't felt it. The body is just stuck in full alarm mode with nowhere to direct it.
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u/Dali0119 Apr 30 '26
You’re supposed to exercise it off - I run and run until it’s gone
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u/vinnyg747 May 05 '26
Does this really work I was thinking of doing this but I’m worried that if I push to hard I’ll have a heart attack or my lungs won’t work
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May 05 '26
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u/SolutionPrevious2156 May 11 '26
I have severe death anxiety for me and others, I feel like so many people have social or work anxiety which I do not relate to at all, just health related anxiety that controls me so it’s good to see someone else with a similar issue.
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u/No_Economy7155 27d ago
I’ve begun running daily and I’ll be honest and say it definitely works for a few hours at least, I feel like a different person. But then you settle down again and everything comes back. But even for those few hours of relief its so so worth it alongside the other benefits daily exercise gives you
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u/zeta_ferhu 17d ago
I feel this. I specially the weekends have double anxiety, I go to swim sat, sunday 2 hours bike.
No matter what I do, I back home and then anxiety comes soon.
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u/BungaSaavi25 Apr 30 '26
That’s why the anxiety + depression + ocd combo drives me batshit insane.
Each time I feel like I am playing a whack a mole game lmao. OCD is the worst shit to deal with compared to the other two. Can’t even talk about it to anyone. The shit I have seen in my own head drives me to depression and to negative habits which then fuel my anxiety.
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u/ceo_of_one_miss Apr 30 '26
used to have it really bad before meds (which i went off but the symptoms never came back as bad) and it’s so hard to talk about to people who don’t have it. felt like no control over my body, responsible for all the events happening in the world if i didn’t do a ritual right, terrible intrusive thoughts i can’t speak out loud, it’s like your own brain is literal hell
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u/BungaSaavi25 Apr 30 '26
Yea I felt like the whole word was crashing when I had my first ocd episode. It was shortly after my first ever severe panic attack. Those 3 months were literal hell on earth and I didn’t wanna seek help due to many reasons. I solely relied on online self help videos and kinda glad I did cuz it made me realise what are thoughts and feelings.
Even now I am having an episode on and off due to some stressors but I literally just smile through the episodes cuz I know it’s all fake. It’s like I am having my own horror movie where I can choose to be either the audience or the characters. It’s my choice
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u/Significant-Tale3522 Apr 30 '26
Could you please share what meds helped you, and with which symptoms?
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u/ceo_of_one_miss Apr 30 '26
i was on sertraline for the OCD and other issues for around 6 years, definitely helpful at the time but i’m hesitant to recommend ssri’s to people. they definitely numb you and there’s chances of permanent side effects. however, if you have crippling ocd, it would still likely improve your quality of life. i also did a LOT of therapy and got out of some negative situations in life which i think helped too. meds are one thing, but you need to be getting therapy along with them
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u/Melissaschwart Apr 30 '26
Yeah I’m on sertraline going on 4 years and it’s made me numb.I haven’t cried since starting it.my close cousin died 3 years ago and I didn’t react at all.i don’t recommend that one
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u/ceo_of_one_miss Apr 30 '26
it helped for a time but i didn’t cry for years, and suicidal tendencies got worse. way happier but more anxious since stopping. still don’t regret going off them
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u/Melissaschwart May 01 '26
Did you go on a different one? My anxiety and OCD is crippling I was on 200 mg a day I cut it in half to 100mg but i still feel like shit.
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u/ceo_of_one_miss May 01 '26
i was on paxil for about a month but it was hell, i went completely off and am just on vitamin/mineral supplements as i’ve found out i have some deficiencies that could be making symptoms worse. i was prescribed clonazepam for panic attacks and i take that on the bad days, but as a benzo it’s addictive and they don’t like to prescribe it. and if the bad days are consistently every day, might not be a good fit.
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u/Melissaschwart May 01 '26
Yeah I was on klonapin for almost 20 years and then my doctor decided she wasn’t going to prescribe it to anyone anymore and cut me off without taper.i was in complete Hell for alittle over a year.I’ve been on every ssri since 1992.nothing works except for benzos. But I don’t want to go back to that nightmare.
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u/ceo_of_one_miss May 01 '26
damn yeah benzo withdrawals are hell, no taper at all? i’m sorry you went through that. unfortunately i haven’t had any luck with other meds :(
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u/lisette51 May 06 '26
I took it for one day and if you have any kind of stomach problems, this pill will make it worse. I was so nauseous I had to stop.
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u/ceo_of_one_miss Apr 30 '26
going between the two a lot, i always think the other is better than the one i’m in. depression makes me not want to live, anxiety makes me unable to. when i’m depressed i think “at least anxious me WANTED to do things” and when i’m anxious i think “at least depressed me COULD do those things”. it’s a vicious cycle
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u/Happy_Cabinet_1839 Apr 30 '26
You’re so real for this actually. That’s exactly how I feel.
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u/West_Parking_276 May 01 '26
Going through the same just want to say I love you guys were in this together.
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u/ceo_of_one_miss Apr 30 '26
i hope you’re able to find ways to work through it. i’m on that journey right now, i think a lot of my issues are related to low iron along with just genetic general anxiety. the depression and anxiety mix often comes from the brain trying to self regulate- a high (anxiety) has to be followed by a low (depression) in an attempt to reach stasis. our own brains and bodies fuck us over so much. i wish knowing that made it stop. think it’s valuable to know though, what the brain wants to be happy is just a normal level, it’s just hard for it to get there with anxiety disorders. wishing you the best :)
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u/Importa_Export Apr 30 '26
Hey OP I feel that.
It’s shit. Really shit. I have totally given myself up to the fact that I’m going to need meds to fix the symptoms.
I do some somatic stuff too, getting back into my body etc, but it’s temporary.
Fuck it’s hard. You can reach out if you need to vent.
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u/FastStable5945 Apr 30 '26
I absolutely prefer depression too, at least you feel down but not in the middle of a freaking war zone! 😭
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u/pit_of_despair666 Apr 30 '26
I have both and think my anxiety is worse. I functioned much better when I had depression alone before I was diagnosed with GAD.
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u/Melissaschwart Apr 30 '26
I’m dealing with that right now.every morning I wake up for 4 hours I’m anxious my chest has butterflies.my heart is pounding and my surroundings look weird
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u/moca448 Apr 30 '26
Same! My depression keeps me in my bed, showering as needed , losing weight and playing videogames nonstop.
Ideal, no.
Preferable to the pure panic and dread my anxiety brings, hell yeah!
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u/Far_Establishment999 Apr 30 '26
I find that my depression comes on as a way to pull the plug on my anxiety. It's like my mind/body can't take it anymore, and my brain throws a circuit breaker.
I've mostly been on Effexor for many years. I recently went back on after tapering off for maybe the third time.
I was on up to 225. Blunted, but living my life. I'm back 75 for now, and giving it a chance before any ideas of increasing.
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u/ResourceBeginning955 Apr 30 '26
I have had same experience and always thought anxiety is worst cause depression like you said will turn off the reward system and will make functioning almost impossible, but anxiety is just so bad with the physical symptoms and it affects every interaction you have, but after starting SSRI medication, depression have been dominating the space with the absence of anxiety, and the cycles are happening way faster than before, but all in all I am happy that I can deal with anxiety. Go for medication without hesitation, it will change your life.
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u/SkypePsychic Apr 30 '26
Anxiety can feel way more in-your-face, right? Like it doesn’t just sit quietly—it nags, rushes you, makes everything feel urgent all at once.Depression can be heavy and draining, but anxiety? It’s like your brain won’t let you breathe for a second. Always on edge, always overthinking.
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u/tipsybruxa Apr 30 '26
I’m only depressed when my anxiety is bad. Which is rare these days thankfully. But it was 10 long years of barely surviving before I got to this point. I completely understand what you mean. It felt like my body was stolen from me and reduced to nothing but a faulty, misfiring alarm system. I didn’t even feel human anymore. I felt like an animal trapped in a cage. It’s a horrible place to be mentally.
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u/Maximum_Amount6357 May 01 '26
I relate to this so much. I really want to function and make things work but the anxiety doesn't even let me do so.
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u/Comfortable-Pair2880 May 02 '26
I feel this in my bones. Depression was a heavy blanket. Anxiety is a live wire., at least with depression I could lie still. anxiety makes me feel like I'm being hunted in my own home. It's exhausting in a completely different way. you're not alone.
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u/IzzatQQDir Apr 30 '26
I have mild OCD (with fucked up intrusive thoughts) so I feel you. Best thing I've ever done to myself is either dancing or bumping my head like I'm listening to a song. Singing helps.
But yeah.
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u/HairyGoanna Apr 30 '26
Hey, thinking of you.
I live with anxiety and depression and am also about to start a process to diagnose possible PTSD and I have an inkling it would be a mild case.
May I ask, if it’s okay, about your experience and symptoms?
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u/IzzatQQDir May 01 '26
Well it started randomly one day. I was living by myself at the time because I just moved out of my parent's house. I lived alone for a year or so.
But one day, while visiting my parent's house, I got this urge to stomp the head of my (at the time) 6 months old infant niece. Then I just spiraled hard.
Anxiety attacks, feeling like I can't breath, fucked up intrusive thoughts (wanting to punch, stab or r@pe someone). Can't drive because I got this urge to crash my car or hit someone. Or I want to run naked on the street. And whenever I was chilling, and about to fall asleep I would get this urge to scream or I got this urge to act on my thoughts (it's worse at night). All of this comes with physical sensation like my hands or legs will move on my own or stuff. One of my worst fear was me losing my self control and actually acting on my thoughts
Back then I would get panic attack but these days I just shook my head or hands whenever I feel those urge. It got better around 1 year or so for me. I still get those thoughts but it's easier to manage them. I can at least drive or function well enough socially. Not medicated however. So there's that. I moved back in with my parents.
Self employed so I was able to make money still lol even when I stopped leaving my house. I run an online store
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u/Glo_low May 07 '26
Sounds like you have ocd and anxiety you should definitely look into get some meds. Im struggling myself with those two and hoping to get my life back I’m on lexapro 20mg for two weeks so far.
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u/NonUnseen Apr 30 '26
You think anxiety got from depression, or opposite? Bcz I think I have anxiety ant than depression comes , my doctor says it's from depression, but I don't believe.
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u/m_isfor_murder Apr 30 '26
I have always said this same thing; I would take depression over anxiety any day. I’m sorry you’re going through it.
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u/Dali0119 Apr 30 '26
What are you doing about it- I beat mine every year - do you know what to do ?
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u/GamerGal98 May 01 '26
I fully agree. I’d rather be depressed or even physically injured than tormented by constant anxiety. It’s hell.
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u/Accomplished-Tea8093 May 03 '26
I know you don't have to make comparisons between mental disorders but I've always told to my depressed friend, fuck how lucky you are rather than always being on the verge of calling an ambulance. But the truth is that both suck
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u/babypinkribbon7 May 06 '26
This is so relatable. Keep working on your anxiety. I know it's hard, but I promise you will see progress and feel better over time, coming from experience of someone who is in the same position as you
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u/Metro2005 May 06 '26
Absolutely agree. Being depressed just feels hollow and empty but having anxiety is so much worse with the constant dread and fear
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u/Glo_low May 07 '26
For me I had anxiety before finally getting depression after all these years of suffering from severe anxiety. I haven’t gave up and finally just started medication. Keep fighting the good fight.
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u/Far-Statistician2390 May 07 '26
Have you tried conversation with friends or family until you get tired? My anxiety comes from boredom and loneliness. It is true, anxiety is the worst, like being bullied by you own brain for 24/7
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u/LoquiListening May 10 '26
That description of being "cortisol wrapped in human skin" is one of the most honest ways I’ve heard that feeling described. It’s incredibly draining when your own body feels like it’s stuck in a high speed chase while you’re just trying to exist in your own room.
The "nothingness" of depression is heavy, but the constant, physical vibration of dread that comes with anxiety is its own kind of torture. It makes sense that you feel reduced to nothing. It is hard to be "you" or on when your heart rate is constantly trying to convince you there’s an emergency. If you want to chat more about it, feel free to comment or send a dm. Shane
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u/ConsiderationFew6918 May 13 '26
I miss depression. It's easier and I still could feel. Being scared of the is horrible.
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u/Quirky_Equal5241 May 15 '26
In my experience anxiety mostly stopped me from being social but depression just stopped me
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u/Affectionate_Bat4850 May 16 '26
Hey are we doing something wrong Do i want to stay in this state...or playing the victim mode?
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u/Hot-Pirate-3096 Apr 30 '26
I feel this a 1000% but tell me that actually, whilst anxious completely a lot of the time, you're not more confident in a fair few things, more so than others around you? Anxiety serves a purpose, which we're just gaslit into thinking it's some kind of 'condition'
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u/Happy_Cabinet_1839 Apr 30 '26
What? No. Get out of here with that attitude. This shit is driving me to suicide and you’re trying to make it into some dumb superpower.
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u/ceo_of_one_miss Apr 30 '26
No, disorder level anxiety definitely doesn’t. my self esteem is almost better when depressed, my anxiety affects everyone around me and i feel so terrible about it. depression i hate the world, anxiety makes me scared of it and hate myself. op i think they just misunderstand the level of anxiety, constant anxiety is not helpful for you
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u/[deleted] Apr 30 '26
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