Are depression and anxiety mental illnesses?

Feeling anxious and depressed due to situations or events from time to time can be normal. For example, walking into a job interview for a position you really want may result in some feelings of anxiety, fears about the outcome, and even some physical symptoms like sweating or rapid heart rate. After a relationship ends, it’s normal to feel sadness, loss, and even a bit hopeless about the situation for a time. There are many events in life that our natural response to is fear, pain, sadness, and more.

It’s when our response is out of proportion to an event, especially intense or severe, or long-lasting, that there may be a problem. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual or DSM -V, published by the American Psychiatric Association and currently in its fifth revised edition, anxiety, depression, and related issues that meet certain criteria may indicate a diagnosable mental health condition.

Several disorders fall under the broader terms of ‘anxiety disorders’ and ‘depressive disorders.’ These include:

• Major depressive disorder
• Persistent depressive disorder
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
• Substance/medication-induced depressive disorder
• Depressive disorder due to another medical condition
• Other specified depressive disorder
• Unspecified depressive disorder
• Separation anxiety disorder
• Selective mutism
• Social anxiety disorder
• Panic disorder
• Panic attack
• Agoraphobia
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Substance/medication-induced anxiety disorder
• Anxiety disorder due to another medical condition
• Other specified anxiety disorder
• Unspecified anxiety disorder

Each of these comes with certain criteria that help mental health and medical professionals determine what diagnosis may be appropriate when someone presents with symptoms of either. Professionals who treat these types of disorders must determine the best path toward treatment. Having the correct diagnosis can help clinicians make a research-supported treatment plan to get clients on the path to feeling better.

One criterion that is usually necessary to meet is that whatever the presenting issue is, it must interfere with the ability to function in one or more areas of life, like school, work, or relationships. While anxiety and feelings of depression can be a normal response to certain events and situations, they may be considered a diagnosable illness when they begin to interfere with daily life.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression that are intense, severe, and it seems hard to cope on your own, visit with your medical provider or mental health professional.