Two Common Disorders, One Overlap
Depression and anxiety often affect people at the same time. Recent analysis of more than 375 studies, which covered over 347,000 people worldwide, found that about 40% of adults with chronic pain have both depression and anxiety. This rate is much higher than what is seen in the rest of the population or among those who only have one of these conditions.
Women, younger adults, and people with fibromyalgia have the highest rates of co-occurring depression and anxiety. For example, in the United States, national surveys show about 12 million adults, or nearly 5% of all adults, have both depression and anxiety as well as chronic pain. Among those living with chronic pain, 20% to 40% report symptoms of both mental health concerns.
Having both depression and anxiety is linked most strongly to chronic pain. People with chronic pain are five times as likely to have both conditions compared to those without pain. In these cases, half of people with chronic pain report ongoing symptoms of depression or anxiety. Outside of chronic pain, about 4% of adults deal with symptoms of either depression or anxiety without pain, while chronic pain alone without these mental symptoms occurs in about 16% of adults.
Symptoms That Cross Over
Both depression and anxiety have overlapping effects on the body and mind. Shared symptoms include disturbed sleep, poor focus, fatigue, and irritability. Each condition also shows its own patterns. Anxiety often includes feeling tense, restlessness, worrying, and sometimes physical symptoms, such as a racing heart or sweating. In depression, people feel low, hopeless, and lose interest in normal activities.
When a person has both, daily function is more likely to be reduced. Completing household chores, going to work, and being active socially can all become difficult. More health care use, greater absenteeism, and trouble in relationships are more common when both conditions are present than when only one is present.
Products, Remedies, and Self-Management Choices
People with both depression and anxiety often try a range of self-management options, especially when facing delays in clinical treatment access. Popular choices include herbal teas, over-the-counter sleep aids, guided meditation audio, and delta 8 thc gummies. Other common items are aromatherapy oils, adaptive lighting, and physical activity tools such as resistance bands.
Some find regular journaling, meal planning kits, weighted blankets, and certain supplements helpful in regulating mood or sleep. Products like blue-light reduction glasses or noise-cancelling headphones are also used to control sensory input that may worsen symptoms.
High-Risk Groups and Common Triggers
Certain groups face much higher odds of having both depression and anxiety at the same time. The strongest links come with chronic pain, especially for people with fibromyalgia. Women and younger people also face higher rates. Other factors that increase risk include trauma history, poor access to steady work or health care, and lack of strong social ties.
Global events also play a role. The COVID-19 pandemic led to more people reporting depression and anxiety, especially among younger people. Economic instability has a similar effect, with events such as job loss or sudden drops in household income leading to spikes in mental distress.
Getting Help: Where Gaps Remain
Most people with depression and anxiety do not receive care designed for both conditions at once. Many pain clinics and mental health centers still focus on treating one issue at a time. Studies show that early detection, such as screening for depression and anxiety in doctors’ offices or pain clinics, could make treatment more successful, but such practices are not used everywhere.
Effective treatment for people with both conditions includes a mix of medication, counseling, pain management, and social support. These approaches work best together but are out of reach for many, often because of a shortage of trained providers or insurance coverage barriers.
Functional Impacts in Daily Life
The combination of depression and anxiety leads to more problems in everyday activities than either condition causes alone. People often miss work more frequently, have higher rates of disability claims, and may find it hard to keep up relationships or social activities. Symptoms compound each other, which means simple daily tasks or decisions can feel more difficult or take longer.
Policy and Clinical Solutions
Recent studies recommend several options for health systems and governments:
- Routine mental health screening in any setting that treats chronic pain or general health issues.
- Easier access to care that brings medical and mental health treatment together.
- Funding for research focused on people with both mental and physical health needs, such as those with long-lasting pain or young adults with mental health symptoms.
- Policy steps to lower barriers for getting mental health care and greater support for job accommodations.
Some studies call for trying new approaches, such as using telehealth, new therapies, or technology-based supports, especially in places with fewer mental health clinicians.
Reviewing the Evidence
The strongest data about the link between depression and anxiety come from very large review and survey projects. For example, studies published by Johns Hopkins Medicine, JAMA Network Open, and the US National Institutes of Health use strict review methods and validated surveys. These studies are widely used by other researchers and doctors, and their findings are considered reliable.
Sources show that having both depression and anxiety is especially common among people facing ongoing pain, women, and younger people. Each of these groups benefits from better access to combined care.
What Causes Co-Occurrence
Chronic pain is the biggest known risk for having both depression and anxiety at once. Physical discomfort, lack of sleep, and constant health worries add stress and make coping much harder. Genetics, early life trauma, ongoing stress, and lack of strong social support also play a part.
Many people with either depression or anxiety develop symptoms of the other over time. The two conditions often increase each other’s intensity, making daily life harder. This is why some experts now recommend treating symptoms of both disorders, even if only one diagnosis is given at first.
Takeaway Based on Current Evidence
Most of the latest evidence confirms that depression and anxiety can and do happen together, and are especially linked among people with chronic pain, younger adults, and women. People with both conditions face extra burdens in daily function, work, and overall wellness. Integrated care, early detection, and better access to services can improve quality of life and health outcomes.