Depression vs. Anxiety

Although no one knows exactly why, a great number of people who experience depression also experience anxiety. In one study, 85 percent of those with major depression were also diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder while 35 percent had symptoms of a panic disorder. Other anxiety disorders include obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Because they so often go hand in hand, anxiety and depression are considered the fraternal twins of mood disorders.

Sometimes depression creeps up on you. For example, you may find yourself in the midst of depression after experiencing extreme terror or dread which are symptoms of anxiety.

Then there's the situation where you live with constant stress. Depression is also the result of living with anxiety for years and getting no help or treatment to alleviate the anxiety.

Even more than the depression, it was my anxiety and agitation that became the defining symptoms of my illness. Like epileptic seizures, a series of frenzied anxiety attacks would descend upon me without warning. My body was possessed by a chaotic, demonic force which led to my shaking, pacing and violently hitting myself across the chest or in the head. This self-flagellation seemed to provide a physical outlet for my invisible torment, as if I were letting steam out of a pressure cooker.
Doug Block

Being both anxious and depressed is a tremendous challenge. Clinicians have observed that when anxiety occurs in conjunction with depression, the symptoms of both the depression and anxiety are more severe compared to when those disorders occur independently. Moreover, the symptoms of the depression take longer to resolve, making the illness more chronic and more resistant to treatment. Finally, depression exacerbated by anxiety has a much higher suicide rate than depression alone. (In one study, 92 percent of depressed patients who had attempted suicide were also plagued by severe anxiety.*) Like alcohol and barbiturates, depression and anxiety are a deadly combination when taken together.

Does Lorazepam or Ativan Cause Weight Gain? People who are experiencing an anxiety disorder or depression will need a medication to help them feel better. Ativan is one medication that helps a great many people. Several side effects are possible with Lorazepam, but weight gain does not appear to be one of them.

Lorazepam in veterinary use Ativan belongs to the same class of drugs as Valium and Xanax. It's a sedative. Ativan can be given to dogs but needs to be given under a vets supervision.