Anxiety and Depression

Let's start by defining the two terms so that we have a common foundation for what follows. 

Anxiety : Inquiétude pénible, tension nerveuse, causée par l’incertitude, l’attente ; angoisse. (Dictionnaire Larousse, 2026)

Depression : État pathologique marqué par une tristesse avec douleur morale, une perte de l’estime de soi, un ralentissement psychomoteur (Dictionnaire Larousse, 2026)

In terms of anxiety, the definition above is clear and straightforward, whereas the one for depression seems very technical to me. In and of itself, a depressive state is often characterized by a significant loss of motivation, deep sadness, and various cognitive challenges (loss of concentration, memory loss, etc.), as well as a neglect of basic needs and personal hygiene. 

Let's talk anxiety 

Did you know that anxiety is, at its core, necessary for our survival—both on an individual level and for the human species as a whole? You’ve surely heard of the following reactions to an anxiety trigger:Fight, freeze, flight and with time, researchers have added fawn. 

Imagine, for a moment, that you're hiking in the woods when you come face to face with a bear:

• Fight : Since you can scare a bear away by making yourself look bigger than it, you take your coat and hold it above your head to make yourself look taller and more imposing. 
• Freeze : Without thinking, you freeze in place, unable to move. Overcome by a feeling of intense fear, you can’t think of anything else in that moment. 
• Flight: You run away to put some distance between yourself and the danger. 
• Fawn :  In a soft, low voice, you say to the bear: “I’m not a threat; I mean you no harm.” 

There is one aspect of anxiety that is very subjective, namely the perception of danger: one person might freeze at the sight of a spider in their home, while another might pick it up with their hands to move it elsewhere, for example. 

To help illustrate this, consider, for example, the fact that you breathe without having to think about it, or that you blink automatically. Now, when faced with a perceived danger, we fall back on automatic mechanisms similar to these in order to survive that danger, exhibiting reactions such as those described above.

When we experience an event that affects us in this way, our brain tends to record certain aspects of the event in the hope of preventing a similar situation in the future. Taking the spider as an example, if it happened in the basement, I might be more vigilant every time I go down there to make sure there aren’t any—and this could last for a period of time that varies from person to person. 

We talk about anxiety problems when a coping strategy (avoiding the trigger, using substances to counteract the fear response, etc.) becomes dysfunctional (I develop a substance use problem; avoidance causes me to isolate myself or prevents me from thriving).

Let's talk depression

A person may develop a depression-related problem (diagnoses can vary) when, for example, they try to cope with anxiety but are unable to do so. They feel helpless in the face of their problem and give up trying. 

Another person may be experiencing personal grief, such as the loss of a parent, and is having a hard time coming to terms with it. The person is overcome with sadness, has difficulty functioning on a daily basis, and it begins to affect various areas of their life (work, school, social activities, etc.). This issue includes various symptoms, such as changes in appetite, for example, or intense fatigue that persists over time. 

However, we must be cautious about hasty diagnoses—especially self-diagnoses—which seem to be increasingly common due to the access to information made possible by the advent of the internet. A person who is grieving may experience a depressive episode without it being a cause for concern. This person may have difficulty adjusting following the loss of a parent but is able to find a new normal—a new balance in life—with or without professional help. 

A person who is experiencing depression often feels despair, and this can sometimes even lead to having suicidal thoughts. This may also be due to the fact that she is no longer able to feel pleasure, isolates herself, loses her job, her home, etc. She may also develop substance use problems as a way to calm herself, which is commonly referred to as self-medication. Coping strategies become increasingly unhealthy for the person because they feel they have exhausted all healthy options. It is essential to consult a healthcare professional when you find yourself in such a state.

Why consult a health professional? 

First and foremost, counseling allows you to share your experience with someone who won’t judge you but, on the contrary, will be able to offer you the listening ear you so desperately need. If you see a doctor or certain nurse practitioners trained in mental health, they may suggest medications and explain their benefits and side effects, but the choice is ultimately yours. In addition, they may refer you to a professional, such as the GMF’s social work team (if one is available), or to free or paid resources for psychological support. 

You can read the following blog post for an explanation of the various professionals who can help you overcome these challenges here