The effects of anxiety and depression include persistent worry, sadness, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating that interfere with daily life.

Symptoms of anxiety and depression can be normal responses to stress. Life is full of stressors (from school to work to relationships) that can negatively affect your mental health. However, when anxiety and depression become unmanageable, you may be experiencing a mental health condition.

Both illnesses are common. It’s estimated that 40 million U.S. adults struggle with anxiety and 7.1% of U.S. adults struggle with depression.

Still, just because they’re common doesn’t mean they should be normalized. Throughout this article, we’ll explore the effects of anxiety and depression.

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Key Highlights

• Brain and body impact – Anxiety and depression cause measurable physical changes, including an 8-10% reduction in hippocampal volume that affects memory and emotional control, plus physical symptoms like heart palpitations, fatigue, digestive problems, and increased cardiovascular disease risk.

• Rising prevalence – Depression now affects 18.3% of Americans (47.8 million people), with 37% of college students experiencing moderate-to-severe depression and 32% experiencing moderate-to-severe anxiety (rates that remain elevated following the COVID-19 pandemic).

• Treatment advances and side effects – New FDA-approved medications like Exxua (2023) and Zuranolone (2024) offer alternatives with fewer sexual side effects, though antidepressants commonly cause side effects, including drowsiness (59%), memory impairment (51%), and weight gain (45%), making it important to work closely with healthcare providers.

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Table of Contents

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What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a sense of worry, nervousness, or unease about an upcoming event or uncertain situation. ¹ For example, if you have a social anxiety disorder, you’ll feel concerned about social events, usually out of fear of embarrassing yourself.

Anxiety can be a normal emotion. For example, you may feel nervous before a test, interview, or presentation. However, if your anxiety levels prevent you from completing tasks you’d like to accomplish, this is considered an illness.

There are different types of anxiety, including:

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Panic disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Social anxiety disorder

Each type of anxiety has a unique set of symptoms and requires different treatment plans. It may help to research these differences to identify where you struggle.

What is Depression?

It’s estimated that three million Americans are diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression. ² Depression cases have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among children and adolescents. ³

Depression is a serious mental health condition characterized by persistent low mood and loss of interest in activities. ⁴ It changes how you feel, think, and handle daily responsibilities like eating and sleeping.

Furthermore, it can have negative consequences on your day-to-day life. Depression symptoms can also develop into other mental health conditions, such as suicidal ideation. ⁵

There are several different types of depression, including:

• Major depression
• Manic-depressive disorder (bipolar disorder)
• Persistent Depression
• Post-partum depression (perinatal depression)
• Premenstrual depression
• Seasonal affective disorder (seasonal depression)

Each type of depression comes with its own set of symptoms and requires unique treatment. Therefore, it’s in your interest to identify which type of depression you struggle with.

What are the Effects of Anxiety and Depression?

The effects of anxiety and depression can vary significantly depending on severity and whether you experience both conditions simultaneously. These disorders change how your brain and body function and how you adapt to daily challenges.

Since anxiety and depression affect everyone differently, your experience will be unique. Here are the primary ways these conditions can impact you:

Effects on the Brain

The most notable changes in depression and anxiety occur in the brain. Both conditions physically alter brain function and structure, visible on brain scans like MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging) and CTs (computed tomography). ⁶ ⁷ More specifically:

• Research shows chronic depression causes shrinkage in the hippocampus, with reductions of approximately 8% on the left side and 10% on the right side (a part of the brain critical for learning and memory). ⁸

• Recent 2025 research on adolescents with anxiety found smaller hippocampal volumes associated with anxiety symptoms, demonstrating these changes affect multiple age groups.

• A 2025 study discovered that lowered ATP (adenosine triphosphate) signaling in the hippocampus drives both depression and anxiety-like behaviors, revealing a shared biological pathway between the two conditions.

These brain changes can affect your: ⁹

• Emotional control
• Learning and memory
• Stress response

The longer anxiety and depression continue, the more severe these changes become. It’s essential to seek treatment as soon as possible. Early intervention reduces the chance of permanent brain alterations.

Effects on Physical Health

Mental health disorders can also change how your body functions. When something is wrong in the brain, neurotransmitters send messages to the rest of your body. ¹⁰ This is why anxiety and depression sometimes cause physical symptoms.

Physical symptoms of anxiety include: ¹¹

• Breathing difficulties
• Dizziness and headaches
• Fatigue
• Heart palpitations
• Increased blood pressure
• Muscle aches
• Shaking
• Sweating
• Upset stomach

Depression’s physical symptoms include: ¹²

• Constricted blood vessels
• Fatigue
• Fluctuations in weight (weight loss or weight gain)
• Heightened pain sensitivity
• Increased risk of heart attack
• Lack of interest in sex

Physical symptoms of both conditions can be improved with the right lifestyle changes. Research shows that exercise reduces depression symptoms and is effective both as a primary treatment and when combined with medication or therapy. ¹³ Diets focusing on whole foods (particularly vegetables, fruits, beans, unprocessed grains, nuts, seeds, olive oil, and fish) are associated with positive effects on mental health.

Other Effects of Anxiety and Depression

The effects of anxiety and depression extend beyond individual mental and physical health. They also influence your relationships, academic performance, and major life transitions.

Effects on Relationships

Anxiety and depression don’t just impact you; they affect those around you. Research shows that having more severe depression leads to lower quality positive relationships, which in turn predict more severe anxiety symptoms. ⁸ This creates a cycle where mental health struggles and relationship difficulties reinforce each other.

Depression can make you withdraw emotionally from your partner, creating distance in the relationship. Many loved ones may feel overshadowed by your mental health condition or uncertain about how to help you.

It’s important to communicate openly with loved ones about your condition and how it affects you. If possible, let them know specific ways they can help reduce your symptoms. While not everyone will respond supportively, many people in your life will want to assist you. If you need additional support, social support groups can provide valuable resources.

Effects on Students

Research shows that one-third of all mental disorders begin before age 14, and nearly half begin before age 18. ³ The 2024-2025 Healthy Minds Study of over 84,000 college students found that 37% experience moderate-to-severe depression symptoms and 32% experience moderate-to-severe anxiety symptoms. ¹⁴

While these numbers show improvement from pandemic peaks, they remain significantly elevated.

These conditions can make academic work challenging for students. More importantly, if young people don’t develop effective coping mechanisms early, managing mental health becomes more difficult later in life.

Effects on Pregnancy

Perinatal mental health disorders are the leading complication of childbirth, affecting 1 in 5 U.S. women. ¹⁵ Current research shows that approximately 1 in 7 people experience perinatal depression during pregnancy or within the first year after childbirth.

However, ever, it’s important to recognize that men also experience these conditions. Nearly 1 in 10 new fathers experience depression, with symptoms peaking between three and six months after birth. ¹⁶ Men experience up to a 68% increase in depression symptoms in the first five years of fatherhood.

While men don’t experience the physical changes of pregnancy, they undergo significant lifestyle changes that can trigger symptoms of anxiety and depression.

What are the Effects of Anxiety and Depression Medication?

When you receive treatment for the effects of anxiety and depression, your doctor may prescribe medication to help reduce symptoms. While these medications can be effective, they can also cause unwanted side effects.

The most common medications for these conditions are antidepressants. ¹⁷ ¹⁸ Several new antidepressants were approved in 2023-2024, including Exxua (gepirone), which targets the glutamatergic system and has minimal sexual side effects (a common barrier with traditional antidepressants). Furthermore, Zuranolone (Zurzuvae) was approved in 2024 as the first oral medication specifically designed for postpartum depression.

The most commonly reported side effects of antidepressants are sexual dysfunction, gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, diarrhea, constipation), neuropsychiatric symptoms, and constitutional symptoms. On top of that, a naturalistic study found common side effects included: ²

• Flatulence (64%)
• Drowsiness (59%)
• Memory impairment (51%)
• Decreased concentration (50%)
• Yawning (47%)
• Fatigue (45%)
• Dry mouth (45%)
• Weight gain (45%)
• Light-headedness (43%)
• Sweating (38%)

You may also be offered other medications, especially if you have a dual diagnosis (both anxiety and depression).

Final Word

The effects of anxiety and depression touch various areas of your life, from your physical and mental health to your relationships, academic performance, and major life transitions.

Fortunately, effective treatments exist to reduce symptoms of these conditions. However, it’s important to understand that certain treatment approaches can cause unwanted side effects. Working closely with your healthcare provider helps you find the right balance between symptom relief and managing any side effects that may occur.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

References

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