"I didn't know if I was anxious because I was depressed or I was depressed because I felt nervous all the time. I couldn't sleep, I worried constantly and had an overwhelming feeling of sadness that wouldn't go away. Anxiety depression symptoms were affecting my job performance and my family couldn't understand why I felt the way I did."

"Finally my wife convinced me to talk to our doctor and he told me that anxiety with depression is a very common problem. He prescribed medication and therapy and now I feel like a new man. I wish I had sought help years ago."

Depression is one of the most common secondary conditions associated with anxiety disorder. Surveys show that 60 to 70 percent of those diagnosed with depression also have anxiety. And half of the people diagnosed with anxiety have significant symptoms of depression. Sometimes the resulting depression becomes the primary diagnosis, so that the underlying anxiety disorder either goes untreated or unrecognized.

It makes sense that severe anxiety can lead to depression. If your mind is crippled by fear you are not likely to be happy or have positive thoughts.

Depression hurts us on all levels; physically, it can cause headaches, insomnia, ulcers, and acid reflux disease, just to name a few. Depression can also cause heart conditions and even brain dysfunction.

On an emotional level, depression hurts us because we no longer find a joy in our lives, or can not release the guilt of the past. This depression in the form of regret and guilt can leave us feeling paralyzed, hopeless, and unable to cope with the prospect of the future.

Depression hurts our children when we feel like sleeping instead of spending time with them, it hurts our spouse because they don't know what to do for us, and well meaning friends who would be our support tend to shy away, letting us have our space when we really need to talk.

Most people do not know how to deal with depression, and give the erroneous but well meaning advice for us to "get over it," or "pull ourselves out of it." If you've ever had a bout with depression or are feeling it now, you know that it's easier said than done.

If you have feelings of anxiety, depression or fatigue that severely disrupt your daily life or persist for more than few weeks, you should seek medical attention.

If your feelings seem out of proportion to events that caused them or if there is no specific cause, you should seek help.

Severe anxiety and depression are real illnesses, not signs of weakness, and should be treated by a psychiatrist, psychologist or a licensed counselor.

Millions of people have been successfully treated for anxiety depression. Now it's your turn to walk out the fog and into the sunshine.