Almost everyone knows about the emotional symptoms of depression, which include hopelessness, helplessness, sadness, despair and loss of interest. However, few people are aware of the physical symptoms of depression. Many people think that because depression is a mental disorder, there are only emotional symptoms that can be associated with it. This assumption is absolutely wrong. There are many physical signs of depression which are ignored by patients and sometimes overlooked by doctors alike. It is important to be aware of the physical symptoms of depression so that people who suffer from a depressive disorder can be diagnosed and get the right treatment at the right time.
- Pains: headaches, back and chest pain
Muscle aches, chest and back pain, joint pain are all physical signs of depression. The problem is that all these pains are often mistaken as symptoms of other diseases. For example, the pain in the muscular system is mistaken for symptoms of flu; the pain in the joints is mistaken for arthritis.
If the patient is already suffering from back pain, the back pain may be aggravated with depression, and the patient may also experience pain in the neck and shoulders along with pain in the back. Pain in the chest may be severe for patients with severe depression. If a patient suffering from depression has chest pain, it should not be ignored. It could also be due to heart problems, and if it is not treated at the right time it can become fatal. If the pain is due to depression, the pain will not go away even if the patient takes pain killers.
Stress always leads to headaches. People suffering from depression get severe headaches. If the patient has a history of migraines, he may get more severe attacks of migraine and the migraines may also can be more frequent.
- Digestive problems
Patients suffering from depression may experience problems in their digestive system, such as chronic constipation, diarrhea, gas problem, stomach cramping, queasiness and nausea. Studies have shown that up to 60% of people who suffer from IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) also suffer from anxiety and depression.
- Eating disorders
Research has shown that over weight can be linked with physical symptoms of depression and anxiety, both in women and in men. Some patients have a craving for food and some have a lack of appetite. Those who have a loss of appetite neglect food, which leads to a weight loss. Those who feel hungrier eat a lot of food and they eat frequently, too. This leads to weight gain and may result in overweight or obesity.
- Sleep disorders
Just like appetite, some patients feel over sleepy, which is called hypersomnia, and some patients experience difficulty to sleep, which is called insomnia. The patients suffering from insomnia fall asleep late at night, are awake early in the morning and can’t get back to sleep. The lack of sleep can worsen their depression. Those who have hypersomnia will sleep too much, and around 15% of people with depression actually sleep too much.
- Tiredness
Patients suffering from depression feel exhausted and tired. They experience low energy levels, even to perform their day to day activities. They have difficulty getting up in the morning, and they are physically inactive and totally drained. Patients who feel tired are slow in all their activities and are sluggish in their movements.
- Restlessness
In contrast to the above symptoms some patients feel keyed up and hyperactive. They may feel restless all the time and they find it difficult to sit in the same place. This is due to a lack of concentration resulting from depression.
- Blurred vision
This is the result of general muscular weakness.
- Dizziness and lightheadedness
Patients suffering from depression may feel dizzy and lightheaded. They feel as if they were floating. For most patients, the major reason for this is a lack of sleep and a lack of food. Some patients may also experience fainting spells. Palpitations and difficulty in breathing may also be experienced by some depressed people.
A person who suffers from depression may have one or more of the above physical symptoms along with emotional symptoms of depression. If any of these symptoms are noted, the person should visit his doctor and also look for a good depression treatment program. The right treatment given at the right time can definitely help treating depression faster and get rid of the physical symptoms associated.
References
Melissa Breyer – 9 Physical Symptoms of Depression
Emedicinehealth – Depression, Anxiety, and Physical Health Problems
