9 Physical Symptoms of Depression

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/9-physical-symptoms-of-depression.html

posted by Melissa Breyer May 5, 2009 3:00 pm

filed under: General Health, Health & Wellness, Healthy Mind, depression, pain, physical symptoms

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By Melissa Breyer, Senior Editor, Healthy & Green Living

There are obvious signs of depression, like feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and anxiety–but depression can also cause unexplained physical symptoms. Physical pain and depression are closely related. Simply put, pain can be depressing, and depression causes and intensifies pain. Some research shows that pain and depression share common pathways in the limbic (emotional) region of the brain. In fact, the same chemical messengers control pain and mood. According to an article published by the Harvard Medical School, people with chronic pain have three times the average risk of developing psychiatric symptoms–usually mood or anxiety disorders–and depressed patients have three times the average risk of developing chronic pain.

Many people suffering from depression never get help because they don’t realize that pain may be a symptom of depression. The importance of understanding the physical symptoms of depression is that treating depression can help with the pain–and treating pain can help with depression.

Next: Headaches

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20 comments add your comment

Vural K. says
Jun 14, 2009 10:45 AM

thanks...
Kabin
Konteyner

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Nicholas E. says
May 10, 2009 11:42 PM

Hello,

If anyone is interested, the Sedona Method may be worth a try. It is very simple. The method has been validated by Harvard. http://sedona.com/html/Scientific-Evidence.aspx

The book can be found here at a low price:
http://www.amazon.com/Sedona-Method-Happiness-Emotional-Well-Being/dp/0971933413

Best wishes,

Nick

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Lorraine S. says
May 8, 2009 3:07 PM

Depression is a little like your own personal rain cloud. It follows you around, blocking your view of the light (physical and maybe spiritual too) and every now and then it rains on you. I've had the "pull yourself together brigade" on my case before and it just made me want to yell. Hello!! If it was that easy, I would have done it already!!! DUH!!!

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Amy T. says
May 8, 2009 9:27 AM

One of the things about people who are depressed is that they CAN'T see the light at the end of the tunnel. They CAN'T believe that everything will turn out okay. They CAN'T take deep breaths to relax. The most immediate and effective solutions to caring for depression is a combination of both talk therapy and taking anti-depressants. Anti-depressants alone are more effective than talk therapy alone. Together they work very well. The pills don't have to be taken forever, just a short series of them is recommended for people who are reluctant to start.

Part of becoming an enlightened person is to exist in this world - seeing it as it is - and accepting it for that. This is different than talking about how evil the world is and being angry and hateful about it. It is as it is, good/bad are always going to be a part of the mix. We can't do anything to stop that. We are only in control of ourselves and how we effect the world.

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Amy T. says
May 8, 2009 9:10 AM

Chuck, I think your student is also having headaches due to hormonal fluctuations. The headaches can be a part of the postpartum issues that many women face. Your student also needs to not worry about catching up right now and spend as much time as possible enjoying the new life she is sharing. It is really hard but will help her a lot.

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Mary Mcmahon says
May 7, 2009 11:01 AM

I agree with Lu J - our capitalist world is eating us alive and everything with it. When money is god, we the people, the animals, the earth are in big trouble. Why shouldn't sensitive people be depressed? Taking more drugs is not going to solve the deep systemic problem plaguing life today. We need a culture of beauty and truth to help us along the way. And, yes, this new format is rather irritating. Thanks, Lu J for your wise words.

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Michele S. says
May 6, 2009 10:40 AM

I agree. This article is in desperate need of bullet points. Clicking on page after page is the equivilant of too many jump pages in a newspaper. The ultimate result: good information remains unread.

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Michele S. says
May 6, 2009 10:40 AM

I agree. This article is in desperate need of bullet points. Clicking on page after page is the equivilant of too many jump pages in a newspaper. The ultimate result: good information remains unread.

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sharon f. says
May 6, 2009 10:29 AM

I agree. This format is too cumbersome to keep clicking on, loading a new page, etc. I'm giving up on page 4.

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Lu J. says
May 6, 2009 10:09 AM

1. this new formatting is really annoying. Please return to the previous style that provided more content on one page and required less next page clicking to load.

2.I agree that citing specific studies and possibly providing links would be very much appreciated. It's important to be able to question things like who funded the study and why, how variables were controlled, how the conclusion was reached, what the limitations of the study were, what was the purpose for doing the study...

With that said, there is a lot going on in the world that would seem to make sadness or lack of wellness an appropriate response. For instance: pressures of living in a capitalist system that prioritizes profits over the well-being of people, the trashing of our environment, an undermining media that encourages dissatisfaction with our own bodies, toxins in foods and products, war, water shortages, chronic illness resulting from poverty...I'm concerned that this overly general style of writing without links to sources might further encourage the quick medicating with anti-depressants of symptoms that might have more to do with either other conditions, the aging process or simply having a social consciousness in a context that rewards busyness and production in the name of consumerism.

I understand that the symptoms of depression are many, varied and vague. However, this article reminds of the cliche of looking up symptoms on google for anything from a cold to dementia and finding th

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