The hallmark symptoms of clinical depression are no doubt sadness and loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed. Many people also are familiar with appetite and sleep changes.
But there’s a whole set of other physical symptoms that are less known but just as debilitating. In fact, depression can literally hurt. According to a study conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, up to about 76 percent of people who report the typical emotional symptoms also report physical signs, such as stomach problems, headaches, backaches and chest pain.
Depression also is a chameleon. It can look like various other illnesses and conditions, even, for instance, the flu. Which, not surprisingly, makes diagnosing depression tricky, and thereby finding the right treatment a big problem.
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I think I’m currently depressed but I dont suffer from abnormal sleep patterns, appetite, or lost in interests. I consistently find myself crying almost daily, headaches, tongue biting, back ache, and ocassional eye twitches, recently. I understanding anxiety is a part of depression…but can anxiety be diagnosed alone with the symptoms I have?
Hi,
I to suffered nervous symptoms chronicly for many years. I had alot of unfounded fears and anger issues.
The center of all of our distress is the “working up process”. Recovery teaches you how to recognize it and avoid it.
I found much relief with the method from Dr. Low
,now called the Abrahamlowselfhelpsysytem.org
I ve involved since 1994 and have a meeting every week.
I gave up on Recovery inc. once and it cost me dearly.It will never let you down if you practice it.
Hi dear,
Its very nice that you recognized your symptoms.
Its true that being depressed includes anxiety automatically but anxiety will definitely lead to depression, is not necessary. The symptoms you have can be diagnosed as only anxiety also. When the body has a full time to rest but the mind does not get time to rest or it does not take rest… the situation occurs as you are feeling now…. so don’t be worry just relax and try to go either for an amazing outing or start doing physical excercises and sweat out badly…. it will definitely help you.
All the best….:-)
Hi Jeslka. You should see your doctor to discuss your symptoms. Crying as you’ve described is a sign of depression. Your body sends various signals about your emotional state. It is best not to self-diagnose. Take care.
my symptoms include:sadness, hopelessness,fear,anger,nervousness,persistant unwanted thoughts,all over body pain,night sweats,cheast pain. doctor recently switched me from prozac to effecter
been on prozac for 2 mos, longer if you count the times i have stopped and started, doesnt seem to be working that well, on other meds too..
Medication alone usually isn’t enough to make you feel better. Don’t forget that side effects can develop as your body adjusts. Many of these medications take 2-4 weeks to take effect. You shouldn’t just stop taking the prescription. There is a way to taper off by reducing the dosage. You should consult your doctor about symptoms that you get when on the medication. Other types of therapy are usually recommended along with any anti-depressant.
“Many” patients simply don’t disclose emotional symptoms to their doctors, either because they gloss over them or because of the “stigma.” Margarita Tartakovsky
The qualifier “many” excuses many statements. The crux of this claim is, however, not the “many,” that is an abstraction, but the author, concretely.
How she came to believe and promulgate this belief is of great interest to me. My hope is she will communicate with me that we can together trace those sources.
Harold A. Maio, retired Mental Health Editor
khmaio@earthlink.net
Cerice, got a little known secret. The drugs are “snake oil”, a magic trick at best. They work by reducing your Super Ego’s annoying influence on your Ego and letting your Id have it’s way. I am nobody, and my advice is only worth .02. But I would say, get off the drugs and find a therapist who is willing to take you down that hard road, determine you pathology (what caused you to be unable to choose happiness), and retrain (or train) you to be happy.
Margarita, the world as we know it is an illusion of our perception. Our mind will recreate symptoms that caused us pleasure. In a culture where parents are overly distracted and detached from their children, many developed pleasure responses from painful or sickly experiences. On a completely subconscious level sometimes, the mind recreates those “feelings” in order to achieve the attention they desire. Fear responses (sleeplessness, pain, sickness) precede depression. I believe those that describe fear as the “alert” before the hopelessness of depression. The idea is the mind tries to make you feel uncomfortable with your condition in order to inspire you to do something different. These symptoms should not be unexpected.
I like what you’re saying and I believe you are right about getting off the medication and feeling your real feelings; not what psychiatrists want you to feel. I’ve never felt better with those medicines. I’ve been naive about what hallucinations are. My therapist said I’m imagining them. Seeking guidance to enter drug rehab is my goal. This hypochondrisis (sp) is draining me and my docs. Thank you for posting.
HQ
Hi Margarita , you have nice explained the symptoms of depression. very difficult to overcome. I am also suffering in depression due to continuously my business down and find out also some process to come out this problem. your article help me lot. I am expecting treatment option for depression.
I have suffered from depression & anxiety for many years. My depression has reached the point of my feeling totally hopeless and absolutely no enjoyment of life. I have all the regular symptoms of depression but I also very often feel very sick with headaches, terrible nausea and feeling so awful that I can’t function. It’s just horrible and it can last anywhere from days to weeks, I can barely stand it anymore. Does anyone else feel sick a lot?
In every situation you have a choice. I’ve been where you are when I was angry over a situation I was going through. Then I decided to give it only so much more time to continue to harm me in a way I probably would find out later (smashed kidneys… dialysis…. anemia…reduced exercise tolerance….heart problems….stress elevated cholesterol….hypertension..and the list goes on and on. I was forgetting how to smile !! Why was I treating me to that, was my thought and how do I learn again to smile…with me first, then with others? I sat down and started to channel my depression energies into writing about my pain, my depressions and my battle. Determined to make some money out of my depression I started focusing on writing a book using my experiences to power the emotions of the depressed character(s) in my book and how I helped these characters to happiness by creating the happy life I wanted them to live in the book. Slowly once again I learned to start smiling again and slowly lifted my depression. Now people are calling on me to address their staff on stress and depression management. It even surprises me how people now come to me for advice and motivation. I don’t know you, but of one thing I am sure. Somewhere deeeeeeeeep within your being is your happy spirit that is tired of being in prison. Wake it up and let it become your daily companion/friend. Find fun in identifying how to smile again and never forget how to do it. When you do that you will take back your power from those energies you have allowed to overtake you and coat you with depression thus preventing you from starting the next minute with a smile. Take it one hour,then one day at a time.
Hi Pamela,
You might find a local group of recovery Inc.in your area. I to felt hopeless and had simular distress as your s.
It wont let you down,trust me.
I have exactly the same problem. I can not function and only leave the house to walk my dogs. I have tried cymbalta and abilify and they helped for awhile but later the abilify made me more sick. I am now off abilify and down to very low dose of cymbalta and feel better but still have some of the problems and moderate deppresion. I am going to a new Pdoc next week so I hope he will be able to help.
My doctor often attributed my symptoms to depression no matter what I complained of. Yes I was depressed and it made her reluctant to doing further tests to see if there was a real physical cause for the symptoms I was experiencing. It turned out that my thyroid was slowing down and I was experiencing symptoms of hypothyroidism. She told me that I probably had it for about year before it was confirmed by blood tests. And you can have sub-clinical symptoms. Hypothyroidism also causes depression. So I guess I had “double” depression.
There has been some work in the area of physical symptoms related to depression/anxiety, but it remains a stepchild. One notable example are the books and the work of John Sarno MD. His books, such as “Mind Over Back Pain”, have helped many. His first approach is to ask,”What is going on in your life?” Then, “Where does it hurt?”
There is still a big separation in connecting the mind and the body, unfortunately.
How about depression related to physical symptoms? My husband had mono but was misdiagnosed as depressed. He was told to walk more and given Prozac. He halluncinated all night, and the hiking could have killed him – destroyed his liver which was fighting Epstein Barr virus.
I got very sick with low grade fevers, brain fog, enlarged lymph nodes and extreme exhaustion. At that point in my life I was completely happy, successful, good husband, good job, great kids. Turns out I had gotten bit by a tick and developed Lyme disease. But the rheumatologist missed the diagnosis, decided I had clinical depression and gave me Paxil. I was up all night with frozen muscles, terrified I would stop breathing. It wore off, thank goodness, in twelve hours.
Unfortunately, it took a couple more years before the Lyme disease was diagnosed and treated. At this point I may have only a slight chance of total recovery due to a misdiagnosis and no treatment.
But I am not depressed. I continue to be happy, married, successful, proud of my grown sons and always focused on what today will bring – joy.
Please consider how you would feel if you got some weird disease with fevers, total exhaustion, confusion and inability to do anything but lay on a couch all day. Raising serotonin levels will not fix this.
The original post was about depression and pain. I’m not sure if one could call years of exhaustion and frequent, sometimes weeks long mild headaches, soldering through all that could be called “pain” but those was my primary symptoms. (as far as depression. I have bipolar disorder, but suffer much more depression than mania) I functioned through all of this, and did it well, despite the headaches and exhaustion.
In any case, I mostly wanted to point out that smiling and trying to just “snap out of it,” as other posters who seemed to allude to didn’t, and doesn’t work for depression any more than it would work for other serious mental illnesses Nether does getting off of all of those bad drugs, unless, of course, one has been miss diagnosed. It only made me feel guilty and ashamed that I could not climb my way out of the abyss. Smiling might help some people, ( and I practiced it a lot in my profession) but it is not a first line treatment for major depression. One needs to start with getting an accurate diagnosis. physical Physical problems, often coexist with depression, and almost always make the depressive symptoms worse.
I’ve had depression (and mania, but that’s off topic) since I was twelve, and was finally diagnosed at 45. Before my diagnosis I read reams of self-help books, consulted with doctors and had various tests to rule out physical problems. I talked with a number of (very kind and well meaning) religious people of various flavors, and NOTHING helped until I was diagnosed and properly medicated. Medications + therapy have changed a life that I had very nearly destroyed.
I expect that I will need medications for the rest of my life, which is fine with me. Sanity is good. I now have the energy, hope and the motivation to enjoy my life. It means something now. And, since the original topic was about depression and pain, I can happily add that I very seldom suffer from headaches or depression.
I forgot to mention that I’m very sorry for those who have been missed diagnosed and ended up being prescribed medications that were not only unnecessary, but could also caused unwanted side effects. These are a waste of money and time when a physical problem is the root cause of the depression.
It is VERY important to advocate for yourself. If a physician does not take your pain symptoms or your depression seriously, or if an antidepressant or other medication does not work, (it takes 4-6 weeks to know, so you need to give it a chance unless you have side effects that are intolerable.) it may well be the wrong antidepressant. There are many to chose from. In my case, Wellbutrin combined with Lamictal works for the depressive part of my illness. It’s different for everyone.
If you are in pain, it may or may not have anything to do with depression, as some have mentioned above. It’s a good idea, if you can afford it, to get a second opinion.
If you have depression that causes pain, and physical issues are ruled out, (This is where you MUST advocate for yourself, I suggest that you make an appointment with a psychologist or a psychiatrist.
Please forgive any typos. I need new glasses and can’t afford them due to the horrible economy that caused my husband and I to lose our jobs.
Fortunately, many drug companies will provide free or less expensive medications if you qualify. Also, depending on where you live, there may be free or sliding scale clinics where you may be able to get a diagnosis and prescribe medications. (not just psychiatric ones.)
I hope that this, and my earlier comment has been helpful for those of you who are in so much pain. I wish you all the best.
I happened to read a very interesting book called the “Second Brain” by Michael Gershon, he is a neuroenterologist. He proposes (and I believe) that many ills (physical and psychological are caused by gut dysfunction). Especially depression.
Read the book, I’m not usually one to read a lot of non-fiction type stuff, but I had this read in a couple of days, never thought guts could be so exciting. LOL
Namaste
Some of us, however, get so set in beliefs that our depression, or some s psychological reason, is responsible for all symptoms that we dismiss the possibility of other medical problems. E.g.I once dragged myself to the Dr totally exhausted, assuming it was depression-related- and found I had Lymes Disease. And of course, when you are depressed, physical irritations and hurts hit you harder – even allergies seem much worse to me. So – heed your body’s feedback; also ask for help
Just read Paula Carnes comment, missed before,which had already mentioned Lymes as a potential imposter/cause/cohort for depression. Like her husband, a long time ago I also had a bout with mono. Luckily, I had some strep-like symptoms which sent me to the Dr. and was diagnosed. It isn’t exactly treatable – but it helped a lot to know that my difficulties had a cause, and to allow me to allow myself to rest. I get worried for those of us who, in a way,are so sophisticated about psychiatry that we minimize other potential sources of illness.
Does anyone know if tinnitus is a symptom of depression? Anyone find that their tinnitus lessened when they took antidepressants or got therapy?
Effexor has saved my life! I’m clinically depressed as a result of a TBI and in my darkest pit, was suicidal. My amazing neuropsychiatrist who specializes in working with TBIs, put me on Effexor 3 years ago and I’m alive and well. I still “FEEL” my pains and anxieties, but it allows me to handle them much better rather than sinking into the darkness and dispair. I wouldn’t be alive without it. It’s good to be alive.
Congratulations to those of you who find drugs helpful in their quest for relief of depression. Most drugs have made me feel mentally and physically worse. Having a good therapist to work with on an as needed basis is all that has helped.Most of the drugs mess up your mind and change your personality, and not for the better. I have become sKeptical of all the Psych Pharm companies and the billions of $ they make off us fools.
I had a lot of physical pain with my depression. At first I thought I was imagining it, but it continued to get worse. I had aches and pains that would not go away with Advil. My whole body hurt. I finally told my psychiatrist and he said that what I am feeling is real and normal. He prescribed Nortriptyline which really worked but I packed on the pounds. Now I take Desipramine which works but does not cause the same amount of weight gain. I still have pain, but nothing like before. It is easier for me to get up in the morning. I have learned that if I don’t feel well that it’s not just in my mind and that I should speak up. But for so many years I thought everything was psychosomatic because that is what my GP kept telling me.
I have been working on healing my depression/anxiety/anger issues now for nearly 1 1/2 years. I was doing very well I was exercising, meditating and I lost 34 pounds and I felt like there was hope in my life again. Then I got rear ended in a traffic mishap. It was all downhill again. Iweek later I started to feel crummy, then I started “falling” I fell and sprained my ankle 4 times, hurt my knee twice, developed shin splints right before all the falls, and ankle bursitis, needless to say, I couldn’t focus to meditate and the knee and ankle sprains have kept me from working out. So I gained back 20 pounds but I have not lost hope, I am disappointed in myself and I have to start over. I have been having some great meditations of late, but something is keeping me from working out, fear of injury? So my anxiety level is up a and feeling bummed, but I have to get back on track. i can’t let this beat me up.
I was diagnosed for at least a dozen years with depression, due to fatigue, fluish feelings, twitching of eyelids from time to time that caused me to see an eye dr.
Turns out years later, it was all really Multiple Sclerosis.
I believe my misdiagnosis was at least due in part to gnder bias. For many many years, 30s-40s i visited many med professionals, and left with prozac and xanax.
Don’t overlook the “Medicare billing effect”. I can’t–O mean I have been explicitly forbidden to–talk to my doctor about psychological problems if I have made an appointment for a physical matter–or vice-versa. If, say, I have an appointment for a diabetic quarterly exam, I cannot mention that I depression symptoms may have worsened in the past few weeks–that complicates the billing procedure, which at the clinic I go to (the only place around that takes Medicare/Medicaid) requires a separate appointment for each bit of body/mind.