Depression symptoms can extend beyond your emotions. Chronic pain as well as other physical symptoms might be related to depression.
Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH
Deep sadness and a loss of self-worth are hallmarks of depression symptoms. But the condition can bring about physical symptoms, too.
"While the emotional aspects of depression are central to the experience of this condition, physical aspects are common," says Ian A. Cook, MD, associate professor in residence in the department of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA in Los Angeles and research scientist at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute.
Many people dealing with depression have sleep issues, says Dr. Cook. For some, that means sleeping far too much, while others have insomnia, or trouble falling asleep, at night. Depression can zap your energy, he adds, leaving you feeling exhausted — all of which takes a physical toll.
Another common physical symptom of depression is a change in appetite — either barely picking at your food or, at the other extreme, eating too much and making unhealthy food choices. Digestive problems and painful abdominal cramping are possible depression symptoms, too.
Perhaps the most difficult symptom for someone with depression to manage is pain. You might experience headaches, aches and pains all over your body, or chronic pain that worsens rather than improves. While depression may be at the root of these types of pain, chronic pain can also lead to or worsen depression symptoms. And the more severe the depression, the worse these physical symptoms will feel.
"The volume is turned up on experiences such as back pain or headache," explains Cook. "Some of this likely comes from complex connections between systems in the brain that regulate mood, sleep, energy, appetite, and pain perception."
If you have depression symptoms and don't seek treatment, any existing pain may worsen, adds Cook.
Help for Physical Symptoms of Depression
The first step in feeling better is to recognize the connection between your depression and pain. Unlike sleep problems, indigestion, or pain related to other causes, physical symptoms that are related to depression typically don’t get better with traditional medication. Because these symptoms are linked to depression, depression treatment is needed to resolve them.
"But fortunately, when depression is successfully treated, other treatments for the source of the pain seem to be more effective," says Cook.
If you haven’t been examined for depression and are experiencing pain that doesn’t respond to traditional treatments, initiate a conversation with your doctor about your symptoms and whether depression is a possible cause.
Going to the office visit prepared will help you express yourself to your doctor, says Cook. He suggests filling out a Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), which you can find online atwww.nyc.gov.
“If you find that you circle more than a threshold number of symptoms, you should be professionally evaluated for the possibility of depression, and that evaluation should address the physical, emotional, and cognitive symptoms you may be experiencing,” says Cook. Depression can be caused by other medical conditions as well, such as thyroid disorders. There is usually an effective treatment available, whatever the cause."
Your doctor or mental health professional will outline a course of treatment designed to address both your mental and physical symptoms of depression. Options to manage both depression and pain include medications for depression, therapy, relaxation techniques, biofeedback, and guided imagery.
Reaching out to your doctor and getting treatment for your symptoms can start you on the road to feeling better.
Last Updated: 05/02/2011
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