I am a 46 year old male.  I have suffered from TMJ pain since I was a teenager.  This problem severely altered the course of my life and caused periods of great depression that led medical doctors to prescribe me anti-deppressants.  In my view anti-depressants are not only unuseful in treating depression caused from TMJ disorder but they can also be very harmful to the process of recovery.  I know this from experience.

Based on my own experience, depression from TMJ disorder is caused by four things.  1) Pain that is dull and aching, and seems to permeate through your ears and surround your head, 2) Repeated years of seeing doctors and dentists who said they could do nothing to help you--or said they could--and did things like grind your teeth  or make a splint that did nothing but worsen your condition.  The third... 3) cause of depression is losing your ability to eat the foods you want and need to eat. I believe this gradual process of losing your ability to choose leads to depression.  I also believe that sufferers of TMJ who have to change their diet suffer from certain forms of malnutrition do the limitations of foods thay are "able to eat".  And I beleive the last cause of depression from TMJ Pain is this: 4) People who have nagging pain that becomes acute when they eat, chew, laugh, cry or simply become animated in their facial expressions when conversing with others, tend to gradually disassociate themselves from situations that require personal interaction.  This disassociation from leads directly to depression. Peole with TMJD disassociate themselves from their lives because doing many things are normal to most cause intense pain in the TMJ patient--things such as having dinner with friends, attending any event where food is served or conversations will be had, dong physical work that stresses neck or facial muscles--(like wrenching on a car or performing tasks at work that require some sort of physical reaction by the muscles above your shoulders--Mental stress will even be a cause as this leads one to contract those mucles above the shoulders for long periods of time).  Even something as simple as having sex with your partner can lead to serious pain.

Yes, there are many causes of depression in those who suffer from TMJD, but anti-depressants are not the answer.  The answer lies in improvement of the quality of life for the paitent.  If you suffer from TMJD the first thing you need to do is talk to people who understand and know the pain.  then find a great doctor. And do whatever you can to maintain a balanced diet. Lastly, do not allow your pain to limit or cease your social interactions.  Keep connected---and most importantly, tell people what you are going through--and make them understand--people who do not understand will eventually disconnect themselves and isolation leads to nothing but misery.

If you have pain from TMJ Disorder know that there is at least one person in tis world who understands and will support you.  But take control of your life and realize that when you see a doctor that you are paying him-or her--and "you" are the one who should be doing the interviewing.  Find out if they actually know what they are talking about.

My problem is now being cured thanks to an oral surgeon who determined the correct position of my jaw (in relation to my madible) and then fitted me with a "bottom-splint".  I wore the splint for a few years and then he referred me to an orthodontist who is now moving my teeth to mimic the effect of the successful splint.  After thirty years of worsening pain I can now say that I have been pain-free for nearly a year.

The splint and the orthodontics are considered to be Non-reversible procedures.  But in my case they worked.  Yes, I had several dentists who made splints for me that only worsened my condition, but I was fortuante enough that I finally found an oral surgeon who knew what the hell he was doing.  I owe him my life.

So, make sure you interview your doctors.  Find out the depth of their knowledge.

Joseph Neuville