My Depression Connection Question of the Week!

Dear Merely Me, Ive had to think  hard about this one.  I could write a list of physical symptoms of Depression [not of the Tablets  given to help ie Antidepressants]

the physical symtoms would be -

Nausea and intense churning in the stomach [During a Depressive episode] morning.

IBS  Either running to the loo or being very slowed down and constipated.

A real 'addiction' type gnawing urge [like when I gave up Cigs] for Sweet things.

A feeling of awful heaviness [a sack of potatoes] making every step difficult.

Inability to concentrate [maybe thats more cerebral?]

Exaustion, total utter physical exaustion.

Palpitations, sweating, vertigo,dizziness,

A feeling that every hair on my head is on fire [the roots]

A depression type headache [not like Migraine.

Agitation but felt in the stomach - again as churning,

Bad co ordination leading to breaking delph and dropping things and being  more accident prone.

Inability to feel, to love, to feel joy.  Inability to cry,

Physical sighing [esp in the morning, just sighing, this is very uncomfortable and always is a signal for me that a Dip is on the way.

Waking earlier, sleep disimproving,   Panic attacks. Nightmares [again is this more cerebral?] 

I believe that my physical health has led to my depression and not vice versa in the sense that my allergies are so overwhelming. My body was so weak from fighting this battle that it took a toll on my mental state. Everything suddenly stopped. I tried physical exercise but soon stopped. I couldnt face or even think of dealing with the outside world.

Pat

I'm not aware of any physical issues as a result of ongoing chronic depression. Physical

maladies result from inactivity. If the inactivity is part of being depressed, then, yes, there are related physical issues. e.g. weight gain, sluggishness, fatigue, etc. When activity (regular aerobic exercise) returns, so does increased energy, weight loss, alertness, concentration. I attribute the origin of depression for myself to substance abuse-"the egg in the frying pan!" A burned out mind doesn't handle stress well. In the "information age", information overload is a common malady, combined with the poor mental habits associated with substance abuse, such as, isolation, low objectivity, fondness for psychosis, and hallucinations, to name a few, depression is a likely outcome. Had it not been for the intercession of the Holy Spirit in my life, I would have given up and wallowed in the  darkness. The blood of Jesus is all that separates me from chemical meaninglessness.

My brian may be permanently racked from dopamine, acetylcholine, and serotonin deficiencies that require a lifetime regimen of remedial vitamin supplements, as well as

anti-depressants and sleep aids, but with all in place actual steady "progress" is maintained. That is, I "pass" as having "acceptable" social grace/independence. 

That's the long answer to a short question. The brain is the biggest loser from depression, but the tie between physical, mental, and spiritual is intricate, which is first? I favor the spirit, but the body and mind, too need daily exercise for complete

healthiness.

When I have had my depressive episodes, every little pain seems so much worse, headaches, stomach aches, everything seems a hundred times worse. I have a lovely docftor now, but one doctor I try to avoid, she can be so patronising, I feel she thinks everything I say is psychological. I had salmonella a few months ago and was so ill I couldn't get out of the bed, vomiting, banging headache, diorhoea temperature. I went all weekend with this as I didn't want to bother the doctor. after five days, I had to call them out and she came out, she was really rude and said, she couldn't diagnose anything unless I went to the surgery. I couldn't make it to the toilet. She said I would have to make an appointment to get a sample bottle,my husband was furious and went to the surgery for me to get it. I then had a phone call to say I had salmonella.

 There have been a few occasions, I pulled a muscle in my back doing yoga, when I went to see her she said oh dear and gave me vallium, which I didn't take.

I make sure now that I book with another doctor if I have to go. I do worry now if they are taking me serious or not, when I am in physical pain or whether everything will be a depression symptom.

I get a lot of physical symptoms. Most days I have to deal with a headache of some sort and my stomach playing up in some way (diarrhoea is pretty much expected no matter how well I eat). I get heart palpitations and problems with breathing too. My limbs can get weak, and even on occasion have stopped working (I've broken a couple of bowls and glasses cause my hand has all of a sudden stopped working and fallen to the floor a couple of times when my legs have given way). My sleep sucks. I'm always aching though sometimes its worse than others - I have panic attack type things where its like I have splinters in my bones, my muscles are being torn and my skin is on fire, it sort of jumps from one part of the body to another so I can't get into a comfortable position to ease the agony. It takes about twenty minutes or so to pass....

Yeah depression affects my physical health but I'm generally pretty dismissive about it. I've been on a holter monitor to check my heart after a period of time when it was mucking up a lot cause my doctor noticed it though. And I was put on vitamin D to help out with aches and pains (it didn't really help though I do make sure I take it when I'm inside a lot and when its winter cause it's a good idea when I'm not getting enough sunlight to suppliment it).

I guess I just figure it comes with the territory and I try not to think about it too much. There's a long list of complaints really, more than I've written here, but it seems pointless to write it. My family has gotten used to ignoring my weirdness as have I so I just try to get on with things as best as I can despite it.

Hi Merely Me,  What a good question.

With my own experience added to reading these comments, I will say yes, depression does affect our physical feeling.

People, who know their own bodies better than anyone, can easily identify physical results from depession.  Some have very long lists.  Also, as pointed out by

psychoward1 and experienced by most of us with MS, the physical problems lead to depression. How could we not be depressed when we live with constant pain or discomfort or just plain inconvenience?

Conversely, how can we not see that exhaustion and lack of sleep exacerbate current symptoms, or as fifi says every symptom feels worse.

I think this is a viscious circle.  Depression impacts physical health, physical health impacts depression.  Which came first?  What can break the cycle and lead to better health all around?  I think it is an individual thing, but it is hard no matter what.

hi, yes depression has affected my health greatly, i hve ms, fibromyalgia hep c from a transfusion in 1979, breast cancer, (suvivor) osteo arthritis, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, diabetes, when i stopped being active due to one illness then things got worse, or people who say you look fine you can get over it, your strong, no one let me let the inner pain of having chronic illness that wont go away but can be dealt with to have the best quality of life possible, no one let me cry, i was told my tears were different, different? i was told that being bi-racial made my pain different, and i should be strong based just on that, i withdrew, i felt the pain 100% more, i felt that it wasnt safe to mention anything so i just went inside i didnt ever feel different until that statement, so i took the depression and the physical pain, and stopped speaking. the times that i feel the most depressed are the times physical symptoms have increased. i hope that telling all of you that i am bi-racial wont make you judge me too as strong, i need all of the support i can get, but i feel like withdrawing right now.

ihavent told many people about how i have been treated by so called friends, i am just me, myself who hurts inside and physically, i try to distract myself from physical pain and discomfort but the depression is always there.  peace, starshine

I manifest the physical symptoms of depression---almost more than the emotional symptoms. When I cry or get angry, it's because I hate feeling like I have the flu 24 hours/day.  I am nauseous, have no appetite, my legs ache, my eyes burn, my back aches, poor sleep, sometimes headaches.  I have found that my only real window of relief comes when I take a Xanax.  I know they are addictive, but it is the only med that seems to help.  I have presently switched from Pamelor to Sinequan (both tricyclics) and .5 mgs. of Xanax three times per day. I have been through the SSRI's and SNRI's and they make me even more nauseous.  I then feel bad about myself because I think I am probably no better than a drug addict.  When I feel good, it is just such a pleasure, but even that is short lived as I am always looking over my shoulder waiting for it to rear its ugly head once again.