Having dealt with anxiety problems since I was only in middle school it wasn’t until I sought professional help in my early twenty’s that I was also diagnosed with mild depression. Depression symptoms can sometimes be overlooked or written off as nothing since the physical symptoms can be so varied from person to person. People suffering from depressive disorder usually suffer from many physical symptoms. Below are five of the most common physical symptoms seen with people who have depression.
Headaches
Depending on the person and how severe their depression their headaches can range from a dull ache to a full on migraine. Many mistakenly attribute them to not enough sleep, not eating, or just a bit of stress.
Exhaustion & Fatigue
Before I received medical treatment this was my most severe symptom. Even though I was only in my early twenty’s I was constantly bone tired. It seemed no matter how much I slept I was never fully rested. Being so tired even made me question my doctor about chronic fatigue syndrome I was so confused as to why I felt the way I did. It even caused some difficulties in my marriage at the time because of my severe tiredness I was not able to go out places with my husband, and he saw this as me just not wanting to spend time with him. Of course after seeking help we both understood the real cause and how to deal with it.
Another very common physical symptoms of depression are sleeping disorders. Sleeping problems can manifest themselves in many different ways in people with depression. Some will suffer from excessive tiredness and will want to sleep all the time. Others will find they can’t fall asleep, have problems staying asleep or wake up very early.
This physical symptom of depression can be serious if not addressed and treated. It is also one of the symptoms most easily recognized by friends and family members. Some people will find when depressed they have no appetite or urge to eat and will lose weight. While others depression will cause them to overeat, it is almost a way of trying to fill the void they are feeling.
Going hand in hand with anxiety and stress sufferers people who suffer from depression often have digestive problems. These symptoms can be painful, confusing and downright scary. People who suffer from depression may have problems with diarrhea, nausea, constipation, gas, heartburn, and even chest pain caused from excess acid production.
Many of these symptoms will become manageable or even disappear after treatment for the depression has begun. If you or anyone you know has depression or confusing physical symptoms it is important to take it seriously and seek help. The debilitating physical symptoms of depression are something you do not just have to suffer from chances are with the proper diagnosis and help they will soon be a thing of the past.
