Physiological Symptoms of Depression
Depression can manifest itself in a variety of ways. Some symptoms are more obvious than other.
Depression can be diagnosed when the feelings of sadness or low mood are constant and affect daily activities for a period of more than two weeks. Some people experience physical symptoms like stomach pain.
Fatigue
Healthy people who get enough rest can experience fatigue, especially after a long workday or strenuous physical exercise. If this feeling persists and constant, it could indicate that you're depressed.
Unexplained fatigue that persists can make it difficult to work or be with friends and family. If this happens to you, make an appointment with your doctor to talk about your symptoms.
The causes of fatigue related to depression differ for each person and could include medications or a medical condition or an infection. Consult your physician about the possible side effects if you are taking a medication. If your medical problem is causing your fatigue, you are likely to receive treatment for it, which will improve your fatigue.
Fatigue is also a sign of anemia. This occurs when your blood contains too few red cells or hemoglobin - - the protein that moves oxygen in the bloodstream. If you suffer from anemia, your doctor may prescribe iron supplements or suggest eating more foods high in iron.
Depression is a result of the way that your body and brain communicate. Therefore, some physical changes could be a sign. You might notice that you speak or move slower, with longer gaps, and you have monotone voices. You might feel as if your body is heavier, or that your movements are less powerful.
Another frequent symptom is stomach pain. Depression can alter the way your body process and senses pain. You might experience headaches that are more intense or last longer as well as chest or stomach discomfort. Depression can also affect how your body experiences pain from other causes such as cancer or a car crash.
Some studies have shown depression can also affect vision. Depressed people may see things that look hazy or out of focus. It is believed that this is caused by a portion of the brain that is responsible for processing emotions. The underlying cause could be related to how nerve cells in the brain process emotional information, as well as signals from your body that signal pain.
Sleep Disorders
Many people are not aware that depression may also manifest as physical symptoms. Depression can manifest as fatigue, stomach upset and pains.
Depression is often linked to sleep issues. You may have difficulty sleeping or getting asleep. You might also wake up frequently during the night, or too early in the morning. You might also notice a change in sleep patterns, such as sleeping longer during the day and going to bed later at night. Sleepiness is a sign of depression and can lead to a higher chance of future episodes of depression especially when it's chronic.
Fatigue can be a adverse effect of antidepressant medications however, it can be a result of depression, or other conditions. Consult your physician if you feel fatigued constantly to determine if it is related to depression.
Lack of energy can make it difficult to concentrate or perform everyday tasks. This is a typical sign of depression and can be difficult to treat on your own. It is essential to eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly to boost your energy level.
Unexplained aches and pains such as backaches, headaches or abdominal cramps, can be a sign of depression. The connection between these pains and depression is believed to be due to a biological process involving hormones and nerve pathways.
In certain cases, depression can affect your ability to fight off illnesses. The long-term stress associated with depression can lead to a decline in white blood cells, which makes you more prone to illnesses and infections such as colds and the flu.
When depressed, it can become more difficult to communicate with others. Depression can cause you to lose interest in activities which are usually enjoyable, and cause you to speak less clearly and with less emotion. Many people suffering from depression lose their ability to hold eye contact or maintain an appropriate facial expression.
Changes in appetite
Being hungry but being able to eat more are common signs of depression. When symptoms of extreme depression Iam Psychiatry depressed, eating can be difficult. Some people gain weight while others lose weight. These physical changes may be a sign or symptom of bipolar disorder or major depression.
Neurotransmitters play a role in mood sleep, pain threshold and mood. During a depressive episode, serotonin is out of balance and it affects your ability to perceive pain and how your body responds to pain. People suffering from chronic back pain, or other kinds of pain report feeling more depressed. This is because they are under both physical and emotional stress, which triggers negative feelings like sadness and hopelessness.
Depression can make people irritable or agitated. This could lead to self-harm or suicide. This is why it's important to seek treatment as soon as possible if you are experiencing these symptoms. A medical professional will complete an extensive medical assessment to determine the reason for your symptoms. This will include a review of your family, medical and personal history, as and a physical exam. The examination will include imaging and laboratory tests to screen for medical conditions that could be a precursor to depression, like hormone imbalances, vitamin deficiencies and neurological disorders.
Many people are unaware that they suffer from depression, since the symptoms can be difficult to spot. It can be difficult for some to seek help because they think their depression is "normal" or something that everyone experiences at some point. Depression is a serious condition that can have a negative impact on a person's health and life.
You are more likely to develop depression if you have certain characteristics like genetics, exposure to violence or traumatic events when you were in your childhood or through life events like bereavement, unemployment, or loss. There are also personal traits that put you at risk, including low self-esteem, feeling overwhelmed by stress, and having a pessimistic personality.
Pain
Although everyone feels sad or low sometimes, depression is a real illness that triggers a range of physical symptoms. The symptoms include a general sense of depression, or "down in the dumps", feelings of hopelessness and sadness, irritability, aches and pains. Depression can affect both women and men of any age, regardless of their socioeconomic status, culture, or background.
A common symptom of mood-related exhaustion is depression sign. Many people suffering from the disorder have sleeping problems and are exhausted all day. Some people feel so tired that getting up is a struggle. Some people may feel their energy levels are lower than usual, and they are more susceptible to getting sick or suffering from colds. This is due to the stress of depression together with a change in appetite or weight loss, can affect the immune system and increase the susceptibility to infection.
People diagnosed with depression may experience aches or experiencing stomach, back or joint discomfort. They may also experience a decline in their ability to focus or recall things. The reason behind these physical symptoms is unknown, but it's possible that depression alters process by which the body process pain information. The brain's system that regulates emotions and moods is linked to the neural networks which process information to sense physical pain, so depression may cause a disruption in these areas.
Depression can also cause a change in the way people see. This can alter the clarity of an individual's eyesight, or it can cause the feeling that things appear dull or have no contrast. Other indications of depression in the visual area are eye twitching and blurred vision.
Discuss with your doctor any physical symptoms you have even if they do not seem to be related to your mood. These symptoms can be caused by medications used to treat depression, and it's important that you and your healthcare physician work together to lessen the effects.