Physical symptoms of depression are common but can become chronic and fuel a person's feelings of sadness and hopelessness if left untreated. Physical symptoms such as chronic pain may get better as the emotional and mental symptoms of depression lift upon treatment. People experiencing physical symptoms of depression are advised to consult a qualified health care professional for help.
Gastrointestinal Symptoms
Depressed individuals may experience unexplained, nonspecific gastrointestinal or digestive symptoms like nausea, abdominal pain, bloating, excess gas, cramping, dyspepsia or other stomach or upper GI discomfort. These are called functional GI complaints in cases where the symptoms cannot be attributed to an underlying physical cause. Functional GI symptoms are likely the result of lifestyle/behavioral factors (diet, exercise, sleep habits), inflammation, or infectious factors.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is particularly common among depressed individuals. According to Healing Well, psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression are present in 42 to 62 percent of people with IBS. Symptoms of IBS include a change in bowel habits or stool consistency, diarrhea and/or constipation, and bloating.
Pain
Depressed persons may experience unexplained symptoms of pain in various parts of their bodies, including chronic arthritis-like joint pain, limb pain or back pain. People who suffer from depression are four times more likely to develop intense or disabling neck and low back pain than those who are not depressed.
Headaches
Migraines are commonly associated with depression. Those with a history of depression are likely to develop migraines, while those with a history of migraines are also likely to develop depression. Additionally, research shows that chronic morning headaches are also a strong predictor of depression.
Sleep Disturbances
Depression can cause interruptions in normal sleep cycles. Symptoms can include insomnia (trouble sleeping), hypersomnia (sleeping too much), trouble falling asleep or trouble staying asleep. These disturbances can fuel depression by worsening mood and fatigue.
Fatigue
Feelings of exhaustion and depression often go hand-in-hand. In fact, people who are depressed are more than four times as likely to develop symptoms of fatigue, and those who feel fatigued are also more likely to become depressed.
Changes in Appetite
Depressed persons may experience a change in appetite along with a noticeable weight loss or gain. Studies suggest that weight gain may be more likely, and a link between depression and obesity has even been established.
Chest Pain
Depressed persons sometimes report feeling chest pain that is not related to heart disease or other biomedical illness. However, according to the American Heart Association, among those who already have coronary heart disease, depression increases the risk of angina. Angina is chest pain that can sometimes be a warning sign of a heart attack. Seek medical help right away if your chest pain is intense and accompanied by shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, a cold sweat, or discomfort in the arms, stomach, neck, back, or jaw.
