Physical Symptoms & Depression

One out of every six people has a period of depression, according to Dr. Rita Elkins, author of "Solving the Depression Puzzle." And when depressed, you might physically hurt from headaches and unexplained muscle pain or backaches. These symptoms can be as devastating as depressed thoughts and feelings.

Statistics

• Depression and "feeling blue" are not the same. Elkins reports that depression is a disease that kills about 15 percent of those affected, because they take their own lives. And depression symptoms are often blamed on physical ailments, so sufferers are not even aware they need treatment.

Definition

• If you have a variety of physical symptoms that cannot be attributed to a chronic condition, disease or specific cause, you might be depressed. If you have had intense feelings of sadness lasting weeks or months or which happen for no logical reason, you could have clinical depression.

Types

• Types include major depression, dysthymia (feeling very down for a year or more), premenstrual syndrome, seasonal affective disorder, bipolar disorder and manic depression. Even symptoms of chronic fatigue could actually be caused by depression. And all types can affect you physically.

Physical Symptoms

• When depressed, you can have back pain, severe fatigue, appetite loss, chest pains, unexplained aches or pains, headaches, bowel issues, weight loss or gain, trouble sleeping and more. Even less severe symptoms such as dry mouth, itching, vision disturbances and profuse sweating could be depression related. And many people do not attribute these symptoms to depression.

Treatment

• The usual treatment for depression involves medication or psychotherapy or both. Alternative therapies that can address the physical symptoms are meridian tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique), hypnosis, Reiki and supplements like St. John's Wort or SAM-e, according to AlternativeDepressionTherapy.com.