According to W.H.O, it is estimated that 5% of adults suffer from depression worldwide. Therefore, it’s vital to keep track of your physical symptoms of depression and let your doctor or mental health professional know if you’re having these symptoms, especially if they become more severe over time.
Physical Symptoms of Depression
Depression is a real condition that is not just ‘in your head.’ While most people often pair this condition with emotional pain like crying, sadness, and feelings of hopelessness, recent studies have shown that depression is a real condition with real effects and symptoms and with real treatment options.
Here are the top 5 most common physical symptoms of depression:
1. Fatigue
People with depression often experience fatigue, both physically and emotionally. Mostly this can be due to inadequate sleep at night or having low energy levels during the day. The fatigue can sometimes be so extreme that those who suffer from it can hardly move at all or feel very tired all the time.
Research shows that individuals who are depressed frequently have nonrestorative sleep, which means they feel sluggish even after getting a whole night of sleep. However, since several physical problems, such as infections and viruses, might also cause tiredness, determining whether or not the exhaustion has anything to do with depression will take additional tests.
2. Headaches
It is a fact that almost everyone experiences tension or a migraine-type of headache at least once in their life, but the majority of people with depression experience headaches more frequently. One of the most prevalent physical symptoms of depression is headaches—many people who suffer from depression experience headaches more than once a week.
If you don’t have a headache more than twice a week, you might not be depressed. But suppose headaches become more frequent and are accompanied by other symptoms of depression, such as feeling sad and hopeless, lack of appetite, insomnia or sleeping too much, social withdrawal, fatigue, and suicidal thoughts. In that case, you need to visit a physician for diagnosis.
3. Decreased Vision
Eye problems are relatively common in people who are affected by depression. Because of the psychological agitation, pain and visual acuity decline might occur due to eye-related conditions, such as glaucoma. If you are suffering from blurred vision, seeing halos or rings around lights, or double vision, this could be a sign of depression, and it is vital to share it with your mental health professional to get help.
4. Decreased Libido and Sexual Performance
Depression is known to affect the libido and sexual performance of both women and men. The number of sexual fantasies and activities reduces, and sometimes even sex drive disappears. It’s essential to realize that most people with depression generally have decreased sex drive, which may generate problems as far as marriage is concerned.
5. Digestive Problems
Depression is a disorder that affects every aspect of a person’s life. It can even affect how you eat and digest food, leading to digestive problems such as nausea, abdominal pain, changes in appetite, diarrhea, or constipation. These digestive problems aren’t just “in your head.” They’re actual physical symptoms of depression that need proper examination by a medical professional.
Bottom Line
Depression isn’t just something you feel in your head. It can cause real physical symptoms that can be detrimental to your overall well-being if left untreated. Therefore, it is essential to schedule an appointment with a licensed therapist, like those at Solace Emotional Health, for depression therapy.
If you or a loved one in Arizona, Utah, and Chandler areas is suffering from anxiety and depression, contact us today for a free emotional health assessment to be matched to a professional who’s right for you.
