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Can depression manifest itself primarily in physical symptoms

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Posted 6/19/2016 10:48 AM (GMT 0)
There's no doubt I've been anxious and have had a low mood for a few months now but I feel like they are all due to not feeling physically well or like myself. In other words, if I didn't experience physical symptoms of discomfort/pain and fatigue I would not be anxious or down...

I have a lack of appetite that has caused unintended weight loss of more than ten pounds. I get full much faster than usual when I do eat. My stomach doesn't feel right and I haven't been having bowel movements as often as normal. I have really bad insomnia, sometimes I'll lay in bed playing on my phone for up to 5 hours before finally falling asleep. Then when I wake up, I feel very tired and getting out of bed is difficult.

I'll be 29 years old in a few days. I'm scared of these physical symptoms. Can someone please tell me if depression can primarily manifest itself in physical symptoms rather than emotional ones? Is there anybody out there that feels depression mostly in their stomachs rather than their heads?
Posted 6/19/2016 11:30 AM (GMT 0)
You sound exactly like me, I'm 29 as well. So you are not alone. My physical pain gets me down and makes me afraid, I have been dealing with it a long time, but for years I refused to accept that it was psychological and have never got treatment for it, instead having test after test that came back negative. It's only really in the last couple of months I have become convinced it is psychological and am seeking help. I've tried many anti-depressants but none have eliminated the pain, the latest I am on has made it more bearable though. I am trying to see a psychiatrist to try some other medicine options for the pain, and am in long term psychotherapy.

One thing I found when I started therapy was that the more I thought about it, the more I realised that actually I have not been a happy person for a very long time, I just didn't really realise it. I wouldn't say I had a mental illness at the time but I felt a little detached from life.

I have come across other people since dealing with this that have had severe physical pain in times of psychological distress but without necessarily severe psychological symptoms. Out of them all, I have yet to come across someone that still has these pains, which gives me some hope.

So in answer to your question, most definitely depression can manifest as physical problems. I am in chronic pain, all associated with my digestive system, and have been for what feels like a long time, with absolutely nothing physically wrong with me. Moreover, my pain can move, most of the time I have pain across the bottom of my ribs, but sometimes my stomach burns, other times my esophagus feels like its on fire, and when it does start somewhere else, my other pains go away. I have odd moments where all the pain just goes for a few minutes. But the moving pain just makes me more convinced there isn't actually anything wrong.

I have had many sleep problems as well, it's very common with mental illness.

I certainly feel like if I didn't have these physical problems then I would not be so depressed and anxious, and could get myself out and about and get back to normal.

My advice is to get treatment for it psychologically as soon as you can, and the most important thing to remember is that at times it will just get worse, for absolutely no reason, and it's not your fault or that you're doing something wrong, it just seems that our guts are like that. You may want to try keeping a food and symptom log just to see if there are any foods that are making you feel worse. I wish I had done that sooner as when your digestive system is sensitive it often reacts more to certain foods than others and it can alleviate the symptoms a bit to cut them out while you get better.

Hang in there, it is very tough, digestive upset is hell when it goes on for a long time, so depressing, but you're not alone.
Posted 6/19/2016 12:20 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the fast and long reply, Andy. The last time I went to see my doctor he straight out told me I shouldn't come back for at least three years, but they don't run any tests on me because they're so convinced that I'm fine. It is really hard trusting my doctor when I know he thinks I'm a nut case and I haven't had recent tests to prove it isn't something "real."
Posted 6/19/2016 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
HI,

Your member name may be a clue in itself. I am not a clinician by any means, but you may have more anxiety than depression.

I agree with Andy and get treatment for it psychologically as soon as you can, a therapist is amazing in that they do not give you advice, rather they take what you say, and toss it back in very helpful and thoughtful way.

I think a pychiastrist would be helpful to for any needed meds.

Peace
Trina
Posted 6/19/2016 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
Well your doctor doesn't sound very helpful at all. It is important to find a doctor that is sympathetic and you can trust. Unfortunately most doctors will just tell you to go away, or that its just 'stress' and 'worry'. What they don't tell you is that your pain is very real, and will be with you even when you're not stressed, even if it has a psychological cause.

Have you had any tests at all? It is a lot easier to keep the anxiety at bay when you have had some investigations and the results are all clear, but saying that most serious conditions of the digestive tract, like ulcers and crohn's will lead to other symptoms like congealed blood in the stool, so if your stools look ok then there shouldn't be anything to worry about. You can try taking a probiotic to see if that helps, it seems to ease my stomach a little.

It is a really hard thing to accept that your pains and problems are psychological, because it is a sort of diagnosis where they haven't found anything else, there is no positive test for it. There is always that niggling thought that they have missed something. It is even harder to accept when you haven't really had many investigations, but even when you have it's still difficult. I didn't believe it for 4 years, I had no anxiety and my mood was doing ok for a while, and the pain was still there, so I couldn't see how it was psychological. But I had endoscopies, MRIs, CT scans, colonoscopies, barium swallow, pH test, stool tests, bacteria tests, SIBO test, all normal bar some minor abnormalities. Our brains work in mysterious ways, and sometimes the signals between brain and body just doesn't work properly. It senses pain when there is none.

If you want to read more about it you can google 'somataform disorder', as you will see it is a recognised medical problem, with psychological pain that is not linked to mood disorder.

I'd try and find a new doctor, telling you they dont want to see you for 3 years is just ridiculous. If you can get to see a psychiatrist then that would be best, and a psychotherapist I have found useful, I was very skeptical at first but now I find it helpful. It cant make things worse anyway.
Posted 6/19/2016 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
I am sorry,I explained THERAPY in an odd way and you did understand. My bad.

Therapists, the good one, do validate and help you get to the root of the cause to worry, emotional pain, anxiety and depression.

Along with the psychiatrist and possible meds, this works well over time.

Your insurance should have a list either on line or in the book you may have received. If none are avaliable there, other might do a "sliding scale" on rates for people.

Tests, well I have been inpatient 5 times and we know that my troubles come from childhood abuse. took about 6 mos to get that knowledge in therapy. I am still going to therapy, this is my 5th year, YES I feel much better, same therapist.

I also have chronic head pain, most from nerve damage. However some has been releaved through working with my stuff
and accepting the abuse and working through the anger. My back does not hurt so much and I can do more exercise, in spurts.

I am 55 yrs old.

I do believe that physical pain is related to emotional pain.

I validate what you say, I think a therapist and Doc will also..

I hope this clarifies what I was trying to tell you.

I have dissociative disorder and it is kicking lately so I do apologize.

Peace and strength
Trina
Posted 6/20/2016 1:13 PM (GMT 0)
Most important thing as well is to try and be patient. This is the hardest thing for me, I want to see results, but it is so slow that you can't even really tell.

Take each day one at a time and try some relaxation therapies, these really help me, I started with progressive muscle relaxation and now do autogenic training. Really helps with sleep when I do it several times a day. I used to need sleeping pills to get just 4 hours, but with the autogenic and relaxation I got off them and back to sleeping more normally.
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