Do you have or have you had depression?
Never been depressed - 25.0% - 1 votes
Was depressed before fibromyalgia and still am depressed - 25.0% - 1 votes
Developed depression concurrently with fibromyalgia - 0.0% - 0 votes
Developed depression as a result of living with fibromyalgia - 0.0% - 0 votes
Used to be depressed before the fibromyalgia but am not anymore - 0.0% - 0 votes
Not depressed but get panic attacks or anxiety - 50.0% - 2 votes
Posted 6/19/2013 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,
I'm just kind of curious about the possible links between fibromyalgia and depression, particularly because some of the symptoms of both can be caused by low levels of serotonin.
How many of you:
Are not depressed?
Were depressed before you got fibromyalgia?
Became depressed at the same time as you got fibromyalgia?
Eventually ended up with depression as a result of the effects of living with fibromyalgia?
Please participate in the poll if you want to.
Sherrine
Forum Moderator
Joined : Apr 2005
Posts : 18467
Posted 6/19/2013 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
I do not suffer from depression at all. But I also have a positive outlook on life and that has helped me immensely. But many do get depressed when they have a chronic illness or several to deal with. That's only normal, I think. This means I'm not normal but you all know that! 
Anxiety is also an issue that can happen with illness...especially if you don't understand what is happening to you. If you haven't gotten a diagnosis or if you have the diagnosis but don't understand the illness, anxiety can happen. Anxiety is basically fear based. I had that but, over the years, have learned to kick it to the curb.
Sherrine
getting by
Forum Moderator
Joined : Sep 2007
Posts : 45296
Posted 6/19/2013 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jasmine,
I do think that having a chronic illness can make you depressed. I have depression but I had it even before the fibromyalgia. Both the depression and the fibromyalgia are under control right now. Not that I don't have pain, I do, but it isn't real bad right now.
I agree with Sherrine, keeping a good outlook on life and thinking positive can help fight depression. It take medications though if you have a chemical imbalance such as I have. A good attitude helps but can't alone fight it.
I found through fibromyalgia something good though. As I was forced to do this. I take life one day at a time, and stay in the moment as much as possible. I think that this helps me a lot.
As they say... Yesterday is history, tomorrow but a mystery. Today is a gift, that is why it is known as the present.
Live in the moment.
Hugs, Karen...
Posted 6/19/2013 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for replying. I have done all I can (positive thinking, living in the moment, talking to the psychologist, mindfulness meditation, support networks, etc.) to counteract depression, but I have still had to go on antidepressants due to a chemical imbalance.
I used to get panic attacks but now that I feel like I've been diagnosed with FMS properly, I feel like I can relax and not worry about autoimmune disorders anymore. And even if I turn out to have serious digestive problems, that doesn't worry me - I'm very good at controlling my diet if I have to.
Wackers34
Veteran Member
Joined : Apr 2013
Posts : 694
Posted 6/19/2013 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
I suffer from anxiety and worry about everything...Im still trying to get this under control, I get anxious about every new symptom and I am trying the live life one day at a time theory as advised by my counsellor...
Doing CBT counseling and trying to find positives in my life. Keeping busy and work and my kids and pets help me, as they adjust the focus off myself and on them, this helps get me through somehow.
Never suffered depression, always been a very happy and positive person...Still happy, but find it hard to be positive because in the beginning stages of this illness. Sites like this have helped me with this though
getting by
Forum Moderator
Joined : Sep 2007
Posts : 45296
Posted 6/19/2013 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Wackers,
I think it is normal feeling like you do. But now you have recognized it and you can deal with it. Keep taking it one day at a time. That is a good theory by your counselor. CBT is fantastic. You just got to keep practicing it. Eventually it becomes second nature.
Try not to think of the illness that much. Try not to worry about it, it kind of runs it's own course. You will recognize things just by experience. Hopefully it wont get any worse than it is now. It just kind of sticks around. Pops it's head out now and then to remind you it is there.
You will get a grip on it. You will get it under control for the most part. You may have a flare now and then. That is a part of it. You learn to live with it and work around it. Luckily it can't kill you. But life would be better off without. I hope that you have a good evening. You are in with the right group... We all care...
Hugs, Karen
Posted 6/19/2013 10:48 PM (GMT 0)
Mood and mental illness disorders run in my family big time. I have a bunch of uncles with significant mood disorders, and both my sister and father have dealt with disabling depression or O.C.D. My father's father ended his life because of his mental-instability/depression long before I was born. Personally, I've dealt with anxiety more so than anything else. I've always had issues with anxiety/panic since childhood. Developing FM hasn't really changed me in this regard but has just given me something more to be anxious over. I still really think that physical trauma/food borne illness is what brought about FM for me. But perhaps my "family history" of mood issues and neurotransmitter irregularities made me more susceptible to FM?
couchtater
Elite Member
Joined : Jul 2009
Posts : 14475
Posted 6/19/2013 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
Nerve problems seem to waltz through my family tree. My sister has a severe chemical imbalance which has ending in hospitalization several times. As long as she takes her medicines and reduces her stressors she's fine.
I had some problems as a child due to mental/physical abuse by my first grade teacher. I went through CBT for four years for that and was good. Then I started getting all of these illnesses piled on me and money woes. They sent me down the the drain for awhile. I'm still digging out, but it's getting better with CBT and paxil.
Posted 6/20/2013 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
Interesting... my mother has depression and my father has anxiety problems. Also, there were a few traumatic events in my childhood (abuse, watching someone commit suicide).
Fishchris
Regular Member
Joined : Feb 2012
Posts : 446
Posted 6/20/2013 2:27 AM (GMT 0)
Getting By said > I do think that having a chronic illness can make you depressed. I have depression but I had it even before the fibromyalgia. <
Geez, do I ever hear you ! I used to get very depressed, much of the time.
My depression has certainly gotten much less frequent, since I've knocked my Fibro way down.... but the really goofy thing, that I almost hate to admit, is that now I sometimes find myself becoming depressed over completely different (non-health related) stuff ?
Funny how we (at least I) used to think > Just let me beat this BS Fibro / IBS, and I won't even care about anything else ! But that hasn't been exactly the case. Instead, my mind seems to have shifted to the "next" most troublesome things in my life. Kind of lame, huh ?
At this point, it would probably be naïve of me to believe that if I ever got my other life issues straight, that everything would just be all good, all the time....
Hmmm...
Fish
Posted 6/21/2013 6:52 PM (GMT 0)
Haviing been a very physical person my whole life this
Is really taking its toll on me. I ibelieve that I used exercise to coverup for anxiety and tendenct for depression.I am also trying to hook up with the right physician and it takes so long to get an appointment. I have heard that depression is living in the past, anxiety is living in the future, AND FOR A HAPPY AND HEALTHY LIFE, LIVE IN THE MOMENT. My question is what if you are in pain in the moment?
Acheybody
Veteran Member
Joined : Nov 2008
Posts : 6036
Posted 6/21/2013 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
Good point, Laurie!
When I'm able to truly live in the moment (and it isn't all that often) it happens when #1, the pain isn't too severe and #2, I can somehow transcend it and see the bigger picture - the good things that are also going on. I don't have the concentration to stay there for long.
I thought I'd written on this thread a couple of days ago, but guess not. Anyway, I don't think I've ever been clinically depressed, though I've definitely been kind of a moody person all my life. I hear what you're saying, Fish - I'm always feeling that if I could be "normal" again, everything would be sunshine and lollipops :) but human nature being what it is, that probably just ain't so.
Debbie