Depression can change how your nervous system works, therefore, it’s too simple to think of depression as only “a mental health problem.”
Physical symptoms of depression include:
- Feeling like you are sapped of energy
- Being run-down, like you have the flu
- Feeling emotional and physical pain
- Deep sadness and disinterest in activities that you usually participate in
- An unshakable feeling of worthlessness or guilt
- Worsening status of your underlying medical condition
What should I do about depression?
Depression makes it harder to heal, function and can make you sick . You need to reach out for help if you are think you are depressed. Therefore, it’s very important to talk to your doctor about depression.
Try this: You or someone else can write down specific information about your day, for example:
- How much you are sleeping in a 24 hour period
- How many times are you eating in a 24 hour period
- How much exercise do you get in a week
- If you have pain, how intense is it in a 24 hour period?
- Are you able to get your housework, schoolwork or job requirments finished on time?
The answers to these questions will help your health care provider understand how best to help you. Besides, you can start by doing things such as writing your symptoms down or finding a trusted person in your life to talk to as a first step.