Emotional Wellbeing
<p><b>Aches and pains could be signs of depression</b></p>
<p>Depression is a mental health disorder that negatively affects the way you think, feel and act.</p>
<p>Feelings of hopelessness, sadness, guilt, irritability, lack of pleasure in day-to-day activities or despair are part of the condition. Depression can also affect you physically.</p>
<p>However, because many physical illnesses, like infections and viruses, can also cause fatigue, it can be challenging to discern whether exhaustion is related to depression.</p>
<p>Depression can cause real changes in your body like slow digestion, pain, fatigue, and restlessness. On the other hand, physical symptoms can signal when a depressive period is about to begin or clue you into whether or not you may be experiencing depression.</p>
<p><b>Fatigue or consistent lethargy</b></p>
<p>Fatigue is a common symptom of depression. We all experience lower energy levels from time to time, however, depression can also cause fatigue but unlike everyday fatigue, depression-related fatigue can lead to concentration problems, feelings of irritability, and apathy.</p>
<p><b>Decreased pain tolerance</b></p>
<p>According to journal Pressure Pain Threshold in Depression, a complex relationship exists between mood and pain, which is supported by different pain tolerance in clinically depressed patients compared to healthy people.</p>
<p><b>Back pain or aching muscles</b></p>
<p>Back or muscle pain could be caused by stress or depression. Although they’re often associated with bad posture or injuries, backaches can also be a symptom of psychological distress.</p>
<p>Inflammation in the body may have something to do with the neurocircuits in the brain. Brain inflammation also shuts down energy production in the neurons, so brain endurance drops, which makes it harder to read, work, or concentrate for any period. This also leads to depression.</p>
<p><b>Headaches</b></p>
<p>Stressful life occurrences can trigger headaches. If you notice a switch to daily headaches, it could be a sign of depression. People with depression often experience additional symptoms like sadness, feelings of irritability, and decreased energy.</p>
<p><b>Good to know</b></p>
<p>Certain treatments used for depression can also have physical side-effects like nausea, weight changes, and sexual dysfunction. Keep a symptom diary, to help you identify patterns and speak to your doctor about them.</p>
