Depression making you physically sick

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone else experiences strong physical symptoms when they're depressed and if anyone knows any ways to reduce them? For me, my chest hurts and I get extremely nauseous to the point of where I'm about to throw up. I tried googling this but I couldn't find anything.

Thanks!

Depression causes all sorts of problems, both physical and mental. For me, I was "convinced" that I had some serious digestive problems. It turns out that depression was making my digestion a really difficult task to complete. When I had a full physical exam and an ultrasound, it turned out to be my mind making my body ill.

If you're on medication, some meds can cause nausea like that. Perhaps you can keep a journal of what is going on before, during and after the chest pain episodes. If you notice a pattern, then maybe you'll figure something out.

Best wishes to you in your struggle.

Makes me lethargic, kinda heavy feeling i guess if that makes sense and tired, but not really sick per say. I think the anxiety/ptsd is more of what causes that sometimes I end up throwing up for no reason as far as I can tell doesn't really happen if I am feeling calm and not really being bothered by the symptoms..but maybe the depression screws with my digestive process to.

I can't say that I have experienced any strong physical symptoms. I've just had a lifetime of milder stuff that has plagued me. I can recall, many years ago, seeing a doctor because I was feeling dizzy & disoriented. He told me it was stress. I didn't believe him at the time. But I also didn't pursue it any further. However this has been something that has followed me throughout life. I have also had a lifetime of back, neck & shoulder pain plus various other pains that come & go. It has seemed as though every time I develop some pain that makes me think I should go to the doctor, if I wait a bit longer, eventually it goes away. Then something else crops up. Depression & anxiety are so much fun!

Hi amd95, welcome to PC!!!
Yes, agreed it can cause or intensify physical symptoms, if it wasn't bad enough anyway, hey!!!!
Here's a link for you:
9 Physical Symptoms of Depression | Care2 Healthy Living
I'd say it was worth getting checked out by a G.P/doctor though and even if there's no "physical" reason/s they may be able to help/prescribe anyway.
And again welcome!!! If you want to talk a bit more about how you're feeling physically or emotionally........you'll find plenty of really understanding, supportive people on here. Glad you found us.

Alison

Depression makes me ache all over. It can sometimes feel like the flu. I mostly feel it in my bones, muscles and stomach. My chronic indigestion and nausea feeds my depression.

Tips to prevent stomach hell:

Keep hydrated
Eat small meals that are easy to digest
Don't ignore hunger because it makes an irritated stomach worse
Avoid drinking lots of caffeine
Take a medication that reduces nausea and stomach acid

Treating concurrent anxiety also helps a lot.

Depression is both mental and physical illness. I def feel physical effects when severe. I get stiffness, aches and discomfort and of course tiredness and have trouble relaxing. It can be hard to get up out of bed, dressed, have wash, and move about, go out, do tasks when its severe.

Depression has caused a lot of mental and physical problems for me. It made me extremely paranoid. One time I thought I had a brain tumor because I was experiencing migraines almost everyday but the doctors told me it was because of stress.

For me depression either causes or amplifies physical ailments. One time I had chest pain, went to the doctor, and they found nothing wrong with me. I get migraines, arthritis, digestive problems, and lately a numbness in my feet. If you are having physical symptoms it is best to go to the doctor and get things checked out. As I cannot afford a psychiatrist and therapy, my medical doctor prescribes my antidepressants.

Not only physical for me but at one time i was convinced i had every ailment under the Sun from cancer to multiple sclerosis
I finally accepted the reason i felt bad all the time was mental illness

Welcome amd-I have varying physical symptoms when going through a depressive episode, body aches, head ache, upset stomach, worsening insomnia, sometimes I feel very shaky & dizzy. I try to just take the down time that I need to get over it when it gets that bad-take Tylenol & ibuprofen, ginger ale & crackers, cold cloth on the forehead that kind of stuff. I also love to watch animated movies when I need a mental lift so snuggling up with some Kung Fu Panda or Open Season usually makes me feel better too. Take care

I mostly feel tired like sleeping all the time.

It can work the other way too. There are a surprisingly large number of completely different medical/nutritional issues that can cause depression. See post #45 in this thread

http://forums.psychcentral.com/depre...n-escaped.html

If you have one of these things or if something else is going on, you definitely need to work it out with your M.D.

- vital