Can anyone explain the pain from depression?

Question

Physical. Doctors can't tell me why I am in extreme pain (i.e. Digestive mostly) so they are throwing it off to depression. However, I am not sad, don't lay in bed, I am just in severe pain due to digestive issues.

Yeah I guess I should give you more details. I had my gallbladder out over a year ago and since then I have been sick and unable to function well. Tried those anti-D's and it made me depressed and S so that's not an option. I do have an appt with a new doctor tomorrow, hoping he can help. Thank you for all who have answered so far.

Answer 1

Sure, but it depends on what kind of explanation you want here. We could use a few more details.

Basically, as others have said, depression *can* cause physical symptoms, many of them painful: headaches, nausea/stomach aches, body aches. On a purely subjective level it is like having the flu....forever. Just in pain terms, you always have something that hurts on some level, usually some manner of dull ache that *can* be ignored and set aside, but it takes effort to do so. It's an act of will to do so. And there's only so much of that will power to go around.

As for a more technical, "How does this work?" sort of thing, basically, you have to realize that with most forms of persistent depression (dysthymia, unipolar depression, and non-euphoric bipolar mood disorders), the neuro-transmitter *serotonin* is going to be involved at some point.

And the kicker is....a little serotonin is good for you, needed even. A little more ends up being poisonous. When potatoes go to seed, they become poisonous courtesy of the buds generating serotonin and making anyone *eating* those spuds deathly sick. Stingray poison, the stuff that killed Steve Irwin (rest his soul), only consists of two parts, a flesh-eating peptide *and pure serotonin* which in this form acts as an irritant and creates *intense Pain* at the wound site.

Emergency rooms at hospitals have had to cope with more and more cases of "serotonin syndrome"--and you can search that phrase, quotes and all--wherein someone takes one too many anti-depressants along *with* dietary supplements like 5-HTP tablets or St. John's Wort (Hypericium). Basically people with this syndrome end up with *nasty* headaches, nausea, vomiting, high fevers....

Like they have the flu.

This is why your Big Pharmaceutical companies, your *legal* drug pushers, always talk about a chemical *imbalance* as opposed to a deficiency. That word, "Imbalance" lets them weasel their way out of lawsuits over "serotonin syndrome".

But I digress. My point is this. Serotonin regulates a *Lot* more than just one's mood. It has roles to play in muscle tone, digestion, concentration and memory, *and yes* in terms of pain. This is why so many modern, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, your Prozac-types of medications, come with the side effects they do, particularly with digestion. Playing with serotonin does a lot more to you than just changing moods and appetites.

And likewise, not having enough of it leads to more than depression. Lots of people with depression *also* have problems with digestion, memory and concentration, and *pain issues* courtesy of the *one* neuro-transmitter being out of whack *all over their bodies*, and not just in their heads.

Granted, this over-simplifies things a little, this doesn't even look into stress hormones or other amino acids and the roles they play in terms of pain....but that is the gist of it.

Depression is a legitimate medical illness with both *emotional* and *Physical* symptoms. It happens for much the same reasons cancers and heart failures do: while some folks are more prone to it than others, a *lot* of depression occurs courtesy of living an emotionally unhealthy and damaging lifestyle.

And yes, if you are depressed for any length of time and it goes without proper treatment, you can and *will* at some point get the *perpetual flu* thing going with the headaches, nausea and body aches.

I hope this helps...thanks for your time. ^_^ Good Question!

Answer 2

I have been dealing with depression since I was 9 and I'm currently 52. The physical pain has changed depending on the level of depression I was experiencing. The thing that bothers me the most is headache. There are times when my arthritis seems to become more painful. If your having pains in your gastrointestinal tract, you should see a gastrointerologist. A doctor who specializes in the intestinal tract. You make sure that they do a colonostphy. You may have something going on in your colon.

Answer 3

Find another doctor that will take the time to find the problem. Too often Dr.s can't find the problem and call it depression or a viral infection. There is a reason and you need to find it. Depression does result in pain, though, as a result of a decrease in seratonin levels (the feel good chemical). To really find out if it is depression, try a med like Prozac, Lexapro, etc. Stay away from Effexor, though, as the withdrawl symptoms are pure hell.

Answer 4

It has very different levels. In my personal experience, it started with detachment from friends, family and things you previously enjoyed, to thoughts of suicide, self destructive behavior (mine was nail biting, I had beautiful nails that I started chewing off down to the quick), substance abuse from self-medicating, and thoughts of dying and suicide. Depression is very real. In my opinion, it is equivalent to a demon that slowly takes over your body and mind, and needs to be addressed one way or another. If you are speaking of yourself or a friend or family member, and this is just my opinion, I am not a doctor, I'd talk to a homeopath or health food professional or alternative medicine professional first, try the natural path, and if that doesn't help, consider an antidepressent. Again, JUST MY OPINION, having been there and done that. But research the side effects and withdrawal effects of the drugs that your doctor prescribes before you take them. Make your own decision whether you want to go through that. Speaking from my own experience, they can be life altering in a positive way, or life altering in a negative way. God bless.....

Answer 5

The answer to that question is just as broad as the question that you asked. There can be all kinds of emotional pain of course, which is different for every person, and there can be physical pain as well, which is also different for every person. Some people experience their depression through physical symptoms and medical problems. Some feel that they are in emotional agony.

Answer 6

As a psychotherapist, I need to recommend you that ache killers aren't going to aid you along with your melancholy. In reality, humans who endure from melancholy are sixty-seven percentage MORE prone to emerge as hooked on OTC (over-the-counter) and presciption medications. Additionally, the medications that you just will have to be on, akin to an antidepressant or tricylic (SSRI) would possibly have interaction negatively with the painkillers. I believe that if you're that involved with the way in which where you're feeling, you will have to speak to a general practitioner or psychologist. You will have extra severe problems than you had at first proposal. Good good fortune

Answer 7

Physical or emotional?

Pain exists because our nerve senors are telling us we are in trouble somewhere in our body.

Depression causes: Headaches, stomach cramps, eye aches.. plus a multitude of others, all of which sensor as pain.

I have suffered from depression for years and have learned the best thing to do is LAUGH, no matter what hurts or how much - JUST LAUGH

Helps me