Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow It FeelsPhysical SignsWhy Does Depression Affect the Body Physically?Supporting Your Physical Body With Depression

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

How It Feels

Physical Signs

Why Does Depression Affect the Body Physically?

Supporting Your Physical Body With Depression

The mind and the body are often spoken of as two separate entities. Yet, they are interconnected, and one greatly affects the other. People with depression will experience emotional changes like sadness but they can also experience many different physical symptoms.Pain,fatigue, and appetite changes are all very real symptoms of depression.

This article will discuss the possible physical symptoms of depression. It will also cover how to support the body.

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person sitting on bed

Physical Depression Symptoms and How They Feel

Depressionis known for producing feelings of sadness and helplessness. However, the symptoms don’t stop there.Depressionalso produces very real physical symptoms that cause significant distress to those with the condition.

Read on to learn more about the physical symptoms of depression.

Pain

People with depression can suffer from aches, pains, or headaches that do not have a known cause and don’t go away with treatment.There are two reasons why depression and pain often occur together.

The first reason is that pain and depression signals occur in the same areas of the brain. The areas that interpret pain are the same areas of the brain that manage mood.

The second reason is that the neurotransmittersserotoninandnorepinephrineare involved in both pain and depression.

In 2015, researchers found that pain tolerance and pain threshold were lower in those with major depression.Another study from 2017 discussed how chronic pain can cause depression. It went on to explain that up to 85% of people with chronic pain also have severe depression.

Fatigue

People with depression can feel run down, low on energy, and fatigued. They may find it hard to manage everyday activities, work, or go to school. In fact, 90% of people with depression report symptoms offatigue.

Not only isfatiguea common symptom of depression, but it also often lingers after treatment has begun. It is a difficult symptom of depression to resolve and can greatly affect a person’s ability to function.

Gastrointestinal Issues

The gut knows what is going on in the brain. When someone is nervous or anxious, they may feel nauseous or like they have butterflies in their stomach. This is because the brain and gut affect each other in a bidirectional communication called thebrain-gut axis.

Research has shown that gut health is associated with many physical and psychological conditions, including depression.The interconnection between the gut and depression can result in people developing significant intestinal or stomach symptoms when they are experiencing depression. These symptoms can include:

Immune System Dysregulation

Depression and immunity have a close link. When someone is depressed or stressed, it can cause theirimmune systemto work harder. This may be due to human evolution; when humans are placed into stressful situations, the body goes into a fight-or-flight response. This response also stimulates the immune system.

Researchers believe that the link between the immune system and depression goes both ways. Depression increases the likelihood ofautoimmune conditions, and autoimmune conditions increase the likelihood of developing depression.

Appetite Changes

Depression changes how a person feels, which can also increase or decrease their appetite.

Appetitechanges are one of the most common symptoms of depression: 48% of adults with depression will have symptoms of adecreased appetite, whereas 35% of people with depression will have an increased appetite.

Researchers suggest that these changes may be due to over- or underactivity in the areas of the brain that support the feelings of rewards or incentives.

Physical Symptoms of AnxietyAnxiety, like depression, can cause many physical symptoms. The body is responding to a state of stress which results in the activation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). This can cause the following symptoms:HeadachesNauseaShakinessAbdominal painShortness of breath

Physical Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety, like depression, can cause many physical symptoms. The body is responding to a state of stress which results in the activation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). This can cause the following symptoms:HeadachesNauseaShakinessAbdominal painShortness of breath

Anxiety, like depression, can cause many physical symptoms. The body is responding to a state of stress which results in the activation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). This can cause the following symptoms:

Physical Signs of Depression in Others

Physical signs of depression vary from person to person. It’s important to know these signs to help recognizedepression in loved ones. Here are things to look for to identify depression in others:

Depression may seem to some like a condition that only affects the mind. However, the mind and the body are interconnected and cannot be separated.

When someone experiences significant mental health changes, the body can respond in various ways. Theneurotransmittersinvolved in depression are also found in the gut, which is why so many people with depression also experience stomach issues.

Depression Signs and Symptoms

Signs of depression may be weight loss, weight gain, or activity level changes.

Symptoms of depression could be sadness, loneliness, or feelings of emptiness.

When someone has depression, they can feel very real physical symptoms that greatly affect their life. The first step in supporting the body is to see a healthcare provider. Receiving adequate depression treatment is necessary to feel better.

Another way to support the body while dealing with depression is to take care of yourself as best as possible. This could include:

A Word From VerywellDepression feels different to everyone and can impact every part of the body. For some, it feels like an emptiness akin to heartache or intense fatigue, and for others, a heavy, relentless weight that they can’t shake off.—ELLE MARKMAN, PSYD, MPH, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD

A Word From Verywell

Depression feels different to everyone and can impact every part of the body. For some, it feels like an emptiness akin to heartache or intense fatigue, and for others, a heavy, relentless weight that they can’t shake off.—ELLE MARKMAN, PSYD, MPH, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD

Depression feels different to everyone and can impact every part of the body. For some, it feels like an emptiness akin to heartache or intense fatigue, and for others, a heavy, relentless weight that they can’t shake off.

—ELLE MARKMAN, PSYD, MPH, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD

Elle Markman, PsyD

Summary

13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.Sheng J, Liu S, Wang Y, et al.The link between depression and chronic pain: neural mechanisms in the brain.Neural Plasticity. 2017;2017:1-10. doi:10.1155/2017/9724371Harvard Health Publishing.Pain, anxiety, and depression.Zambito Marsala S, Pistacchi M, Tocco P, et al.Pain perception in major depressive disorder: a neurophysiological case–control study.Journal of the Neurological Sciences. 2015;357(1-2):19-21. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2015.06.051Ghanean H, Ceniti AK, Kennedy SH.Fatigue in patients with major depressive disorder: prevalence, burden and pharmacological approaches to management.CNS Drugs. 2018;32(1):65-74. doi:10.1007/s40263-018-0490-zEvrensel A, Ceylan ME.The gut-brain axis: the missing link in depression.Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2015;13(3):239-244. doi:10.9758/cpn.2015.13.3.239Harvard Health Publishing.The gut-brain connection.Miller AH, Raison CL.The role of inflammation in depression: from evolutionary imperative to modern treatment target.Nat Rev Immunol. 2016;16(1):22-34. doi:10.1038/nri.2015.5Euesden J, Danese A, Lewis CM, Maughan B.A bidirectional relationship between depression and the autoimmune disorders — new perspectives from the National Child Development Study. Hashimoto K, ed.PLoS ONE. 2017;12(3):e0173015. doi:10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0173015Simmons WK, Burrows K, Avery JA, et al.Depression-related increases and decreases in appetite: dissociable patterns of aberrant activity in reward and interoceptive neurocircuitry.AJP. 2016;173(4):418-428. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15020162Harvard Health Publishing.Recognizing and easing the physical symptoms of anxiety.NHS.Symptoms — depression in adults.National Library of Medicine.Sign or symptom.

13 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.Sheng J, Liu S, Wang Y, et al.The link between depression and chronic pain: neural mechanisms in the brain.Neural Plasticity. 2017;2017:1-10. doi:10.1155/2017/9724371Harvard Health Publishing.Pain, anxiety, and depression.Zambito Marsala S, Pistacchi M, Tocco P, et al.Pain perception in major depressive disorder: a neurophysiological case–control study.Journal of the Neurological Sciences. 2015;357(1-2):19-21. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2015.06.051Ghanean H, Ceniti AK, Kennedy SH.Fatigue in patients with major depressive disorder: prevalence, burden and pharmacological approaches to management.CNS Drugs. 2018;32(1):65-74. doi:10.1007/s40263-018-0490-zEvrensel A, Ceylan ME.The gut-brain axis: the missing link in depression.Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2015;13(3):239-244. doi:10.9758/cpn.2015.13.3.239Harvard Health Publishing.The gut-brain connection.Miller AH, Raison CL.The role of inflammation in depression: from evolutionary imperative to modern treatment target.Nat Rev Immunol. 2016;16(1):22-34. doi:10.1038/nri.2015.5Euesden J, Danese A, Lewis CM, Maughan B.A bidirectional relationship between depression and the autoimmune disorders — new perspectives from the National Child Development Study. Hashimoto K, ed.PLoS ONE. 2017;12(3):e0173015. doi:10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0173015Simmons WK, Burrows K, Avery JA, et al.Depression-related increases and decreases in appetite: dissociable patterns of aberrant activity in reward and interoceptive neurocircuitry.AJP. 2016;173(4):418-428. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15020162Harvard Health Publishing.Recognizing and easing the physical symptoms of anxiety.NHS.Symptoms — depression in adults.National Library of Medicine.Sign or symptom.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.Sheng J, Liu S, Wang Y, et al.The link between depression and chronic pain: neural mechanisms in the brain.Neural Plasticity. 2017;2017:1-10. doi:10.1155/2017/9724371Harvard Health Publishing.Pain, anxiety, and depression.Zambito Marsala S, Pistacchi M, Tocco P, et al.Pain perception in major depressive disorder: a neurophysiological case–control study.Journal of the Neurological Sciences. 2015;357(1-2):19-21. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2015.06.051Ghanean H, Ceniti AK, Kennedy SH.Fatigue in patients with major depressive disorder: prevalence, burden and pharmacological approaches to management.CNS Drugs. 2018;32(1):65-74. doi:10.1007/s40263-018-0490-zEvrensel A, Ceylan ME.The gut-brain axis: the missing link in depression.Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2015;13(3):239-244. doi:10.9758/cpn.2015.13.3.239Harvard Health Publishing.The gut-brain connection.Miller AH, Raison CL.The role of inflammation in depression: from evolutionary imperative to modern treatment target.Nat Rev Immunol. 2016;16(1):22-34. doi:10.1038/nri.2015.5Euesden J, Danese A, Lewis CM, Maughan B.A bidirectional relationship between depression and the autoimmune disorders — new perspectives from the National Child Development Study. Hashimoto K, ed.PLoS ONE. 2017;12(3):e0173015. doi:10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0173015Simmons WK, Burrows K, Avery JA, et al.Depression-related increases and decreases in appetite: dissociable patterns of aberrant activity in reward and interoceptive neurocircuitry.AJP. 2016;173(4):418-428. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15020162Harvard Health Publishing.Recognizing and easing the physical symptoms of anxiety.NHS.Symptoms — depression in adults.National Library of Medicine.Sign or symptom.

National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.

Sheng J, Liu S, Wang Y, et al.The link between depression and chronic pain: neural mechanisms in the brain.Neural Plasticity. 2017;2017:1-10. doi:10.1155/2017/9724371

Harvard Health Publishing.Pain, anxiety, and depression.

Zambito Marsala S, Pistacchi M, Tocco P, et al.Pain perception in major depressive disorder: a neurophysiological case–control study.Journal of the Neurological Sciences. 2015;357(1-2):19-21. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2015.06.051

Ghanean H, Ceniti AK, Kennedy SH.Fatigue in patients with major depressive disorder: prevalence, burden and pharmacological approaches to management.CNS Drugs. 2018;32(1):65-74. doi:10.1007/s40263-018-0490-z

Evrensel A, Ceylan ME.The gut-brain axis: the missing link in depression.Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2015;13(3):239-244. doi:10.9758/cpn.2015.13.3.239

Harvard Health Publishing.The gut-brain connection.

Miller AH, Raison CL.The role of inflammation in depression: from evolutionary imperative to modern treatment target.Nat Rev Immunol. 2016;16(1):22-34. doi:10.1038/nri.2015.5

Euesden J, Danese A, Lewis CM, Maughan B.A bidirectional relationship between depression and the autoimmune disorders — new perspectives from the National Child Development Study. Hashimoto K, ed.PLoS ONE. 2017;12(3):e0173015. doi:10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0173015

Simmons WK, Burrows K, Avery JA, et al.Depression-related increases and decreases in appetite: dissociable patterns of aberrant activity in reward and interoceptive neurocircuitry.AJP. 2016;173(4):418-428. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15020162

Harvard Health Publishing.Recognizing and easing the physical symptoms of anxiety.

NHS.Symptoms — depression in adults.

National Library of Medicine.Sign or symptom.

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