Physical Symptoms of Depression

[MangoPie]

Hey there! I'm new, and figured I'd reach out.

TL;DR, i've been depressed for awhile and I've known I've been depressed for awhile. I got diagnosed last year, and it was a really exciting experience for me, I'm finally going to get help! Depression has always been an up and down for me and I'm thankful for those experiences I had with counselling and trying medication for the first time.

Fast-forward to now. I'm no longer on medication (it wasn't really working for me anymore, plus I'm in a better space mentally so I figured there wasn't much need for it. came off of these with the help of my doctor). I wouldn't consider myself a very emotionally depressed person, I don't think I feel sad often, but I do feel drained and tired pretty much all the time. I've kind of been getting frustrated with my situation as of late-- I want to do things but no matter how much I sleep or try, it's an effort, and it feels like I have to sit around and wait until this tired spell passes. Not too long ago I was stuck in a really bad one for over a month. I had conversed with my doctor and figured it 'might' have been an iron deficiency. I took supplements for a month and it changed nothing. Then, about a week ago, I finally came out of it and it was great! I could keep a sleep schedule, I wanted to go and exercise and do things, I just felt like me again, but now I feel myself falling back into the tired spell again.

I've been told numerous times to try and keep a good sleep schedule and try to exercise and etc, but the problem at the moment is that the way I see it now, those things are a result of being in a good headspace and physical condition. I can't do that right now, exercise doesn't help, keeping a good sleep schedule is impossible. I feel like I'm at my wits end and I don't know what to do. I just want to be awake again.

[White_Rose]

Dear MangoPie

Welcome to the forum. Many of the people who write in here have depression and can empathise with you. Physical signs do come with depression and show up even when we feel we are not depressed. It's good you feel you are in a better headspace but be aware it's not always the end of the depression story.

Good food/sleep/exercise is always beneficial but not always the whole story. You have tried taking iron tablets with no change. It may be your GP needs to investigate your physical symptoms for other areas of concern. I've had physical illnesses that make me feel unmotivated etc and my energy has returned as my physical health improves. It's not always the case.

Depression can hide away and pretend it's not active any longer. The black dog can be very cunning and of course you don't want to be depressed so you go along with the other health possibilities. Do you wake in the early hours of the morning? That's often a depression give away as is loss of motivation.

Can you arrange to have a thorough physical check to rule out any problems in that area. Did you have any mental health counselling while you were taking your antidepressants? Sometimes we need a combination of both. Knowing and understanding yourself is the best way to counter depression and to me it does sound as though your depression is still there on the back boiler. Please don't take my word for it because I am not a doctor.

I've been told numerous times to try and keep a good sleep schedule and try to exercise and etc, but the problem at the moment is that the way I see it now, those things are a result of being in a good headspace and physical condition.

Exercise etc is a great help in dealing with depression due to the release of various chemicals in your body. You do feel good and it seems a little unfair that what helps us the most is what we lack the energy to do. Same with sleep though we have less control over this. It tends to get better as the depression fades.

If I may suggest, get a thorough physical check up and go from there. Ask your GP to refer you to a counsellor or psychologist and have a chat about yourself with one of them. Ask the GP about a mental health plan. Please let us know how you go.

Mary

[therising]

Welcome MangoPie

I feel for you so very much! Whilst we spend approximately a third of our life in sleep, for the purpose of energy restoration, it's incredibly frustrating when that time just doesn't give us exactly what we need.

Mary has given you great advice in regard to having a thorough physical checkup. I'm wondering whether your GP has ordered all the relevant blood work (iron, B12, thyroid etc). From my own experience, B12 deficiency can really knock you around. Active B12 test is more accurate than basic Serum B12 in some cases, especially when the Serum B12 result is borderline.

Wondering whether your GP has also suggested having a sleep study done. Even something as simple as mild sleep apnea, for example, can have a major impact on our energy levels.

Sometimes it's a bit of a chicken and egg thing. Which came first, the chemistry present in depression causing a change in energy levels or the change in energy levels intensifying the chemistry in depression? It can definitely be a frustrating investigation but as long as it's thorough some answers should come to light.

Take care