When you wake up, does everything hurt? A new report says much of it could be “all in your head”—literally. Research from Stanford University shows that you could be depressed and not even know it.
A study conducted by psychiatrists at Stanford School of Medicine states that chronic pain, most often headaches and backaches, can often be a warning sign that you are at risk for depression.
The researchers say two out of three people who become depressed also end up in physical pain. In the study, 17 percent of the participants had chronic pain and 4 percent had symptoms of major depression; however, 43 percent of those with major depression also had chronic pain.
The study also showed that people with chronic pain also have more severe fatigue, insomnia, and weight gain than those who are just experiencing a “low mood”—and their depression also lasts longer.
The catch is that researchers aren’t sure what comes first—the pain or the depression. But they do recommend that if you’ve been in pain for more than a few weeks and the usual over-the-counter medications are not helping, you should ask yourself these questions:
Can I enjoy the things I used to enjoy?
Would I be pleased if an old friend were coming to visit?
Do I have trouble concentrating?
Am I easily irritated?
Am I sleeping well?
Has my appetite changed?
Do I feel guilty for no reason?
If you answer “yes” to one or two of these questions, it shouldn’t be a problem, but if you find you agree with at least five of these, you might want to talk with your doctor about being checked for depression.
For more information, see the Stanford University news release. |