Am I Depressed? Physical Symptoms That Come With the Blues

Depression not only affects your mood — it can also have a devastating effect on your body as well! You could be down in the dumps and not even realize it because you are having other health issues.

Here are some of the physical symptoms of the blues.

Whether it is trouble falling or staying asleep, depression can stop you from getting your much needed shuteye.

Despair can make the chest hurt and you should immediately get checked out to determine if you are having heart, stomach or lung problems. Depression can raise your risk of heart disease.

The blues can sap your energy to the point you don’t even want to get out of bed no matter how much sleep and rest you’ve gotten. Fatigue and depression can make each other seem even worse.

Living with chronic pain can form a vicious circle with depression, which triples the chances of aching muscles and joints, further boosting your blues.

The brain and stomach are strongly connected, which is why you can get tummy aches or nausea when you are concerned or stressed out. That can lead to diarrhea, constipation or indigestion.

Researchers reveal that people suffering from depression are three times more likely to get migraines — and those who get migraines are five times more likely to experience the blahs.

Being down in the dumps can disturb your diet — some people feel less hungry while others can’t stop eating. Depression has been linked to weight loss or gain, lethargy, bulimia, anorexia and binge eating.

Suffering from depression can be a proverbial pain in the neck — and it can trigger real back agony as well! Studies show that people who are depressed are four times more likely to suffer intense, disabling back or neck pain.

Men are much more likely than women to become short-tempered when in despair, scientists said.

The blues can make people too pooped to pop in the bedroom. Doctors can prescribe medication to treat depression and liberate your libido.

One way to reduce the effects of depression on your body is through regular exercise, research reveals. Working out or walking can release feel-good chemicals in the brain to boost your mood and slash your sensitivity to pain.

Remember that the blues can make it difficult to get out of bed and exercise, requiring you to muster the willpower to get up and at ’em — and doing so can help ease your fatigue and let you sleep better.