What is depression and somatic illness?
When suffering from depression you may be tired. You may lose your appetite and feel 'down'. In brief, you lack energy.
The above symptoms are also very common in physical illnesses. If you suffer from depression you may have:
- Aches and pains
- Stomach aches and digestive problems
You can therefore confuse depression with a physical illness.
Any prolonged or serious physical illness increases your risk of developing depression. A number of illnesses can directly trigger depression:
- Hormonal imbalances that disrupt your metabolism
- Disorders of the brain, such as stroke or dementia
The medication prescribed for physical illnesses can also affect your mental health, resulting in illnesses such as depression.
If an illness or treatment triggers depression, you must remove that trigger if possible. If you become depressed while suffering from a chronic illness, your depression can be treated with:
- Counselling
- Cognitive behavioural therapy
- Medication
- Electro convulsive therapy/ECT (in extreme cases)
It is vital to detect and treat these types of depression. Once detected, they often impact on your:
- Quality of life
- Prognosis of outcome