Therapists and researchers have made many gains in understanding mental illnesses in the last century. The mental health community has come a very long way from the early days of insane asylums and electroshock.
However, this doesn’t mean that mental illnesses are completely understood yet. Depression, for example, is a complicated disorder. It can mimic other illnesses and exist alongside other diagnoses. It’s not always easy to identify what’s depression and what’s not. Several types of depression exist, which adds to the difficulty.
One of these types is called masked depression. It differs from other varieties in that its symptoms are primarily physical, also known as somatic symptoms.
What Is Masked Depression?
While the term “masked depression” isn’t as frequently used as it once was, it does still exist. You can think of it as depression that doesn’t manifest as emotional symptoms such as increased sadness and crying jags.
Rather, those with masked depression live with a number of aches and pains, gastrointestinal issues, fatigue, and sleeping issues. They may have no idea that they are depressed, but they’re keenly aware of their physical problems.
It takes a skilled clinician to realize that depression can show up in the body rather than in the emotions. Masked depression can make it more challenging to get an accurate diagnosis.
What Are the Signs?
Several somatic complaints are associated with depression.
Muscle Aches
Masked depression can lead to a variety of physical aches. These include backaches, which are frequently found in those with depression. Headaches are common, too.
Lowered Pain Tolerance
Many people with masked depression have a lower pain tolerance than the average population. What may be a comfortable, soothing shoulder massage to a non-depressed individual can be intolerably painful to someone who’s depressed.
Low Energy/Fatigue
Unfortunately, low energy is another symptom of masked depression. It can be very frustrating to live with constant, unexplained fatigue. A person’s thyroid levels and other typical causes of low energy may be normal but the low energy persists.
Gastrointestinal Issues
Nausea, stomach pain, cramps, and bloating can also occur with masked depression.
Sleep Issues
The signs of masked depression also include sleep problems. This can be sleeping more than typical, dealing with insomnia, or having difficulty getting up despite a goodnight’s sleep.
What Causes These Signs?
As you can see, depression (whether masked or not) can affect the entire physical body. From the brain to the stomach and muscles and sleep, few systems are spared.
You may be wondering why masked depression creates these signs. Researchers believe there are several possible causes:
Neurochemicals
It’s fascinating to know that serotonin, an important neurochemical that helps regulate mood, is actually produced in the intestines. In fact, the intestines and brain are closely connected. Depression is often known to be a result of reduced serotonin levels. You can see how this could also create digestive problems.
Circadian Rhythms
Your natural sleep-wake cycle is closely tied to what is known as your circadian rhythm. Unfortunately, depression can throw this cycle off. As a result, sleep problems occur.
Inflammation
Scientists also think that depression can cause inflammation throughout the body. This can create aches and pains, as well as G.I. issues.
Brain Physiology
Researchers have also learned that the part of the brain that regulates mood is also tied to the sensation of pain. It makes sense that what happens in this region will affect both mood and pain as a result.
Seeking Help
If these physical symptoms sound familiar to you, it’s important to seek help. If you’ve already seen a physician but didn’t find any source of the symptoms, consider an evaluation for depression. As you treat your depression, your somatic signs will also improve.
It is possible to move beyond physical and emotional pain without succumbing to poor coping methods or addiction. Please call my office to learn more and potentially set up an initial consultation.
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