Hi all,
I'm curious if anyone here has experienced the symptoms of anxiety/depression and believes it was caused or worsened by a seperate health problem they were diagnosed with? In other words if you weren't suffering from said health problem(s), your mood might otherwise improve. I ask because for a great deal of my life I've been experiencing gastrointestinal problems which I've now just started seeing a doctor about and will be getting tests soon to hopefully find out the underlying cause. I understand stress can have an impact on the GI tract but I also feel like a great deal of my anxiety and depression stems from my messed up bowels and how they affect my life. Have any of you been treated for a health problem that affects your mood and found relief?
Hi JaseInSpace As far as I personally is concerned then I would say definately yes. I had been suffering with depression that was nothing to do with my health, I had no health problems. I had been prescribed Sertraline 2 years ago, and my depression had pretty well dissapeared. Then, just before Christmas I suddenly had a small skin problem. One doctor I saw said 'Oh that's nothing at all', and sent me on my way. However, since it was a facial thing I decided to go private, just to see if it could be treated and cleared away quickly since my wife and I were due to go on holiday. The dermatologist decided to take a skin biopsy which showed that it was something more serious and would need treatment. Oh boy, did my depression and anxiety came back. Each day now, I have longish bouts of both anxiety and depression. I struggle to cope with it, but it is not easy. I still take the sertraline and it helps a little. I just hope that in time things will improve somewhat. Does that help at all? Pip78
Hi
Definitely think other health issues can bring about depression. I was diagnosed last September with depression and anxiety but I believe it was bubbling under the surface for a while. Although I believe I have issues that go back to childhood I think my health issues and battles have played a part in everything becoming too much for me and my near breakdown last year. My problems are gynaecological but the use of naproxen for 8 years has also caused me gastrointestinal problems. Ithe also caused me to be anaemic which often results in me fainting. I had surgery in January to try an resolve the problem and in the weeks leading up to the op I felt really good and positive. My last therapy session was great and I discussed reducing my meds with my GP. I have had a long 6 week recovery but it seems to have sorted some of my health problems although it's too early to know if it has fully worked but I'm hopeful.
Unfortunately due to other circumstances my symptoms of depression and anxiety have returned and I am almost back where I started. However I do get moments of joy and pleasure that almost make me forget all my other worries when I am able to do things that I couldn't before surgery. I therefore believe that my health improving would have given me great relief from the darkness.
I hope you get some answers to your health problems and that it can be the start of your journey out of depression.
Yes. The doctors know that they affect each other. Illness or pain can bring on depression and depression can make any illness/pain worse. And it is NOT imagined, it is real.