Can depression and stress affect you physically?

[Suzanne]

I notice that ive been a lot more tired than usual and quite lethargic although some of that could be down to the fact ive not been sleeping so well.

Yesterday too i was having such a stressful day it felt like i was being strangled round the neck and i actually thought i was going to vomit, not a nice feeling.

[Sean Bowen]

Of, course, the mind and body are intertwined with one another. Your mental state has great impact on your physical state. When I'm depressed, like the times when I had a few bad months, I remember getting sick a lot, with things that were not connected, seemingly. For example, tonsillitis. When you are depressed, your immune system slows down. I don't why this is, but I read it in a study some where, you can find all sorts of articles about depression and physiological well being.

[Jannia Tovio]

Hey Suzanne!
Well, I will have to say, I think the vomit and not feeling nice might be a sympton of a panic or ansiety attack. Maybe in the moment you felt that way you were at the pick of your stressful day.

[Sean Bowen]

I know exactly how you feel. When have a bad day, which is often these days, I have a physically down feeling, which cannot be made to vanish. Hopeful thinking and positive thoughts only go so far...

[Jonathan Brown]

The body and mind are one, and it would be a mistake to put a divide between the two. you may have had an anxiety attack, and in that case, you should see some one. Are you on any medication.?

[Joshua Hughes]

I also suffer from tiredness, mentally and physically. When i'm happy, this goes away. Have you thought about meditation? Or yoga for example?

[Jonathan Brown]

But Joshua, doesn't yoga make you even more sleepy, lol?

[Andrew bewelet]

The most common physical complaint from people suffering from chronic depression is also chronic pain, the unending pain that seems to follow you everywhere, and puts a wedge between you and having fun.

You're too tired or in too much back, neck, or headache pain to participate in life.

The chronic pain makes you want to stay home, and the feelings of uselessness and being left out precipitate the ongoing depression.

It is a vicious cycle. and it sucks!

[Sean Bowen]

Yes I agree, it is a vicious cycle, and it must stop. the problem is is that when you are in chronic depression, and then the physical pain comes with it, then how can anyone expect you to think positively and smile and then go about your life?

[Natasha]

It's so hard to feel better when you feel physically sick. How can I stop feeling anxious/depressed if I can't even get out of bed? I feel sick when I get up in the morning, and it takes all I've got not to throw up. But, when I get out of bed and back into the real world, I nearly always feel better and suddenly less exhausted and weary.

[Suzanne]

Well i never knew it could affect your body in so many ways.

To combat my tiredness weirdly enough i started doing more exercise. It was hard at first as i was so knackered and had no motivation but i feel much better now and have much more energy.

As for the feeling like i'm going to vomit i',m still struggling with that. I have such a stressful life and everything is go, go, go, now, now, now and i don't even get time to think so when i am at the peak of my stress that's when i feel really sick.

Been off medication now though about 4-5 months and still feel better off it.