Signs Of Depression

We all have those days when we just wish we had stayed in bed and called in sick.  It could be a flat tire, problem at the office, or problems with the kids.

But those usually last for  just a day or two and we can usually handle them.

But according to recent studies more than 50% of the people who suffer from Pancreatitis also could be suffering from depression.

Severe depression can last for weeks or longer and will usually not go away until we get treatment,

And is it any wonder that you might get depressed when you spend your days in pain and/or exhausted, running from one Doctor to another with the occasional visit to the ER, dreading the next flare up?

This makes it important to know the signs of depression so that you can make sure that you, or a loved one, gets the help that they need.

Self Criticism

Extreme self criticism is an important sign of depression.  We all criticize ourselves as part of our normal life but if you suffer from Depression this is going to dramatically increase.

If you are constantly thinking about how you should have done something differently or should have been able to do something it is a warning sign.

Beating yourself up over the things that you have done wrong can be a growing experience, but if we are depressed it can become a focus of our attention.

Losing Interest

There are always going to be situations where we lose interest and just want to walk away.

But if you or your loved one starts to lose interest in the things that you used to enjoy this could be a definite warning sign.   Losing interest in our favorite TV shows, sports that we are usually fanatical about, or in being around our friends should alert us that something may be off.

According to psychologist Moe Gelbart, Ph.D. “Loss of interest in pleasurable activities is a common component of depression and is referred to as anhedonia.”

Loss of interest in the things in the world around you can also create a negative spiral where this loss of interest leads to a feeling of isolation which can cause even more depression.

Changes In Weight

Changes in weight of more than 5% should be considered another warning sign that we shouldn’t ignore.

It could be weight loss because you or a loved one loses interest in eating or it could be a weight gain as we try to lose our depression in food.

Doctors say that eating food can increase the level of serotonin for a little while which helps improve our mood.

But soon that passes and we are back to where we began.

Aches and Pains

Another of the signs of depression is if we or others complain of aches and pains.

Whether it’s stomach troubles, joint aches, or back pain, depression can influence the neurological processes that result in us feeling more pain.

This is because the pain signals that come from our body that are usually blunted can end up becoming amplified with depression.

When we are depressed we also have a tendency to become more focused on the negative and that makes us more likely to notice pain that we might not ordinarily feel and focus on them which makes the pain seem worse.

Anger

Another of the important signs of depression to watch for is anger or a short fuse in situations you might otherwise cope with better.

Being angry is not just a sign of depression but it can also be a contributor that leads to more depression.

According to an editorial in Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, anger that is ignored might can lead  to a destructive passive-aggressive behavior that could cause more depression.

What To Do If You Have These Signs Of Depression

If you have these or other signs of depression you need to get help.  Remember that depression can be a permanent condition or one that happens when we hit a low point.

There are times when depression can be handled by picking ourselves up and saying that we aren’t going to live that way but there are also times when we need to seek help.

It can be a daunting task to find yet another Doctor to treat your depression but it is important that you do this.

Final Thoughts on Signs of Depression

Whether you are suffering from the intense pain of Acute Pancreatitis or the constant pain of Chronic Pancreatitis it often feels that we are fighting it alone.

I have always been lucky to have a loving and caring partner and friends that support me as best they can but no one understands that pain and isolation of Pancreatitis as well as a fellow sufferer.

This feeling can make us feel isolated and alone even when there are people around us.

When you add in Doctors and nurses that often seem to think if not say aloud that we are drug seeking or causing our own problems it’s no wonder that so many of us become depressed.

But there are good Doctors and nurses that will try to help if you give them the chance.  Depression can cause us to isolate ourselves and just feel too alone to even attempt to get the help that we need.

So I hope that if you take anything from this post it is that you don’t have to suffer alone and in pain.  There are people that can help you through this and with the pain of Pancreatitis.

You just have to be a pro-active patient and make sure that if you have any signs of depression that you get the help that you need.