Many of us recognize common symptoms and indicators of depression, including intense feelings of despair, hopelessness, loss of interest in life, mood swings, and social isolation. But all of these symptoms are the mental and emotional symptoms. What about the lesser-known, physical symptoms?

Depression: Not Just Mental, But Physical

While depression is classified as a mental illness, those with the condition often suffer physically as well. “Usually, we don’t tend to think of depression as a disorder which causes physical pain, but there is no denying that some people who suffer from depression are feeling pain and discomfort on a physical level,” Caleb Backe, health and wellness expert, explains. “Sometimes, a person (or physician, for that matter) will misinterpret physical symptoms as being standalone and not attribute them to a mental condition.”

For this very reason, it’s important to understand the physical symptoms of depression. So, what are they? “Depressed individuals report fatigue, almost flu-like pains and aches (head, back, neck), and even stomach pains,” Backe explains. “This last one makes a lot of sense, since the body’s center of energy is the stomach. When a person is not in balance, mentally, the stomach is one of the first organs to physically respond. This can be manifested through pains, digestive issues, lack of appetite, and general discomfort in the abdomen.”

Engage in Self-Care and Stay on Top of Your Health: 4 Tips

When we’re exhausted, uncomfortable, or in pure physical pain, we don’t want to do anything. We don’t want to get out of bed, we don’t want to leave the house, we don’t want to be bothered. That said, a major key to overcoming or managing your depression is engaging in self-care and expending a little energy to stay on top of your health. Here are a few tips for doing so:

1. Find means for stress relief like yoga or journaling.
   Stress can worsen or even trigger depressive episodes, which makes self-care and stress-relieving techniques important. A few practices which have shown to reduce stress and relieve symptoms of depression include meditation, yoga, and journaling. Find an activity you enjoy and incorporate it into your everyday!
   

2. Stay on top of your diet.
   Our diet can also have a significant impact on our mental health. To boost your mood and keep your mind right, you should reduce your intake of certain foods such as those with high amounts of chemicals, preservatives, sugar, and carbs. Base your diet around natural foods like fruits and vegetables instead.

3.  Find a form of exercise you enjoy.
   I know, exercising is probably the last thing you want to do. But if you can work up the motivation to go for a run around the block, make it to that cycling class, or even just do some yoga in your living room, you’ll experience a boost in your mood and your energy. Not to mention that exercising during the day can help you sleep better at night.

4. Spend time in the sun. 
   Finally, spend as much time as you can under the sun. Sunlight will help to improve your mood by increasing your serotonin levels. So, whenever you can, get outside and experience these benefits. Take your pup on a walk, read a book at the park, start gardening—whatever it is you enjoy!

Authors: 

Anthony Centore Ph.D. is Founder and CEO at Thriveworks--a counseling practice, focused on premium client care, with 80+ locations across the USA. He is Private Practice Consultant for the American Counseling Association, columnist for Counseling Today magazine, and Author of How to Thrive in Counseling Private Practice. Anthony is a multistate Licensed Professional Counselor and has been quoted in national media sources including The Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, and CBS Sunday Morning.

Taylor Bennett is a staff writer at Thriveworks. She devotes herself to distributing important information about mental health and wellbeing, writing mental health news and self-improvement tips daily. Taylor received her bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism, with minors in professional writing and leadership from Virginia Tech. She has published content on Thought Catalog, Odyssey, and The Traveling Parent.