The Unexpected Side Effects of Depression and What You Can Do

If you or someone you love lives with the effects of depression, you know that it is far more than occasional feelings of sadness. People often use the term depression casually to explain a wide array of feelings. Depression, however, is a medical diagnosis that goes beyond generalized feelings of sadness or being down.

Even if you learn and understand what to expect, there can be some things that surprise you. While they are not the direct symptoms, these things can be side effects associated with the depression you or your loved one lives with each day.

Understanding these things and what you can do to help will make the effects of depression feel less overwhelming so you can better manage it each day.

Expected things associated with depression

Depression, sometimes referred to as major depressive disorder or clinical depression, is a mood disorder that causes symptoms that can affect how you feel, think, and behave. These things can affect your daily life, as they are persistent for weeks, months, or even years.

The most common things symptoms are:

Persistent sadness or feeling empty: This is the most common thing people think of with depression. It is often described as a generalized feeling of being sad, down, or blue. The key here is that it is persistent over time and affects daily life.

Loss of interest in relationships and things that were once enjoyed: People living with depression can exhibit a lack of interest in things like hobbies or activities they used to enjoy. It can even carry over into relationships, losing interest in connecting with people they care about.

Negative feelings: A variety of negative feelings can be present. Things like pessimism, melancholy, irritability, worthlessness, and insecurity are a few common struggles for people with depression. Not everyone experiences these, and if they do, they often differ for each person.

Suicidal thoughts: This is important to note because of how serious it is and the discomfort people have when talking about it. Suicidal thoughts are not presentfor everyone who experiences depression; however, it is a struggle many people have. Given the serious nature and possible consequences of these thoughts, they must be discussed and treated.

While these are just a few of the symptoms people experience, they are some of the most common things associated with depression.

Unexpected side effects of depression

While we may expect some of the common things associated with depression, there are other symptoms or side effects that we dismiss. These are things we don’t think are connected with depression because they don’t fall within the handful of symptoms we expect.

These things may surprise you, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t something you can do about them. For each of the things listed below treating your depression is the number one way to reduce the side effects. However, some of them require more intervention.

Pain

One of the most surprising things associated with depression is pain. This is because we often think of depression as only affecting our mood or our brain. It is important to remember that everything is connected, body, mind, and soul.

From back or neck pain to limb pain, up to 75% of people with depression report feeling pain. It is believed this is because depression puts your mind in a more negative thought process, causing you to be hyper-aware of any discomfort in your body. Something that would have been merely a minor discomfort before your depression can feel like pain because of the state of your mind.

Things like headaches and stomachaches are also common complaints that fall into this category.

What you can do: Treating your depression should alleviate the negative mindset that leads to being hyper-aware of your pain. Additionally, you can talk with your doctor to make sure there are no physical issues to be addressed. Exercise, rest, healthy eating, and reducing stress can also help.

Weight change

People navigating depression can experience weight changes. While weight gain is slightly more common, weight loss is also a possibility. On the weight loss side, depression can impact your appetite, causing you to eat less and lose weight.

More likely, however, are the things associated with weight gain. Often, when you struggle with feelings of depression, it can cause you to make eating and activity choices that lead to weight gain.

Eating comfort foods rich in fat and sugar or eating convenience foods because it’s easier than cooking, can result in additional pounds. While these things may make you feel better temporarily, they often lead to weight gain. Weight gain can bring feelings of shame and insecurity that only exacerbate the other negative feelings you may have from your depression.

What you can do: Talk to a doctor or nutritionist to help you create a meal plan that is easy to follow and good for your body. Having the structure of a plan with foods you enjoy and can make with minimal effort will help prevent unwanted weight changes.

Irritability

Depression may be more commonly associated with sadness, but there are a variety of emotions that depression can cause. Even more significant than the direct emotions can be the indirect ones that result from persistent ways depression affects your life.

Because you are dealing with something that is negatively affecting your life for an extended period you may find yourself to be grumpy, impatient, irritable, or have a temper that wasn’t there before. Living with depression for a period is wearing on you in more ways than you can imagine.

This can quickly become a cycle as you become irritable, see how you’re acting, don’t like it, and get more upset. While not directly connected to your depression, the depression symptoms can be a catalyst for this type of behavior.

What you can do: Start by recognizing how you feel. Once you do that, it can become easier to make changes. Talking with a counselor is a powerful way to make changes in this area. You can also do things to reduce your stress levels such as practice meditation, get enough rest, spend time outside, and get exercise.

Sexual changes

This is one that often surprises people. Depression can cause changes in your sex life in multiple ways, primarily because sex begins in the brain.

“In a person with depression, the sex-related chemicals are out of balance. As a result, sexual desire is low or missing. Low levels of some of these chemicals can also dull pleasurable feelings.” (Cleveland Clinic)

Because depression can cause you to lose interest in things you once enjoyed, sex can be affected. Additionally, other symptoms of depression such as fatigue, low self-esteem, and general feelings of hopelessness can decrease sex drive. If you also experience weight gain, you may feel insecure about engaging in sex with your spouse. Additionally, certain antidepressants can have sexual side effects.

What you can do: The most important thing you can do is talk about it with your partner, your doctor, and your counselor. Suffering in silence can lead to more problems, especially within your marriage. Sexual well-being is just as important to a person as physical and emotional well-being. It may feel embarrassing to talk about, but your doctor and counselor can help.

Final thoughts

Depression affects so many areas of a person’s life. But it doesn’t mean you need to suffer. The best thing you can do to help navigate the unexpected side effects of depression is to talk to a counselor.

Whether you are experiencing these side effects or someone you love is experiencing them, talking to a professional can help you work through them for a healthier, happier daily life. Call our office today to contact a counselor that is right for you.