· Does it hurt to move and are you feeling sad at the same time?
· Are you experiencing fatigue, depression, and swelling while wondering if there is a connection between the three ailments?
The Bible gives examples of people who experienced extreme challenges of sadness and how they handled it. Job experienced excruciating pain and suffered great loss. He was a godly man who suffered great loss. He was a man of great stature that God bragged about in heaven. Even yet, in the story of Job, we learn that extreme sadness can affect the state of our physical body.
The short answer to these questions is yes, there could be a connection. Depression has become one of the most highly diagnosed disorders and disabilities in our country today. With that said, depression is not an inflammatory disorder. Instead, it can be a potential tie that can affect inflammation within the body. This tie is just beginning to be understood.
How it Works
In addition, the problem of people experiencing depression is on the rise. There are many different variances and fluctuations of feeling sad, disappointed, or frustrated. Depression expressly affects the quality of life for those who are affected by chronic illnesses.
Inflammation pathways that interact with the brain interact with the multiple systems within the body. Depression can also trigger responses to stressors within the body which can lead to a prolonged inflammatory response.
Like many mental health disorders, depression was once thought to only affect what occurs in the mind. We know that this is no longer true as studies have shown that there is a relationship between depression and inflammation within the body. In addition, depression can also affect normal body functions. Sadly, most people do not get help for depression as they think that it is not something that can be treated.
How It Ties Together
There can be several variables as to how a person can experience inflammation in their body while navigating through the dark cloud of depression. Childhood trauma, someone who is experiencing depression occurring historically within the family, people who have a sensitive immune system, or a person’s status in society are all factors that can affect the severity of inflammation within the body.
In addition to experiencing inflammation within your body in conjunction with depression, it is also common to experience fatigue. This further shows that there is a connection between fatigue, depression, and how it affects the immune system.
Inflammation within the body would include those suffering from Type 1 Diabetes, multiple sclerosis, lupus, or even rheumatoid arthritis. In other words, if you are experiencing arthritis or other chronic symptoms in your body and are also extremely sad, do not ignore what is happening. Infectious diseases, such as hepatitis and sepsis, have been linked to inflammatory response and has been found to increase the risk of depression. Even those who are pregnant moms, who are happening to experience inflammation from the pregnancy, also experience depression during this time.
The Reverse Is True
Just as there is a connection between depression and inflammation, doing holistic treatments also can bring a positive result in the reverse direction as well. As take care of your physical health so you can function from day to day, taking care of your mental health can provide a lessening of physical ailments as a result of living a more holistic lifestyle.
In addition to seeking counseling, improvements in the reversal of inflammation and depression within the body are also evident with physical exercise. Having a regular exercise routine helps to improve depression and decrease inflammation.
An additional tie of experiencing a reversal of inflammation and depression is a change in diet. Reports have shown that those who have adopted a Mediterranean style diet or implementing a lifestyle of short-term fasting, have seen a reversal in depression and inflammation.
In addition to working through the challenges involved with improving physical health, navigating through those same challenges during a counseling session can bring improvement as well. Schedule an appointment for an initial counseling session today.