Can Physical Pain In Many Parts Of The Body Really Be Caused By Stress And Depression?
My work colleague has been for dozens of medical tests which have all proved negative. He says the doctors have advised him he may be under too much stress at work.
Is this really the cause? He says he can’t stop thinking about work issues even on foreign holidays.
10 Responses to “Can Physical Pain In Many Parts Of The Body Really Be Caused By Stress And Depression?”
Dec 21st at 10:28 pm By: njdocisi
Yes, stress and depression can most definately take its toll on the body. Both have many physical symptoms that go along with the mental symptoms.
There is something called somatization, which is basically when a person has physical symptoms caused by psychological problems (stress, anxiety, depression, etc.).
In fact, many physical conditions (especially those that affect the gastrointestinal tract like IBS and inflammatory bowel disease) are made worse by stress and anxiety.
If his doctors can’t find anything physically wrong with him, I’d agree that the stress is probably the culprit.
Dec 22nd at 1:25 am By: TheSafet
There have been significant links to stress and the adverse affects to the body that is causes.
Dec 22nd at 8:17 am By: willy wom bat
yes. most certainly can. your friend needs help fast. because what you a have posted on the web. he not going to live very long. even takes he problems on holiday. get a life.
Dec 22nd at 8:57 am By: anti_pop
depression and stress don’t only hurt mentally, but physically too..
chronic pain is often related to anxiety and depression.. so yes it very well could be the cause..
Dec 22nd at 3:56 pm By: rod c
I was told my colds that never came to anything were depression. The brain remembers how you felt the last time you lay in bed for days feeling ill and recreates those symptoms to get you to go back to bed because it knows there is something psychologically wrong that needs rest.
Dec 22nd at 7:37 pm By: Get Real
He should get a life.
Dec 22nd at 9:26 pm By: Susas
It can be.
Dec 23rd at 2:00 am By: Neely O'Hara
It’s definitely a possibility. It does happen.
Dec 23rd at 5:40 am By: lalala
YES! YES! and YES! sometimes when a person gets really stressed they can create actually physical pain. we do it to relate to the mental pain. also stress is hard on the body and takes a toll. your friend needs a vacation.
Dec 23rd at 10:33 am By: heyteach
It MAY be the cause. Might possibly be something else such as fibromyalgia for all I know.
However, on depression and physical pain, from Harvard:
“Treating pain and depression in combination
In pain rehabilitation centers, specialists treat both problems together, often with the same techniques, including progressive muscle relaxation, hypnosis, and meditation. Physicians prescribe standard analgesics — acetaminophen, aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and in severe cases, opiates — along with a variety of psychiatric drugs (see “Medicating pain and depression” box above).
Physical therapists provide exercises not only to break the vicious cycle of pain and immobility but also to help relieve depression. Cognitive and behavioral therapies teach pain patients how to avoid fearful anticipation, banish discouraging thoughts, and adjust everyday routines to ward off physical and emotional suffering. Psychotherapy helps demoralized patients and their families tell their stories and describe the experience of pain in its relation to other problems in their lives.
Pain specialists can improve their practice by learning more about the interactions among psychological, neurological, and hormonal influences that link pain and depression. Why do some people recover from injuries without pain while others develop chronic symptoms, and how is that process related to depression and anxiety? How do psychotherapy and antidepressant drugs affect brain function in depressed people with chronic pain? What kinds of psychotherapy are helpful for them, and how long should psychotherapy continue? In investigating these questions, and in all treatment of both pain and depression, the goal is not just comfort or the absence of symptoms but restoring the capacity to lead a productive life.”http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/D…
So if they’re right, he can be helped.
Good luck to him.
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