One of the common misconceptions about major depression is that it is strictly a psychological condition characterized by emotional symptoms. And while it is true that negative thoughts and feelings are usually primary components of major depressive disorder, there are also a number of physical symptoms which accompany this mental illness. The opposite is also true. There are a large number of physical conditions and illnesses which can cause symptoms identical to major depressive disorder. That is why even if your symptoms are solely psychological, you should absolutely see your medical doctor and describe your symptoms as much detail as you can so that they may determine whether the symptoms have a physiological cause.
In many cases, if the causes of depression are physical, depression can be entirely cured through the treatment or management of the physical illness that your doctor identifies. If, on the other hand, you were to neglect the possibility that physical disease might be causing your depressive symptoms, you could find that the symptoms get worse the matter what sort of psychological treatment you receive as your physical condition deteriorates unbeknownst to you.
What your doctor has determined that you are in good physical health, or if you're emotional and cognitive symptoms persist even with physical treatment, you may be a good candidate for psychotherapy. Some of the physical symptoms that can be caused by depression include changes in appetite or weight, aches and pains, chronic pain, weight gain or weight loss, headaches, fatigue, changes in sleeping patterns, insomnia. Pain and depression are not commonly associated by laypeople, but in fact they are seen together as often as suicidal thoughts and depression. This is compounded by the fact that the risk of suicide in depressive disorders is greatly increased when the physical symptoms that I have described here are present. This is because the physical discomfort that is caused by a person's emotions can be outward signs of emotional experience that the person has no way of consciously dealing with.
Chicago Psychology is a community site where mental health professionals share their insights. If you are seeking psychotherapy or counseling in Chicago, you can get help right away by calling 312-869-2323.