Lack of treatment or initial treatment failures can worsen the present anxiety. Patients can tend to increasingly focus on, and even obsess over their pain when lack of control prevails. There is also anxiety in relation to how fibromyalgia is negatively impacting relationships.Ĭoncerns about loss of independence and lack of control over your body can emerge. There is ongoing uncertainty about future health, body image, and whether treatments will be successful in alleviating pain. Feelings of self harm or thoughts about death.ĭealing with chronic pain creates stress and increased anxiety.A sense of helplessness and hopelessness.Inability to participate in or enjoy activities that gave pleasure in the past.All of these can be contributing factors in ongoing depression.Įxamples of the psychological symptoms of depression that may occur in individuals with fibromyalgia include: Ongoing pain frequently results in reduced exercise and physical activities. The physical discomfort, lack of sleep, and the diminished ability to concentrate due to the physical symptoms can result in more isolation and a reduction in the ability to function at work or school. They do concur the incidence of depression escalates in conjunction with fibromyalgia. Fear of movement causing increased pain can exacerbate these psychological symptoms.Įxperts still disagree about whether fibromyalgia triggers depression or if depression occurs after a fibromyalgia diagnosis. There is a connection between physical fibromyalgia symptoms and the feelings of depression associated with fibromyalgia pain. Researchers have found that patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia may be up to three times more likely to report depression than those not diagnosed. The Connection Between Fibromyalgia & Depression Furthermore, the number of reported medical symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia has been positively associated with current and past depressive and anxiety disorders.” 5 Research has found high levels of depression and anxiety in patients with fibromyalgia because of its physical symptoms. This can add to feelings of isolation, depression, and anxiety experienced by fibromyalgia patients. Patients may feel they have to validate or explain their symptoms to justify themselves. 4Īdditionally, fibromyalgia is an “invisible” illness, in that those suffering from it may not be taken seriously by others who may minimize or dismiss the intensity and frequency of symptoms. 3 Some studies suggest that pathways in the brain related to depression and anxiety also lead to the pain receptors that trigger fibromyalgia. Experts have found that mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders are often precursors to the disease. Fibromyalgia & Mental Healthįibromyalgia is deeply connected to mental health. Other possible causes are infections and severe stress. It may also be triggered by a serious physical trauma or emotional trauma like post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 2 Medical experts hypothesize it may have a genetic component. It is thought that fibromyalgia increases painful sensations by changing the way the brain and spinal cord process painful and non painful signals. There are theories about the cause of fibromyalgia. To confirm a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, pain must occur at 11 or more of 18 specific points of the body, and is characterized as widespread, occurring on both sides of the body. The duration of the symptoms must last for three months or more. People of all ages can experience fibromyalgia. The pain can be described as achy, burning and pins and needles. Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes severe, debilitating nerve pain throughout the body.

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