Chronic pain following an injury can affect your entire life. In addition to potentially changing the way your body moves and feels, it can have a major impact on your mental wellbeing as well and is commonly linked with mood disorders like depression and anxiety.
Depression is very common in those suffering from chronic pain. In fact, those who have chronic pain are three times more likely to develop anxiety or depression than those who do not experience chronic pain.
Are you suffering from chronic pain due to a road accident?
How Chronic Pain Leads to Depression
Physical activity boosts the production of serotonin, which can help prevent and decrease depression. However, if you have chronic pain as the result of an accident, it can be difficult or impossible to engage in a lot of physical activity because of the pain, so it is easy to become inactive, which in turn can cause or increase feelings of depression.
Chronic pain can inhibit daily function and independence, which sometimes leads to feelings of depression. These feelings can lead to isolating yourself and/or becoming inactive, both of which are further conducive to depression, so it easily becomes a vicious cycle.
Symptoms and Treatment
You may not realize right away if you are experiencing depression, but if you are experiencing some of the symptoms below, consider seeing a healthcare professional to learn more.
Common Symptoms of Depression
- Irritability
- Feelings of numbness
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Changes in appetite
- Difficulty concentrating
- Suicidal thoughts
- Feelings of despair
Depression is different for everybody and the treatment that works for you will be tailored to your own individual case. Common treatments for depression include cognitive behavioural therapy, medication, talk therapy, group therapy, or a combination of these.
Many people find the following helpful in conjunction with whatever depression treatments their healthcare practitioner recommends:
- Mindfulness
- Meditation and deep breathing exercises
- Gentle movement such as tai chi and yoga
- Hypnotherapy
If an accident has caused you chronic pain resulting in a mood disorder, you may be entitled to financial compensation to ameliorate your pain and suffering. To find out more, book a consultation with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers.