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I was wondering how many of us suffered depression before their diagnosis with fibro? Is you depression worse now than then? I wonder how much depression is because of the disease.
Answer Summary
Members opened up about the complex relationship between depression and fibromyalgia, with many sharing that they experienced depression years... Read more
@A MyFibroTeam Member
this is one question in which I feel relatively fluent. I don't have a definitive answer, but i'll help muddy the waters for you.
the psychiatrist I was assigned while in-patient a few years back, asked me that same question in this way: are you sad & depressed because you are in so much pain? or are you in so much pain because you are so sad & depressed? in my case, personally, I believe my depression was exacerbated by the pain ... BUT ... and this is the key issue ... some, but not all, depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain. so the real question is, because fibro is an auto-immune disorder, is that in fact what is causing the chemical imbalance in the first place? just because the fibro symptoms didn't start until AFTER the depression arrived on the scene, doesn't mean that it hadn't been lying dormant in your system and wreaking its own brand of evil all along. they say every person has cancer cells in their body .. sometimes they become active (or live); sometimes they don't.
with fibro & depression, I think either way, one can "trip" the other ... activate it; bring it to life; however you want to say it. at this point, because I seem to have my depression under relative control (more so than the last 15 years anyway), I can say with 100% certainty that in my case, the pain & the not knowing if/and/or when the pain is going to stop ... FOR SURE brings my depression to the forefront...
I think we can all handle any amount of pain (within human endurance, of course) ... as long as we know it's going to end...it's the uncertainty of : "is this my life for forever now?" THAT is enough to drive a person half mad...
I hope I cleared things up for you. no, but seriously ... it's just another theory to consider ... I think trying to view anything from all angles is helpful. with something as large as this? it's almost a must...
I had bouts with depression before my diagnosis. I have concluded that it is partially the result of PTSD, which is most likely the main reason for my FM. Like I said in answer to another question, it's kind of like the age-old debate about which came first, the chicken or the egg. That said, a couple of years ago I spiraled downward to the point of being suicidal. AN AWFUL, DARK PLACE TO LIVE! Thanks and praise to God for lifting me out of that hole. I never want to go back! My doctor, my husband, and others on my team are amazing. They do watch me like hawks still. I've read it never goes away. Scary, huh? The good news is, like other things, it can be managed and I have a protocol that seems to be working. The right meds--Cymbalta and Viibryd, a thyroid med, prayer/meditation/yoga/Pilates/light exercise (as I can), and counting my blessings, which far exceed my challenges! Wishing the same for you. Gentle hugs, love and support to you and all of us!
Depression is very common with fibro. I've heard it can be partly due to the chemical changes that go on in the brain with fibro. If that's the case, we're all subject to those chemical changes.
However, I also help cofacilitate a fibro support group and I have found generally that people with depression before their fibro tend to have more problems with it after diagnosis. Also, people who have more trouble adjusting to the changes that come with fibro tend to suffer from more depression too. In my case, I had depression a few times in my life, particularly as a teenager. When I got fibro, my depression was not too terrible for the first nine years. It only got worse after I had to leave work, which decimated my life. I also have a thyroid disorder that probably contributes to it as well. I have spent the last year trying not to feel like jumping off a bridge and have worked with a good counsellor and psychiatrist to find meds that work for me, and I take classes on anxiety and depression through the local social services when I can attend. It's a rough road, and I'm just starting to feel alive again, something I wish for anyone having mental health problems and this crazy illness.
@A MyFibroTeam Member
my sympathies ... nothing worse than wanting more than anything to live & love; when all along you believe only death will set you free from the pain. (I hope that's not too morbid)
That's true @PatDoucetHouze. It's really hard to handle all the disbelievers out there but it can also be really hard to be isolated all the time. In the meantime, I have found these support sites to be a huge help as I'm sure you're aware. When you're ready, please try to seek out places and people where you know you will be supported and go from there. I have been on that long ride out of bad depression, and there are always people out there who care about you and want to support you. Much luv 💝💖💞💖💝
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