Depression is very common in people with
multiple sclerosis (MS).
In fact, symptoms of depression severe enough to require medical intervention
affect up to half of all people with MS at some point during their illness.
Honestly I've been suffering from depression all of my
life but it did intensify after I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2004
and here to recently in the last year or so.
Why Do People With Multiple Sclerosis Also Have Depression?
Depression may be the result of a difficult situation or
stress. It is easy to understand how having MS, with its potential for
progressing to permanent disability, can bring on depression.
Depression may be caused by MS. MS may destroy the
insulating myelin that surrounds nerves that transmit signals affecting mood.
Depression is also a side effect of some drugs used to treat
MS, such as steroids or interferon.
once I began to recognize sentence in my life everything
seems to start collapsing right before my eyes. I think it affects my
relationships and they suffer because at some point I just don't have the will
to even deal with anyone or anything I get so sad I don't even want to go
on....thankfully not about life it's just about the situations I'm in I know
that they're depressing me I'm not at the harmony I know that man making my
health fail and I don't even know if its worth it anymore. the main thing that
the presses me lately is things concerning the children and the stressful
Situation with my girlfriend's family and ex friends.
What Are the Symptoms of Depression?
Everyone at one time or another has felt depressed, sad, or
blue. Sometimes the feeling of sadness becomes intense, lasting for long
periods of time and preventing a person from leading a normal life. This is
depression, a mental illness that, if left untreated, can worsen, lasting for
years and causing untold suffering, and possibly even resulting in suicide. It
is important to recognize the signs of depression, which include:
Sadness
Loss of energy
Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
Loss of enjoyment from things that were once pleasurable
Difficulty concentrating
Uncontrollable crying
Difficulty making decisions
Irritability
Increased need for sleep
Inability to fall or stay asleep at night (insomnia)
Unexplained aches and pains
Stomachache and digestive problems
Decreased sex drive
Sexual problems
Headache
Thoughts of death or suicide
Attempting suicide
When to Seek Help for Depression With Multiple Sclerosis
If you have depression along with multiple sclerosis, you
should seek help if:
Depression is negatively affecting your life -- causing
difficulties with relationships, work issues, or family disputes -- and there
isn't a clear solution to these problems.
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts or
feelings.
Where Should I Go to Get Help for Depression?
Once you decide to seek medical help, start with your
primary doctor. He or she can evaluate you to make sure that medicines or
another illness are not causing your symptoms.
Your doctor may prescribe treatment or refer you to a mental
health care professional who can perform a thorough assessment so that an
effective course of treatment can be recommended.
How Is Depression Treated With Multiple Sclerosis?
If you have multiple sclerosis, the first step in treating
depression is recognizing that you are depressed. The second step is seeking
help. These two steps may in fact be the hardest part of the entire treatment
process. Once you seek help from a qualified health care provider, you will
find that there are numerous treatment options to help you get back on track.
Several
antidepressant drugs
are available, but they must be used only under the supervision of a medical
professional. Antidepressant drugs are most effective in treating depression in
people with MS when used in conjunction with psychotherapy. Called
"therapy" for short, the word psychotherapy actually involves a
variety of treatment techniques. During psychotherapy, a person with depression
talks to a licensed and trained mental health care professional who helps him
or her identify and work through the factors that may be triggering the depression.
Warning Signs of Suicide
If you or someone you know is demonstrating any of the
following warning signs, contact a mental health professional right away or go
to the emergency room for immediate treatment.
Talking about suicide (killing one's self)
Always talking or thinking about death
Making comments about being hopeless, helpless, or worthless
Saying things like "It would be better if I weren't
here" or "I want out"
Depression (deep sadness, loss of interest, trouble sleeping
and eating) that gets worse
A sudden switch from being very sad to being very calm or
appearing to be happy
Having a "death wish," tempting fate by taking
risks that could lead to death, like driving through red lights
Losing interest in things one used to care about
Visiting or calling people one cares about
Putting affairs in order, tying up lose ends, changing a
will.
