The mainstream media often portrays the depressed person as someone who sulks around their home, refusing to go out, crying in a corner alone. While that is certainly how a depressed person may behave, that depiction doesn’t tell the whole story about depression. Some people go to great lengths to hide their depression from loved ones, which can delay treatment substantially. If you or someone you love is depressed, there are many reasons why treating depression is absolutely crucial.

Depression Hurts

People who are severely depressed often experience physical pain proportional to their mental pain. The anxiety and stress that often come with depression can lead to sore muscles, aching joints, poor digestion and sleep disruptions that cause even more discomfort. While some depressed people write off these symptoms as aging or old injuries, the truth is that the physical pain can be caused by their depression.

Depression Can Mask Other Problems

Since depression can be painful, some sufferers may not seek any medical treatment for their issues until they become dire. Sometimes, this masks serious health issues. For example, a person with depression may shrug off their back pain only to discover later they’ve had a serious kidney infection for quite a while. The pain in their belly might not be “just” anxiety; it could be a peptic ulcer. While there’s no need to become a hypochondriac, treating depression removes one possible reason for the pain. Then, if the pain still exists, further diagnostics will be needed to find the cause. Without treating the depression, pain could be ignored far longer than it should be.

Self-Medicating Behavior Can Be Dangerous

Some people with depression try to self-medicate their symptoms with recreational drugs, alcohol, or even eating too much food. Many don’t even realize they’re doing it to try to treat their depression and instead believe they are a “bad” person or morally bankrupt, further worsening their depressive thoughts. Not only can self-medicating be self-defeating, but it’s also dangerous. Overdosing, alcohol poisoning, obesity and the subsequent diabetes all pose risks to a self-medicating person, depending on their method of choice. Treating depression at its source can help take away the urge to self-medicate.

Untreated Depression Can Lead to Suicide

It’s fair to say that, for some people, untreated depression is a terminal illness. Depressed people will sometimes be unable to withstand the emotional and mental anguish of their problem and decide to end their life. Suicidal thoughts or acts may become commonplace, until a person is eventually successful at taking their own life. Entire families and communities have been shattered by suicide, which leads to more victims.

Treating your depression is an essential part of your healthcare, every bit as important as checking your cholesterol or monitoring your weight. If you or someone you love is depressed, please don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment at Cady Wellness Institute in Newburgh, IN. We are committed to helping our patients reclaim mental health and emotional wellbeing. Contact us today to request a consultation to learn more.