Friday, March 22, 2024

Can Depression Cause Headaches And Dizziness

How Are Headaches Evaluated And Diagnosed

Dizziness and Light Headedness due to Anxiety

If you have headaches often or if they are very severe, reach out to your healthcare provider. You can usually start with your family physician, where the diagnosis process will begin. Its important to diagnose headaches correctly so that specific therapy can be started to help you feel better. Your healthcare provider will complete a physical examination, discuss your medical history and talk to you about your headache symptoms. This conversation is part of a headache evaluation. During the headache evaluation, your provider will ask you about your headache history, including:

  • A description of your headaches.
  • What the headaches feel like.
  • How often the headaches happen.
  • How long the headaches last each time.
  • How much pain the headaches cause you.
  • What foods, drinks or events trigger your headaches.
  • How much caffeine you drink each day.
  • What your stress level are.
  • What your sleep habits are like.
  • If you have any work issues.

Your headache can be more accurately diagnosed by knowing:

  • When the headache started.
  • How long you have had the headache.
  • Whether there is a single type of headache or multiple types of headaches.
  • How often the headache occurs.
  • What causes the headache, if known .
  • If physical activity aggravates the headache pain.
  • What events are associated with the headache.
  • Who else in your family has headaches.
  • What symptoms, if any, occur between headaches.

Clinical description of headaches

History of headache treatments

Weight Loss Or Weight Gain

Your mood may impact your diet. For some, depression causes a loss of appetite that could lead to unnecessary weight loss.

For others with depression, feelings of hopelessness may result in poor eating choices and a loss of interest in exercise. Reaching for foods high in sugars, fats, and starchy carbohydrates is also common. Increased appetite and weight gain are also side effects of some medications for depression.

Obesity also seems to be common in people with depression, according to an older survey by the . The survey, conducted between 2005 and 2010, found that approximately 43 percent of adults with depression are obese.

Helping A Suicidal Friend Or Relative

If you see any of the above warning signs:

  • get professional help for the person
  • let them know they’re not alone and that you care about them
  • offer your support in finding other solutions to their problems

If you feel there is an immediate danger, stay with the person or have someone else stay with them, and remove all available means of committing suicide, such as medication.

Over-the-counter drugs such as painkillers can be just as dangerous as prescription medication.

Also, remove sharp objects and poisonous household chemicals such as bleach.

Read Also: How To Parent With Depression

The Physical Symptoms Of Depression

Following are some examples of physical symptoms typical in depression:

1. Headaches: Common in people with depression, even if you have migraine headaches, depression may make the pain feel worse.

2. Back pain: Depression can either cause back pain or cause suffers with back pain feel worse.

3. Muscle aches and pain can be worsened for sufferers with depression or caused by the same.

4. Chest pain: Never be your own doctor. In the event of chest pain, either see your MD or go to the emergency room. If a heart attack of condition is ruled out the pain might be the result of depression.

5. Stomach problems such as feeling, nauseous or having diarrhea or chronic constipation could be due to depression.

6. Exhaustion and fatigue regardless of the amount of sleep you get can result from depression. This is equally true for the opposite, loss of sleep.

7. Insomnia: Many people with depression complain that they do not sleep soundly.

8. Any change in appetite or weight can be caused by depression.

9. Dizziness or light-headed.

It is now known that brain chemistry plays an important role in how we feel, both emotionally and physically. For that reason, people experience such things as pain with varying intensity and tenacity.

Because depression and pain are so closely linked, pain relief can diminish depression and reduced depression can help alleviate pain.

Remember, the first step is to speak to your MD.

Your comments and questions are welcome.

Allan N. Schwartz, PhD.

Can Anxiety Cause Headaches Or A Heavy Head Feeling

Feeling Dizzy?

A heavy or uncomfortable feeling in your head can make getting through your day particularly difficult. For example, you may feel like you cannot hold your head up or have a tight band tied around your head. Doctors often associate a heavy head with tiredness, headaches, brain fog, dizziness, neck pain, and pressure in the head and face.

When your head feels heavy, it could be a symptom of several different conditions, so pinpointing the cause is challenging. You will need to assess all your symptoms and recent life events to determine the causes of your uncomfortable feeling in your head. Anxiety is, however, almost always a leading cause of heavy head and tension headaches.

A heavy head is not always a severe condition. However, it could have several causes, ranging from mild headaches and sinus infections to severe concussions and brain tumors.

Read Also: Please End My Depression And Suffering

You Might Find Yourself Sleeping More Or Less

“Depression can be linked to both a lack of sleep or an increase in sleep,” said William. “Sleep deprivation can be a dangerous problem, as it leads to many additional health issues, including impacting one’s blood pressure, weight management, metabolism, judgment, and perception.”

“Sleep disruptions aren’t always just a lack of sleep,” added Marks-Foster. “Many people also experience hypersomnia, too much sleep, as well as maintenance insomnia, which is difficulty remaining asleep through the night.”

Can Headaches Or Migraines Be Cured

Treating health problems that cause headaches, such as high blood pressure, can eliminate head pain. Recently, there have been several new advancements in our understanding of what causes headaches. Although we are closer than ever before to a cure, at this time there is no cure for primary headaches. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and preventing future episodes.

Recommended Reading: How To Get Depressed Teenager Out Of Bed

Health Anxiety And Dizziness

After vestibular disorders, psychiatric disorders are the second most common cause of dizziness. In fact, the World Health Organizations International Classification of Diseases includes diagnostic criteria for psychiatric vestibular disorders, which attributes vestibular symptoms to a psychiatric disorder. Between 10-15% of people who seek medical treatment for dizziness also have a psychiatric disorder, and people who frequently feel dizzy are at increased risk for developing a psychiatric disorder.

Definition Of Major Depression Disorder

Tinnitus, dizziness, headaches and other neurological symptoms resolved with Prolotherapy

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the criteria for Major Depressive Disorder are the following:

Depressed mood or loss of pleasure/interest in daily activities for more than two weeks plus at least five out of nine symptoms below, present nearly every day.

  • Depressed or irritable mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report or observation made by others
  • Eating too little or too much, which may lead to unintended weight gain or loss
  • Change in sleep
  • Change in activity
  • Fatigue or loss of energy
  • Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt
  • Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or more indecisiveness
  • Thoughts of death or suicide, or has a suicide plan

Also Check: How Can I End My Depression

What Headache Symptoms Require Immediate Medical Care

If you or your child has any of these headache symptoms, get medical care right away:

  • A sudden, new, severe headache
  • A headache that is associated with neurological symptoms such as:
  • Headache with a fever, shortness of breath, stiff neck, or rash
  • Headache pain that awakens you up at night
  • Headaches with severe nausea and vomiting
  • Headaches that occur after a head injury or accident
  • Getting a new type of headache after age 55
  • Symptoms requiring an appointment with your health care provider or a headache specialist

    Contact your health care provider if you or your child has any of the following symptoms:

    • Three or more headaches per week.
    • Headaches that keep getting worse and won’t go away.
    • Need to take a pain reliever every day or almost every day for your headaches.
    • Need more than 2 to 3 doses of over-the-counter medications per week to relieve headache symptoms.
    • Headaches that are triggered by exertion, coughing, bending, or strenuous activity.
    • A history of headaches, but have noticed a recent change in your headache symptoms.

    Can Dizziness Cause Anxiety

    Anxiety is caused by apprehensive behavior. So, no, dizziness doesnt cause anxiety. But dizziness can cause involuntary startle, postural reflex, and stress responses that can produce similar symptoms to anxiety. If a person doesnt like feeling dizzy and becomes afraid of it, she might worry about feeling dizzy, which does create anxiety.

    If you have become afraid of the dizziness anxiety symptom, you might want to connect with one of our recommended anxiety disorder therapists to help you overcome this fear. Since fear drives anxiety, and anxiety stresses the body, which is a common cause of anxiety dizziness, overcoming your fear of dizziness can eliminate anxiety-caused dizziness.

    Working with an experienced anxiety disorder therapist is the most effective way to overcome anxiety disorder, including the many fears anxiety disorder often establishes.

    For a more detailed explanation about anxiety symptoms including this one, why symptoms can persist long after the stress response has ended, common barriers to recovery and symptom elimination, and more recovery strategies and tips, we have many chapters that address this information in the Recovery Support area of our website.

    Its been long known that anxiety and stress cause an increase in activity in the fear center of the brain and a decrease in activity in the executive function parts of the brain .

    We explain this change in brain function in more detail in our Stress Response article.

    Recommended Reading: How Do You Get Over Depression Without Medication

    When To Talk With A Professional

    If you have been experiencing dizziness that does not go away or has begun to interfere with your ability to function, talk with a medical professional. In most cases, testing will reveal the underlying reason behind these episodes, and treatment can help reduce or even stop the symptoms.

    Sometimes, there is no visible cause for frequent dizziness. This may indicate an underlying condition such as anxiety. If this is the case, you may be referred to a therapist or other mental health professional for treatment.

    Muscle And Joint Pain

    Chronic Fatigue

    Theres a confirmed link that depression can cause pain and pain can cause depression. Back pain and other joint and muscle pain are common physical symptoms of depression.

    Depression and other mood disorders have been shown to alter pain perception, which can trigger or worsen pain. Fatigue and loss of interest common in depression can lead to being less active. This inactivity can cause muscle and joint pain and stiffness.

    Finding relief from physical symptoms of depression may require more than one type of treatment. While some antidepressants may also alleviate some of your physical symptoms, such as pain, other symptoms may need to be treated separately.

    Treatment may include:

    Read Also: Anti Anxiety Depression Medication With Least Side Effects

    Other Causes Of Depression

    There are a number of things that can lead to developing depression.

    • Stressful events big changes in your life, like bereavement, the end of a relationship or the loss of a job, can be difficult to deal with. When these things happen, it’s important to keep seeing friends and family instead of trying to deal with problems alone this increases your risk of developing depression.
    • Giving birth pregnancy and birth can make some people vulnerable to depression. Postnatal depression can happen as the result of physical changes, hormonal changes, and the responsibility of taking care of a new baby.
    • Loneliness your risk of depression gets higher if you aren’t in contact or spending time with family and friends.
    • Personality some personality traits can put you at a higher risk of developing depression. These include low-self esteem or a habit of criticising yourself too much. These personality traits can come from your genes, which you get from your parents, or they can be as a result of experiences in your early life.
    • Family history it’s more likely for someone to develop depression if a family member, like a sibling or parent, has experienced it before.

    What Causes An Anxiety Headache

    There is no definitive cause of tension headaches and migraines, although there are some common triggers, including:

    • Stress: Research reveals stress is a common trigger. Headaches due to anxiety can occur as a physical response to emotional distress.
    • Lack of Sleep: People with anxiety issues have difficulty sleeping, triggering migraine attacks.
    • Sensitivity to Pain: Researchers discovered people who regularly get headaches are more sensitive to pain. Increased sensitivity can cause muscle tenderness.
    • Muscle Tension: Muscle tension is a crucial aspect of anxiety and stress. Whenever you feel anxious, your body responds by preparing to deal with the cause of your worry. In addition, long-term anxiety makes your body remain ever alert. Consequently, this causes tension in your muscles instead of relaxing once the threat subsides.
    • Change in Serotonin Levels: The serotonin chemical in the brain plays several essential roles in your body, such as stabilizing your mood and feelings of happiness and well-being. It also helps with eating, digestion, and sleeping. Conversely, too much or too little serotonin levels in your brain affect your mental and physical health. For example, a sudden decrease results in headaches due to the constricted blood vessels and release of neuropeptides.

    Recommended Reading: Is Depression A Chemical Imbalance In The Brain

    What Can You Do

    If youve been experiencing vertigo frequently, its very severe, or it doesnt go away then you should see an ENT specialist. The doctor will check for any underlying causes and recommend treatment if necessary.

    You can also take steps to reduce and manage your stress. This should help whether the vertigo is entirely stress-induced or if there is an underlying condition that is being triggered by stress.

    • Try to eliminate sources of stress if you can, for example by taking more time off to relax or asking your family to help out more at home
    • Make sure that youre getting plenty of sleep as tiredness can take a big toll on your mental and emotional wellbeing
    • Eat well and exercise regularly as good health can improve your mood as well as your physical wellbeing
    • Relieve stress by talking about it, enjoying a warm bath, doing an activity you find fun, or using relaxation techniques such as mindfulness or meditation
    • See your GP if youre feeling very stressed, anxious or depressed

    Symptom #5 Exhaustion & Trouble Sleeping

    Treatment for Vision Symptoms: Eyestrain, Headaches, Dizziness, Anxiety, Focusing Issues, ADHD…

    Because depression and fatigue are so intertwined, it can be really hard to separate them or work out which came first.

    Having no energy is a common complaint from people with depression. But theres a lot more to this than not feeling motivated.

    Experts say depression causes a complete lack of energy termed anergia which can be so severe that moving around becomes excruciating. Some people saying that even getting out of bed is a daunting task.

    This isnt tiredness that can be cured with sleep. This is fatigue which is a very different beast with people feeling exhausted from the moment they wake up.

    Another physical sign of depression is sleepless nights and insomnia. This could mean having trouble drifting off or waking up throughout the night. But on the flip side, for others, depression can actually cause them to sleep excessively.

    Also Check: What Is The Nature Of Depression

    What Are The Symptoms Of Each Tension Headache

    • Tension headaches are usually felt as a band or across the forehead. They can be uncomfortable and tiring, but they do not usually disturb sleep. Some people feel a squeezing or pressure on their head.
    • It usually occurs on both sides, and often spreads down your neck, or seems to come from your neck. Sometimes it is just on one side.
    • The pain is usually moderate or mild. Tension headaches can interrupt concentration but are usually not bad enough to send you to bed. Most people can work through a tension headache if they really need to.
    • A tension headache can last from 30 minutes to seven days. Most last a few hours.
    • Tension headaches tend to become worse as the day goes on and are often mildest in the morning. They are not usually made worse by physical activity.
    • An exception to this would be a headache caused by sleeping in an awkward position, causing a sore neck, or an ache in the face and jaw due to tooth grinding.
    • There are usually no other symptoms.

    Sometimes migraines are mistaken for chronic tension headaches. Some people dont like bright lights or loud noises, and dont feel like eating much when they have a tension headache. However, marked dislike of light or loud noise, and visual disturbances, like zigzag lines, are more suggestive of migraine. A mild feeling of sickness can occur, especially if you are using a lot of painkillers. However, marked nausea is, again, more a feature of migraine.

    Electroconvulsive Therapy Electric Shock Treatment

    If you have severe depression and other treatments, like medication, haven’t worked, ECT might be recommended for you.

    When receiving ECT, you will be given an anaesthetic and medication that relaxes your muscles to begin with. Electrodes will be placed on your head that give an electrical “shock” to your brain.

    ECT is given over a series of sessions, normally twice a week for three to six weeks.

    ECT can cause side effects including nausea, headaches, aches in the muscles and memory problems.

    Most people find that ECT is good for relieving severe depression, but the beneficial effects tend to wear off when several months have passed.

    Recommended Reading: Who Do I Talk To If I M Depressed

    Cervical Myofascial Pain Syndrome

    Myofascial pain syndrome occurs when painful trigger points develop in the muscles and surrounding connective tissues. When this condition is primarily felt in the neck region, it is called cervical myofascial pain syndrome. In addition to having tender trigger points than can flare up when touched or during activity, muscles can become achy and stiff, and pain can spread to the head or shoulders. While cervical myofascial pain syndrome is rare, it is estimated that about one-third of people with this condition also have dizziness. 2

    Cervical myofascial pain syndrome has no known cause. Some suspected causes include previous injury, overuse or repetitive neck movements, poor posture, and/or stress. While the connection between this neck pain and dizziness is unclear, some evidence suggests that treating myofascial pain syndrome such as with trigger point injections, physical therapy, or medicationcan reduce both the pain and dizziness.3

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