What are the somatic symptoms of depression?

Physical symptoms of depression are bodily manifestations of depressive emotions, primarily affecting sleep, energy levels, pain perception, digestive function, and cardiovascular responses. These include sleep disturbances, exhaustion, generalized body pain, gastrointestinal discomfort, palpitations, and chest tightness. A detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Sleep disturbances: Characterized by difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings during the night, or early morning awakening with an inability to fall back asleep. Some individuals still feel fatigued despite adequate sleep duration, indicating extremely poor sleep quality. They often feel drowsy during the day, which impairs daily thinking and functioning.

2. Exhaustion: Individuals constantly feel physically drained during routine activities. Simple household tasks such as sweeping or cooking become difficult to complete. Persistent fatigue occurs even without obvious physical exertion, and rest does not effectively restore energy levels.

3. Generalized body pain: Pain may affect multiple areas including the head, back, and limbs, commonly presenting as dull, distending, or aching sensations. The intensity fluctuates over time. Pain often worsens during periods of low mood, and its location is typically inconsistent. Medical examinations usually reveal no clear organic abnormalities.

4. Gastrointestinal discomfort: Common symptoms include nausea, acid reflux, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation. These symptoms recur frequently and have little correlation with dietary patterns. Gastrointestinal discomfort significantly increases during emotional fluctuations. Some individuals may also experience loss of appetite or prolonged fullness and discomfort after eating.

5. Palpitations and chest tightness: Even when emotionally stable, individuals may suddenly experience rapid heartbeat or heart palpitations, accompanied by chest tightness or a feeling of pressure in the chest. These symptoms are not caused by structural heart disease and tend to occur more frequently during emotional suppression or increased stress.

Alleviating somatic symptoms of depression requires both emotional regulation and lifestyle adjustments. Establishing regular sleep patterns, engaging in moderate exercise, and receiving support from family and friends can improve emotional well-being, leading to gradual relief of physical discomfort.