When depression hits, it doesn’t just change how you feel. It can change how your body feels too.
In 30 years as a psychiatrist, I’ve seen how often people miss the physical signs of depression. We expect sadness or low mood, but we don’t always expect the headaches, back aches or the constant fatigue.
Depression affects the whole body because the brain and body are deeply connected. Stress hormones can disrupt sleep, tighten muscles, slow digestion and drain energy. None of this means you are weak. It means your system is under strain.
🔸 3 Ways to Support Your Body When Depression Shows Up Physically 🔸
✅ Talk to a therapist
You deserve a place to sort through the emotional and physical weight you’re carrying. Therapy helps calm the nervous system and gives the body a chance to reset.
✅ Prioritize simple routines
Regular meals, gentle movement and consistent sleep send signals of safety to the body. Small habits can lower physical tension and improve energy over time.
✅ Let your body speak
Instead of pushing through every symptom, pause and ask what your body is trying to tell you. Awareness is often the first step toward healing.
“The body and the mind are not separate, and the differences between them are artificial.” – George Engel, MD
Depression may speak through your body, but you can learn to listen without fear.
Your symptoms make sense.
You can feel better and support is always within reach.
Peter Zafirides, MD
Central Ohio Behavioral Medicine
(Image Credit: Mindful Brains)
(For educational purposes only. Not medical advice.)
