A chronic illness can affect a person’s daily routines, ability to work, personal relationships, future plans, or self-image.

It can also impair someone’s ability to engage in previously beneficial activities for their mental health, such as exercise, socializing, and hobbies.

When faced with a chronic condition, many people experience sadness or discouragement. 

Physical changes, anxiety, and stress associated with the illness can all lead to depression symptoms.

Depression frequently goes unnoticed.

Many people are hesitant to seek treatment for a mental health problem.

Learn to recognize the first signs of depression and how to respond to them.

The connection between depression and chronic illness

Depression and physical illnesses both have an impact on one another.

Because of the long-term nature of the disease and its impact on quality of life, studies have confirmed that many patients with chronic diseases have mental disorders such as depression.^[1]

In addition, chronic pain is the most common symptom of chronic diseases.

Patients who often suffer from pain are prone to depression.

Depression and chronic pain are extremely common in the elderly population.

Clinical studies have revealed that chronic pain, a stress state, frequently induces depression, with up to 85 percent of chronic pain patients suffering from severe depression.^[2]

Chronic diseases can cause depression, and depression can cause chronic diseases.

Depression symptoms

Depression symptoms are frequently subtle at first. 

You may believe they are the result of your illness rather than depression.

Or you may believe that being depressed when suffering from a chronic disease is normal.

If you are depressed, you may:

• Lose interest or pleasure in daily activities
• Lose weight or gain weight
• Experience sleep disturbances
• Have problems with concentration
• Be devoid of feeling or emotion
• Feel worthlessness or guilt
• Experience fatigue or a lack of energy
• Have thoughts of death or suicide

Treatment

Depression can be treated, and with assistance for your physical and mental well-being, you may be able to improve your quality of life and participate in activities you enjoy.

Depression may be avoided in some chronic disease patients by relieving pain, reducing disability, and reducing the economic burden caused by chronic diseases.

Individuals suffering from depression may become so preoccupied with their illnesses that they lose sight of other aspects of their lives. The key is to concentrate on abilities rather than limitations.

Setting goals can help to rekindle hope. It generates a future vision.

List the things that you’d like to do regarding work, volunteer activities, recreation, entertainment, your own health care, and self-education.

Start taking constructive action as well. This will lead to a more realistic view of yourself—as functional, competent, and in command.

Depressed people may neglect their own health and isolate themselves. This is particularly dangerous for patients suffering from chronic illnesses.

You can feel more hopeful and energetic if you treat your depression.

If you feel better, you may take better care of yourself, which may improve your health.

Conclusion

To conclude, depression worsens any illness.

Depression caused by a chronic illness is frequently overlooked.

However, depression appears to increase the likelihood of physical illness.

Treating depression allows clients to face the challenges of chronic illness more effectively.

Depression is not an unavoidable side effect of chronic illness or something you must accept. 

If you’re depressed, the best thing you can do is seek help as soon as possible.

Speak up, ask for help, and research to find the best ways to practice self-care, treat chronic illness symptoms, and reduce your risk of depression.