depression causing physical symptoms

[aacannon]

Hi

over a month ago I became sick with a vomiting bug. Ever since then I have had lots of nausea in the mornings. I have also become very anxious and depressed. Can GAD or depression cause me to be feeling sick and to have stomach problems. The nausea is sometimes very extreme. Also I have lost 8 kgs due to being very careful of what I was eating cause I thought I had an ulcer, but an endoscopy came back normal. Could this sickness be all in my head ?

[aacannon]

Was at the drs yesterday for a second opinion. He believes Im depressed because I have felt sick for so long and not the other way around. Also found out I have a UTI so that might be the cause of some of my symptoms.

[free3667]

Depression lowers your immune systems ability to fight off infections. Therefore people who are depressed tend to be experience more illnesses when compared to someone without depression.  GAD can cause increase in production of gastric acids. Many people with GAD have GI symptoms such as heartburn, nausea, diarrhea.  I'm glad an ulcer was ruled out.   Having lost that much weight is NOT in your head so to speak. Seeing a GI specialist to rule out any and all potential medical illness is best. If everything looks to be other than physical than the focus would be on getting your depression and GAD under control to give you  relief.  I wish you the best

[Jaquta]

It could also be a reaction to an associated memory.

Anxiety and depression often co-exist so the likelihood of having physical complaints is high.  Sometimes when we are anxious or depressed we don't recognize the emotional triggers and express the emotional distress as physical symptoms (nausea, headaches, etc).

The food aversion kind of reminds me of food poisoning.

If your doctor has run tests and is confident that you are OK then I think I would probably run with stress and anxiety as being the cause.
Sometimes when we are very anxious we can become very fearful about our health.

If you're unhappy with your doctors assessment then you are well within your rights to ask for a second opinion.

I would be cautious about the weight loss (this can also be made worse by depression) and if it continues follow-up with your doctor.
I would probably also ask for a referral to a psychiatrist so that they can refer you for psychotherapy.

Make sure that the physical stuff is ruled out.

For additional suggestions and advice you may like to try posting on the undiagnosed symptoms community forum.  A doctor endeavors to answer the posts there.

[j17c27]

Yes, nausia can be a symptom of anxiety.  I'm not sure about depression, it could be, but Im not sure.  I have anxiety really bad and my #1 anxiety symptom is nausia.  Its so overwhelming and terrible and uncomfortable.  So it definitly can be in your head.  My psyiciatrist explained to me that we have brain cells in our stomach...weird isnt it! but anyways, so your brain and stomach are very much connected because of that.  So if your stressed, upset, anxious, anything like that can trigger nausia.