Did you know that our minds and bodies are connected? Well, that may seem obvious, but science is beginning to understand that the connection is much stronger than we’ve understood in the past. Studies have shown that depression can increase inflammation in the body. At this point, you may find yourself wondering,, “should I be taking an anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen or acetaminophen?” Well, not exactly. The studies have shown that depression is an inflammatory disease in the sense that inflammation is now an observable symptom associated with depression, not that inflammation is causing the depression.

This is a profound and consequential discovery by scientists and mental health professionals. There is a flip side to this connection - many people may go through life with chronic pain associated with inflammation, and these bouts of chronic pain can result in depression and depressive symptoms. To put it simply - pain is painful. When we are faced with the reality of chronic pain, we can feel trapped and hopeless at times, as if nothing will help. Experiencing depression when faced with chronic pain is a common reaction experienced by many people. This discovery may provide hope and relief for some!

While it may feel like a chicken or the egg situation where we may not be sure which was first, by acknowledging depression as a contributor to inflammation, new avenues of treatment may be possible. For example, maybe you have tried every kind of pain reliever on the market, maybe some work and some don’t. Perhaps discussing depression with a mental health professional in conjunction with anti-inflammatories could be key in reducing your inflammation and your pain. That’s pretty wild to think about! This shows just how connected our mental health is to our physical health.