Multiple Sclerosis and depression or MS and depression are common in many patients with this condition, whether they have recently been diagnosed, or they have been suffering with the condition for some time. In some cases, MS and depression can come on many months or years after diagnosis, perhaps as the patient finds it hard to maintain a brave face or as they start to develop more symptoms. It’s not just MS patients who find it difficult to cope with their condition, as evidence from NICE, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, has shown that people with Multiple Sclerosis and similar chronic or long-term health problems are two to three times more likely to develop clinical depression or other emotional problems than those members of the public who are generally in good health. So if you are suffering from Multiple Sclerosis and depression you are not alone, and you should not hesitate to ask for help from your family doctor. MS and depression can cause the patient to sleep more or less and in many cases it would make the sufferer unable to make proper decisions.
Causes of Multiple Sclerosis and depression
MS and depression is usually as a result of one of two things; either the patient becomes depressed because they have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, or they become depressed because of the way the physical symptoms are affecting their daily lives. In general, the first reason is more likely to be a cause of Multiple Sclerosis and depression in the weeks or months after the patient has been diagnosed, as they struggle to get their heads around what the diagnosis will mean and worry about how they will cope. However, some MS patients put on a brave face for a long time after diagnosis, while these worries build up inside them, leading to MS and depression much later in the course of the disease. The physical symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis are not only debilitating and painful, but they can also be very upsetting as they start to become more serious and affect what you can and can’t do. This too can lead to Multiple Sclerosis and depression. Painful medical conditions have also been found to cause depression in patients.
Treating MS and depression
Most people with MS are already taking a cocktail of prescribed medications, so the last thing they will want to do is add another tablet to deal with Multiple Sclerosis and depression. However, if you have been diagnosed with clinical depression, an antidepressant is the best way for you to start to cope with the diagnosis or the effect the disease is having on you. Psychotherapy can also be used in conjunction with antidepressants. During the therapy the patient would talk to a health care professional trained to deal with depression, who would help the patient to work through the triggers of depression. It is vital that you stay in good shape, as MS and depression can have a negative impact on your physical as well as mental health.
