Fatigue, pain, no energy. What does “masked depression” mean?
You come to an appointment because of fatigue. Or recurring pain. You sleep poorly and find it hard to start the day. You look for a cause because these symptoms make life difficult.
A question about your mood seems unrelated to the problem. You do not think of yourself as someone with depression. Above all, you want to sleep better and stop feeling pain.
The term “masked depression” is used when physical symptoms are more prominent and depressive symptoms are harder to notice or name. It does not mean deliberately hiding an illness.
Depression can sometimes involve headaches, digestive symptoms, sleep disturbances and lack of energy. These symptoms alone, however, are not enough to diagnose it.
Pain requires medical assessment. So does fatigue. A normal result from one examination does not mean the cause is psychological. Physical illness and depression can also occur together.
During the conversation, it is worth looking at what has changed beyond physical wellbeing. Are you still interested in your usual activities? Do you enjoy social contact? Is making decisions becoming harder? How do you think about yourself and your future?
You do not have to call it sadness. Say if nothing brings you pleasure, you become irritated easily or everything feels indifferent. This information matters even if insomnia or pain remains the main reason for your visit.
Prepare a list of your medications and previous examinations. Explain how long the symptoms have lasted and how they affect everyday activities.
A mental health assessment does not replace medical investigation. It helps include symptoms that have not been discussed before. Nor does it mean the pain is imaginary or that changing your attitude will be enough.
Hanna Swierczewska
Psychologist, psychotraumatologist, psycho-oncologist
If you would like to talk about your situation, you are welcome to book an online consultation.
Comments