What are the somatization manifestations of depression?

  Depression is characterized by a predominantly depressed mood that is out of proportion to its situation and can range from sullenness to grief and even malaise. Depression is also characterized by a variety of somatic complaints, or somatization of depression. These somatization symptoms are nonspecific and can be seen in a variety of psychiatric clinical conditions. Some patients with depression often have somatic complaints, and they seek medical help from all over the world, but they cannot be cured for a long time, and they frequently go to major general hospitals and undergo various tests, but the results are often not positive. Patients suffer from long term pain and pain, and cause a heavy burden to their families and society.  The physical symptoms of depression can be broadly categorized into the following aspects: First, sleep disorders. Patients with depression have varying degrees of sleep disturbances. It is often manifested as early awakening, difficulty falling asleep and excessive sleep. The most characteristic symptom is early awakening, and once waking up, it is difficult to fall asleep again. At this time, the patient’s mood is the bottom of the day, and a long day begins. The patient’s state of mind is worse in the morning and gradually improves in the afternoon, a phenomenon we call “heavy day and light night”. Some patients have difficulty falling asleep, lying in bed, tossing and turning, and have difficulty falling asleep. Some of them show that they wake up easily and the quality of sleep is not high. Some manifest as excessive sleep; Second, gastrointestinal symptoms. This symptom is also common in depression, such as dry mouth, bitter taste, abdominal rise, etc. Loss of appetite or even not thinking about eating; third, weight loss. Most depressed patients have no smile, sad face, and often have inexplicable weight loss; fourth is the loss of libido, manifested as a significantly lower sexual desire or can not arouse sexual desire, after marriage sex life in a passive state. Fifth is the symptoms of plant nervous disorder. It is manifested as palpitation, panic, sweating, etc. For example, some patients feel discomfort in the chest, worrying that they are suffering from a certain disease, showing nervousness and fear, frequenting major hospitals but no test results. Six somatic pain or discomfort. Mostly seen in the head and neck, back and extremities. For example, some patients show a feeling of tightness in the back of the neck and seek medical help, which even affects their study and work.  In conclusion, the somatic symptoms of depression are complex, and patients often repeatedly visit general hospital outpatient clinics, and the depressive symptoms are very insidious. If the knowledge about somatization disorder of depression is popularized, it will make such patients take less detours and reduce unnecessary economic and social burdens.