Both fibromyalgia and depression are conditions that are debilitating to daily life. But, did you know that these issues often come hand-in-hand? If you’re dealing with both of these issues, it may be in your best interest to find a treatment facility that’s focused on treating both fibromyalgia and depression together as the symptoms of these issues may become associated with one another. This way, you have the best chance of retaining lasting healing for both issues on a long-term basis in order to manage symptoms.

The Prevalence of Depression in People With Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a condition that is believed to affect the nervous system. Symptoms of this disorder characterize it as people living with this condition experience chronic pain and tenderness that’s widespread throughout the body. However, while many may know what living with Fibromyalgia may entail, they may not know that this commonly is paired with symptoms of depression. According to reports by the National Institutes of Health, depression is common amongst people with Fibromyalgia. Statistics about these concurring issues include:

• 90% of people with Fibromyalgia will experience symptoms of depression sometime in their lives
• 62-85% of Fibromyalgia patients will develop Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) at some point in their lives
• The overall prevalence of depression symptoms at any point in time for Fibromyalgia patients is 40%

The Importance of Treating Both Depression and Chronic Pain

Depression can make living with Fibromyalgia so much worse. Getting a diagnosis for Fibromyalgia, having to deal with symptoms, and worrying about one’s own health can certainly be contributing factors for developing depressive symptoms. But, as hard as dealing with Fibromyalgia may be, depression makes it even harder for people living with Fibromyalgia to have positive and healthy lifestyles, establish behaviors for recovery, and manage debilitating symptoms by having the motivation necessary to get help through treatment. So, it’s imperative that people living with both Fibromyalgia and symptoms of depression get help that addresses both issues. Addressing both issues simultaneously gives people living with Fibromyalgia and depression a better chance of sustaining lasting healing.

Some Available Treatments

There are a number of helpful treatments available at Delray Interactive Medicine that are available for people living and struggling with the symptoms of both Fibromyalgia and depression. Some of our available services for these types of disorders include:

Neurofeedback Therapy

This type of therapy helps to relieve symptoms of both chronic pain and depression. Basically, it works by using auditory and visual cues along with guided biofeedback in order to stimulate areas of the brain that may not be functioning optimally which can result in symptoms of both chronic pain and depression. By retraining these areas of the brain and allowing for better functioning, individuals who utilize this type of therapy have better control over negative thought patterns and behaviors along with a reduction in both chronic pain and depressive symptoms.

Prescription Medications

There are a number of prescription medications available for use to treat and manage symptoms of Fibromyalgia. Unfortunately, often, using these medications alone doesn’t always work to reduce symptoms of both depression and Fibromyalgia. However, when paired with other types of prescription therapies, like ketamine infusion therapy that utilizes low doses of ketamine in the form of IV administration, people living with FIbromyalgia can experience not only chronic pain relief but also depression symptoms relief. Establishing the perfect combination of prescription psychiatric medications and therapy is vital to finding the best course of treatment planning for your individual needs.

Massage and Acupuncture

While therapy and prescription medication, both evidence-based approaches to treating chronic pain and depression, are successful, pairing these with supportive therapies can also be assistive in alleviating symptoms. At Delray Integrative Medicine, we provide the opportunity to utilize supportive tools like massage therapy and acupuncture. Both can help to alleviate symptoms of chronic pain and address symptoms of depression in patients who experience both of these issues congruently.