Depression After Spinal Cord Injury

What is depression?

Depression is a condition that causes feeling of sadness and hopelessness. Depression may be so bad that you think about committing suicide (killing yourself). Depression may be short term or long term. Depression can be treated.

What causes depression?

• Many life events can cause depression. Some life events may be getting divorced, having a loved one die, losing a job, or even retiring. Having a spinal cord injury (SCI) can cause depression. It can make you feel tired, and you may lose your appetite. You also may develop pressure sores and chronic (long-term) pain. You may be very sad and grieve for the way your life was before the injury. You may be angry and blame yourself or others for what happened to cause the spinal cord injury.
  
  
• Suddenly going from being independent to having to depend on others for your care may make you feel depressed. Not being able to do the things you like to do can make you sad or depressed. Some medicines that you take for your SCI or other health problems, like pain, also may make you feel depressed.

How is depression diagnosed?

• Signs and symptoms: You may not know that you are depressed. The signs and symptoms may or may not be obvious to you or someone else. These signs and symptoms may also be related to another condition that you have. You may have one or more of the following signs and symptoms when you are depressed. Talk to caregivers if you have any one or more of the following signs and symptoms:
  
  
  • Eating too much or too little.
    
    
  • Feeling hopeless or worthless.
    
    
  • Having trouble thinking clearly or making decisions.
    
    
  • Not caring about how you look, like not bathing, changing clothes, brushing teeth, or using deodorant.
    
    
  • Not caring about things you used to enjoy, like sports or movies.
    
    
  • Sleeping too much or too little.
    
    
  • Thinking about or trying to commit suicide.
    
    
  • Being unable to cope with normal daily activities.
  
  
• Psychiatric assessment: Caregivers will ask if you have a history of psychological trauma, such as physical, sexual, or mental abuse. They will ask if you were given the care that you needed. Caregivers will ask you if you have been a victim of a crime or natural disaster, or if you have a serious injury or disease. They will ask you if you have seen other people being harmed, such as in combat. You will be asked if you drink alcohol or use drugs at present or in the past. Caregivers will ask you if you want to hurt or kill yourself or others. How you answer these questions can help caregivers decide on treatment. To help during treatment, caregivers will ask you about such things as how you feel about it and your hobbies and goals. Caregivers will also ask you about the people in your life who support you.

How is depression treated?

The most important first step is accepting that you want to feel better. Talk to your caregivers so they can help you with treatment. Caregivers may suggest you go to psychotherapy, which is talk therapy and counseling with a specially trained caregiver. You also may need medicine to help treat depression. You may need a combination of counseling and medicines to treat your depression.

Where can I go for support?

• Having a spinal cord injury is life-changing for you and your family. Accepting that you have a spinal cord injury is hard. You and those close to you may feel angry, sad, or frightened. These feelings are normal. Talk to your caregivers, family, or friends about your feelings. Let them help you. Encourage those close to you to talk to your caregiver about how things are at home. Your caregiver can help your family better understand how to support a person with a spinal cord injury.
  
  
• You may want to join a support group. This is a group of people who also have spinal cord injuries. Ask your caregiver for the names and numbers of support groups in your town. You can contact one of the following national organizations for more information:
  • Paralyzed Veterans of America
    801 Eighteenth Street NW
    Washington, DC , 20006
    Phone: 1- 800 - 424-8200
    Web Address: www.pva.org
    
  • National Spinal Cord Injury Association
    1 Church Street, Suite 600
    Rockville , MD 20850
    Phone: 1- 800 - 962-9629
    Web Address: www.spinalcord.org
    
  • American Spinal Cord Association
    2020 Peachtree Road, NW
    Atlanta, Georgia , 30309-1402
    Phone: 1- 404 - 355-9772
    Web Address: www.asia-spinalinjury.org
    

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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