Depression after Spinal Cord Injury

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 6, 2025.

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What do I need to know about depression after a spinal cord injury?

Depression may happen right away or develop weeks or months after the injury. You may feel sad, angry, or guilty as you adjust to the effects of the injury. Some medicines used to treat the injury may also cause depression.

What are the signs and symptoms of depression?

Other people may see changes before you see or feel them. You may have any of the following:

• Appetite changes, such as being more hungry or less hungry than usual, or gaining or losing weight
• Changes in sleep habits, such as trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping more than usual
• Feeling tired or having less energy than usual
• Feeling restless, irritable, or withdrawn
• Feeling worthless, hopeless, and discouraged, or guilty most of the time
• Trouble concentrating and remembering things, or trouble doing daily tasks or making decisions
• Thoughts about hurting or killing yourself

How is depression diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and your current medicines. Your provider may also ask how often you have felt depressed over the past 2 weeks.

How is depression treated?

• Therapy is a way for you to talk with healthcare providers about how you feel. This can be done alone or in a group. It may also be done with family members or a significant other.
• Medicines , such as antidepressants, may be given to decrease or manage symptoms. Antidepressants usually take several weeks to start working. You may need to take antidepressants for up to 1 year. If you have had more than 2 past episodes of major depression, you may need to use antidepressants longer. Several kinds of antidepressants are available. It may take some time to find the one that works best for you.

Treatment options

The following list of medications are related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

• Cymbalta
• Lexapro
• Zoloft
• Wellbutrin XL
• Prozac

View more treatment options

Drugs used to treat this and similar conditions

How can I manage depression?

• Eat a variety of healthy foods. Healthy foods include fruits, vegetables, whole-grain breads, low-fat dairy products, lean meats, fish, and cooked beans. A dietitian can help you create a healthy meal plan.
• Practice mindfulness or relaxation techniques. Meditation or deep breathing can help you relax, decrease stress, and helps you focus on positive thoughts. Mindful activities can also help you manage your emotions.
• Join a support group. It may be helpful for you to talk with others who have similar conditions. Tell your healthcare provider, family, or friends about your feelings. Your provider can give you resources to help you cope.

The following resources are available at any time to help you, if needed:

• Contact a suicide prevention organization:
  • For the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline:
    • Call or text 988
    • Send a chat on https://988lifeline.org/chat
    • Call 1-800-273-8255 (1-800-273-TALK)
  • For the Suicide Hotline, call 1-800-784-2433 (1-800-SUICIDE)
• For a list of international numbers: https://save.org/find-help/international-resources/

Call your local emergency number (911 in the US) if:

• You think about hurting or killing yourself.

When should I call my doctor or therapist?

• You are not able to cope with normal daily activities.
• You do not want to eat, or you are eating more than usual.
• You are not able to sleep well, or you are sleeping more than usual.
• You feel anxious, restless, angry, or you have a panic attack after starting antidepressant medicine.
• You feel that you are becoming depressed again after starting antidepressant medicine.
• You cannot make it to your next visit.
• You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.

Where can I find support and more information?

• National Spinal Cord Injury Association
  1 Church Street, Suite 600
  Rockville , MD 20850
  Phone: 1- 800 - 962-9629
  Web Address: www.spinalcord.org
  

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Office of Science Policy, Planning, and Communications
  6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6200, MSC 9663
  Bethesda , MD 20892-9663
  Phone: 1- 301 - 443-4513
  Phone: 1- 866 - 615-6464
  Web Address: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
  

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 healthcare providers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment. 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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