Celiac And Anxiety (Related And Not)

[Pegleg84]

Hi guys,

 

Putting this in here since the "behaviour" forum doesn't get much traffic.

 

Lately (past month or so) I've been having some bad axiety, panic attacks, depression, etc. All the fun stuff. This was a big symptom for me before I wen't gluten free, and got much much better once I did. Over the past few years, when I did get an attack I could usually link it back to something I ate, or an actual stressful event.

 

However, lately there's nothing I can point to and know, yes, that's what it was. I do have a few gluten-related possibilities: My boyfriend and I recently moved in together, and while my BF still brings gluten into the house, it's mostly frozen things that go straight into the oven, and he's super careful cleaning up, washing hands, no kissing, etc etc. It is possible that I'm getting low-level cc from something, but it would be pretty minor.

 

Also, I often feel low-energy, slightly depressed, a bit gittery and get worked up easily after a glutening, but it's usually a single incident and is done, and there's always some kind of stomach thing to go with it. The past while has not felt like that. I've also considered that something could be up with my thyroid, though my doctor (who I saw last week) thinks everything looks fine.

 

So, I am facing facts: this is a serious mental health issue, and I've asked to see a psychiatrist. This is a huge step for me, since I've dealt with depression/anxiety in some respect for most of my life. I've just blamed it on gluten for the past few years. The problem is our guts and our brains are so connected: If I eat something bad, it makes me depressed, which in turn makes me feel bad (a lot of nausea lately).  It sucks. It's interfering with my work and my life, and as much as I will do my best to eat right, sleep, meditate, exercise, socialise, and all the good things, I'm going to need some help.

 

Anyway, has anyone else gone through this? Celiac affects our mental health, but maybe it's not the sole reason for it? Any advice for coping? I'm taking this all one day at a time.

 

Thanks a bunch!

 

Peg
 

[cristiana]

Hi Peg

 

My sympathies - I have had dreadful anxiety that was bad just before diagnosis, then as my iron and B12 levels normalised it was much better. Personally, I am very grateful I found the book by Paul David and would recommend it to anyone with anxiety.  You may want to read his blog first just to see the approach he takes but as far as I can make out it works and I am told some GPs recommend it to their patients here in the UK.

 

Open Original Shared Link

 

But my anxiety came back this summer.  When I have it it brings the most ridiculous phobia with it which I won't share here but take it from me, it is a real pain.  I started to read Paul's book again and I learned was that  I was experiencing a temporary setback, and I am thinking that might be what you are suffering (Paul's book deals with those).   In my case I think that I was very worried about a project with a deadline I didn't think I'd make and an impending trip overseas that I wasn't really looking forward to.   Those issues got my adrenalin going and I think that is what brought my anxiety back.    It was helpful to deal with those other issues and slowly it all ebbed away again.

 

I think we celiacs are prone to anxiety from what I have read and I have also learned that for some, once your body knows how to go there, it can go back quickly! 

 

Maybe some other people will have some tips, but I wish you well.

[w8in4dave]

Funny you post this, I had an anxiety attack last night. I was driving home and there was a white out snow storm. I was fine till I had to go over the high level bridge. My body was just shaking! I was still 1/2 hr away from home. After getting off the high level I was really shaking! It was hot in the Jeep but I was still just shaking. I was still shaking when I got home. Sat down and relaxed and slowly I stopped shaking. Today I can still feel the effects. I don't think mine had anything to do with what I ate. But I have never done that before. It makes me think of my dog who has separation anxiety he shakes like that also.

[cyclinglady]

First, can you get your antibodies re-checked for antibodies -- just to rule out cross contamination? Then ask to have B-12 or folate levels checked. Those deficiencies are very common in celiacs and have been linked to depression, etc.

[Pegleg84]

The really irritating thing is I'm anxious about anything. I get anxious, and then I worry about how that anxiety will affect things, not the other way around.

 

I'm trying to up my b12, being super careful with what I'm eating, etc etc. Iron would be a good idea too. Getting out in the sunshine when it's out. November hit me hard this year, but now it's snowing and that's actually cheering me up a bit. But this is more than a seasonal thing.

 

I do also think that we're kind of prone to it. I was more or less fine for a few years and now, bam! Depression kind of runs in our family even though we don't really talk about it. We also (as a society) don't often talk about the fact that depression/anxiety isn't just about being sad/worried. It's an underlying tension that's there even when you're feeling ok. It's an instability. Today I'm doing ok, but I've got this slightly neurotic shakiness that makes me feel I could just break down at any moment. It's very unnerving.

[cyclinglady]

I am glad that you are seeking help. It would be nice if your MD could check your nutritional levels before prescribing medication though as we all know that celiac disease can affect the brain.

Hope you are feeling better soon.

[RMJ]

Moving in together is wonderful, but a pretty big life change. Could it be causing you stress?