Mental Issues from as a Celiac

[symphonyofdreams547]

I'm curious how many of you didn't have any serious physical problems from Gluten, but rather had mental issues(Depression, Anxiety etc)  And how have these things improved since being gluten-free?

[manitourose]

Right here!  Except by the time I was diagnosed I was dealing with many physical issues of varying types.

I've dealt with generalized anxiety disorder from my early 20's, I'm late 30's now.  I went through a severe spell in my late-20's and then again these past 2 years. My panic attacks and anxiety stemmed from nothing and were so difficult. Depression was deeply setting in. I told therapists and doctors I saw I could do all the cognitive behavioral therapy I wanted (I had great success with it in the past) and my anxiety was still unchanged. Often I was asked "what are you anxious about?" or "what is depressing you?"... I had no clue and no answer. Sure there are triggers, but it felt unrooted and that it scared me because I had no idea how to fix  it!!

I went gluten free only Dec. 16th. By early Jan, I am not longer dealing with the constant anxiety and the depression is slowly lifting. A cloud is lifting, the irritability has let up considerably and no longer am I in a constant state of anxiety. I am the old me and it's incredibly strange and exciting to meet "me" again. However, my emotions and behaviors have been affected by the challenges so it's still work like anyone coming through emotional struggles. It's (gluten-free) certainly not a cure all and I know I still am prone to dealing with my anxiety and depression. However, being gluten-free has made a significant difference.

Also, I eat mainly whole foods and really limit any processed foods. For now I have had to back off dairy and corn until I heal more. Just in case you are curious what my diet is.  I was also diagnosed by blood work and biopsy.

[symphonyofdreams547]

Very Interesting, hopefully things keep progressing for you

[cristiana]

I had terrible out of the blue anxiety before dx.   My gastro symptoms followed but months later.  I was very low on B12 and iron which I am sure didn't help.   

I have found that occasionally that anxiety comes back.  It is as if I learned that behavior before I was dx'd and something triggers it again, not always gluten.  When I feel it knocking at the door again, which thankfully is not often, I just look at it as a setback.   I get these setbacks when I am worrying about something, like a trip - can't stand flying - or a writing deadline, and when that happens I have found a lot of help through two particular books, At Last a Life by Paul David and The Depression Cure: the Six-Step Programme to beating depression without drugs by Steve Llardi.  I'm not saying medication doesn't have its place but sometimes we can get into negative patterns of behavior which just don't help.  

There are a lot of posts on anxiety in this forum so I think it is a very common problem.

[EzyEric]

Yes the mental issues were what pushed me to finally get tested.  Still have not improved much at all since (attempting to be) gluten free since March 2015.

[GFinDC]

Here's a link to an old thread about mental symptoms in celiac disease.  It might be interesting to you.  I found it by searching for anger, depression in the forum search tool.  There are other similar subject threads too.