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Depression

Mayflowers

By Mayflowers
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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Mayflowers Contributor
Mayflowers
Posted

Has anyone had an increase in their depression and or anxiety when they first stopped the gluten? Some days it's hard coping with the whole thing and I get teary, like this morning... :(

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jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

I had both prior to going gluten-free. It took a few months before I noticed a positive difference.

I wouldn't say that mine got worse after I started the diet--but the first month or two, it really didn't get any better.

I still deal with it--after a year. It's not as severe, I'm able to deal with it, most of the time.

queenofhearts Explorer
queenofhearts
Posted

My mood just after diagnosis bounced like a bungee cord... one day I'd be teary all day, the next full of incredible hope & excitement. It's a wild ride, but I'm steadier now, & more on the hope side. Still get a little sad in restaurants though!

If you are feeling sad about your limitations, or impatient for results, I recommend reading the Unexpected Positive Results thread. That one really helps me when I'm down.

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Leah

taz sharratt Enthusiast
taz sharratt
Posted
Has anyone had an increase in their depression and or anxiety when they first stopped the gluten? Some days it's hard coping with the whole thing and I get teary, like this morning... :(

YES!!!! especailly when glutend :angry: my dp gets very bad also anger when glutend :angry: its hard noticeing the difference beteween pre-peroid and being glutend or being ill :blink: how does anyone tell the diff. it boggles me not only dealing with feeling ill but finding out if its something else :o

My mood just after diagnosis bounced like a bungee cord... one day I'd be teary all day, the next full of incredible hope & excitement. It's a wild ride, but I'm steadier now, & more on the hope side. Still get a little sad in restaurants though!

If you are feeling sad about your limitations, or impatient for results, I recommend reading the Unexpected Positive Results thread. That one really helps me when I'm down.

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Leah

thana leah, im looking that one up :)

imsohungry Collaborator
imsohungry
Posted
Has anyone had an increase in their depression and or anxiety when they first stopped the gluten? Some days it's hard coping with the whole thing and I get teary, like this morning... :(

Although I have never been diagnosed with clinical depression, I suffer recurring episodes of moodiness and sad feelings. Most days, by remaining gluten-free, I notice that I am not as moody, sad, or tired as I have been in the past. However, I still have my "depressed" days periodically. And particularly when I first started the gluten-free diet, the sheer frustration of trying to comprehend it all and stick to the gluten-free regimen temporarily increased my depressive thoughts and feelings.

Most days I am a cheerful, genuinely happy person, but today has been "one of those days." I've been stuck in the house all day with a screaming newborn and feel like I could have a seizure any minute. (My neuro. changed my meds. this week). Luckily, my hubby just got home; so I gave him the baby and am hiding in our home office to get away for a little while! ;) gluten-free or not...life can be hard to cope with sometimes and make you feel "teary." Hope you're feeling better soon! ((HUGS)) -Julie

Chrisser Explorer
Chrisser
Posted
Has anyone had an increase in their depression and or anxiety when they first stopped the gluten? Some days it's hard coping with the whole thing and I get teary, like this morning... :(

I haven't had an increase, but my depression is associated with different things now. Before going gluten-free, I had some general depression...couldn't find a job, didn't really want to work, afraid to work, had no energy, no motivation, etc. Now after going gluten-free, my depression and anxiety is more related to that...overwhelmed, frustrationg, fear. Now I WANT to work, I WANT to go run errands, I WANT to see and go out with my friends. But because of the diet I'm scared to leave the house and be away from gluten-free food. Plus, my energy level is still so low and I still don't feel "well." So now my depression and anxiety is related to the things I can't but really want to do.

My emotions change day to day, hour to hour. I'll be sitting there eating and meal and just start crying. The other night I had a very good and promising night. I had energy, I felt great, and was able to get to Kroger and Wal-mart. The next day was miserable, and I haven't felt well since then either. I was crushed because I thought I was finally getting better.

It is very hard to cope for me. Sometimes I say that I can't do it anymore, but I know I don't have a choice either. I've even been thinking about breaking my lease (which is a whole lotta moola) to move closer to my mom just so I could have some physical help and support.

queenofhearts Explorer
queenofhearts
Posted

I'd advise not making any huge decisions until you have a chance to get used to this. It's all-encompassing at first, but it gets easier.

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jknnej Collaborator
jknnej
Posted

Yes, absolutely. And I was NEVER, and I mean never, depressed BEFORE going gluten free. Ever.

I strongly believe that taking away gluten changes brain neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine.

I had to start taking an anti-depressant and thankfully it has made all the difference.

I was not only having mood swings, but getting to the point where I was looking forward to nothing, not even seeing friends or going out and having fun. It was awful; I felt isolated and almost suicidal.

It took me months to finally try the anti-depressant; as someone who has never been depressed before I was in a bit of denial and didn't want to resort to medicine. Finally my dr. really strongly urged me. I went to my GI dr. and told him and he strongly urged me as well. So I tried it and I am thankful I did because now I feel normal again. I am now taking a very low dose of Cymbalta after trying Effexor and Lexapro. Effexor was wonderful but I had terrible night sweats so I tried Lexapro, which really didn't help. Now I am taking Cymbalta and it is like Effexor but no night sweats:)

I also tried going OFF meds completely two months ago to see if my symptoms had improved in the year or so I was taking Effexor. It all came back and I felt awful again, so unfortunately for me, it looks like the anxiety/depression are forever.

Mayflowers Contributor
Mayflowers
Posted
  • Author

Ok, I don't understand this. We're supposed to be getting better not worse after getting off of gluten. But

jknnej, Did you try fish oil capsules? I take the Icelandic Health omega 3's. They really help my mood.

AFter I had some sugar this afternoon, my mood really picked up and I felt a lot better. I think I've lowered my carbs a lot going gluten free. Low carb triggers depression.

I was diagnosed 2 years after my second son as mildly depressed but not enough that I needed antidepressants. My sister is on lexapro. She's been trying to get me to go on it, because my mother passed away last January. It's been a rough year. Since I'm going into menopause too, it's tough. I'm always one for being into natural treatments if at all possible. I'll meditate. I notice that meditation and aerobic exercise, and keeping the caffeine and junk food low, really gets rid of my depression, as long as I don't exercise so much it increases my bad stress. I did that a few times. Made myself more irritable. I tried St. John's wort and it made me sleepy. Then I went and broke my ankle in June. I go back to work in a few weeks and I'm worried I'll be in big trouble for being out so long.

My sister won't go off the gluten. She said she was going to get tested and didn't. In the back of my mind I'm thinking "Is this worth it?" If I'm egg, soy and yeast intolerant, What the heck is left to eat?

:(

gfp Enthusiast
gfp
Posted
Yes, absolutely. And I was NEVER, and I mean never, depressed BEFORE going gluten free. Ever.

I strongly believe that taking away gluten changes brain neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine.

While this is probably true it is a two stage process.

What is documented is bonding of gluten to the endorphin receptors which are precursors.

The problem is that gluten doesn't fit so well and damages the receptors hence after it is purged the receptors are unable to properly bond to the endorphins. However they should repair.... over time and sublingual B6 and B12 are meant to help... but it can take 2 years according to one study I once read. The body compensates by flooding endorphins and also increased adrenalin....

I'm sure that once they actually pin this side down a bit more they will find a deeper level but I would love to see anything you picked up on this.

Just for the record I was depressed episodically before going gluten-free and it got worse at first and now it is relatively under control with no meds unless I get glutened ...

eleep Enthusiast
eleep
Posted

My experience going off of gluten was horrific -- more mood swings and stress than ever and a complete inability to cope. I've since realized that it was like an extended drug withdrawal. I've recently quit smoking, so I can confirm that the experience was much the same (ironically, quitting smoking was like a walk in the park compared to the gluten withdrawal).

What helped me significantly was to be sure to supplement, eat right get lots of rest and treat myself and my body very carefully. B-complex and fish-oil do help your brain recover faster -- exercise (even if you're just going for a walk) also helps quite a bit. If I'd been able to not-smoke through that experience, I'm pretty sure that my recovery would have gone much faster, but I think I would have lost my mind if I'd tried to do both things at once. Since quitting smoking, I've had one accidental glutening from cross-contamination (actually, earlier this week), and it took me three days to realize that I'd been glutened -- the reaction was still noticeable, but much less dramatic and life-draining than any reactions I've had before.

I think the bottom line is that withdrawal will be hard and have a sapping effect on your brain and your moods and your body, but it will pass -- and it will also help to think of this as a time when you need to rest and build up strength -- the healthier your body and habits are, the better it will deal with what life (or a well-meaning friend at a potluck who hasn't been as careful with her pots and pans as you'd like her to be) has to throw at you.

eleep

Ashley Enthusiast
Ashley
Posted

My depression shot up to the roof after being Dxed. At first, it was about being deprived of some foods. I'm still dealing with it quite a bit, but, it has nothing to do with being gluten-free. I've also been extremely more emotional after being dxed. Really don't why...

-Ash

Mayflowers Contributor
Mayflowers
Posted
  • Author

I wonder if that's my problem, being depressed over my lack of food choices more than lack of gluten.

My IBS has also flared up again! WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?! :angry:

I used wheat bran to keep it under control, now with no wheat bran, it's flaring up..!

I knew I was milk intolerant. Every time I had dairy, my nose would get stuffed up. Sometimes, but not every time, after eating ice cream, I'd get actual allergy symptoms, sneezing, coughing runny nose. After an hour it would clear up.

Oh, and get this, all of a sudden, if I eat foods that I'm intolerant too I start having nightmares! This just started happening the last few months. I usually never have had nightmares in the past. I noticed when I eat the right foods and don't eat gluten or dairy, I have normal dreams..that is so weird! :blink: I'm thinking my body is trying to send me a message that I'm not sending down healthy food for it.

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