Major Depression

[Sweetfudge]

So I was diagnosed with major depression 8 years ago, got on antidepressants 5 years ago (when I moved away from home), and have been up and down on that roller coaster since.

I know celiac disease causes lots of other problems, and I thought depression was one of them. Thought that might be partly why I've got both. I also have hypoglycemia which I have read also coincides with depression

I just wanted to know whether anyone who has depression has felt better since being gluten free? I've been *mostly* gluten free (had a couple of accidents) for several months, but I'm not really feeling much better.

I guess it could just be that my life is kinda sh*tty right now...but I was hoping that eating better would cause me to feel better emotionally as well as physically. Oh well...

[CarlaB]

How are you feeling physically? How long have you been gluten-free? Do you think you are at the bottom of your health problems?

Some of us need to keep searching until we get the right balance to start healing. Depression can be a side effect of celiac, but it can go along with other health issues as well. Has your doc run blood tests? I personally suffer from adrenal fatigue (due to stress and being sick for so long) which also has a side effect of depression, fatigue, and hypoglycemia, and there are numerous other things out there that can be causing it as well.

Edit - ah, I see, gluten-free since June. It takes time, even though three months seems like forever, it takes time!!

[Guest nini]

two years after going gluten-free, I was finally able to wean off my antidepressant/antianxiety meds, be patient

[ravenwoodglass]

So I was diagnosed with major depression 8 years ago, got on antidepressants 5 years ago (when I moved away from home), and have been up and down on that roller coaster since.

I know celiac disease causes lots of other problems, and I thought depression was one of them. Thought that might be partly why I've got both. I also have hypoglycemia which I have read also coincides with depression

I just wanted to know whether anyone who has depression has felt better since being gluten free? I've been *mostly* gluten free (had a couple of accidents) for several months, but I'm not really feeling much better.

I guess it could just be that my life is kinda sh*tty right now...but I was hoping that eating better would cause me to feel better emotionally as well as physically. Oh well...

I've been mostly depression free since about 6 months or so after diagnosis. after suffering severe depression periodically since I was a child. It is now one of the sure signs I've been glutened. I had to make sure I eliminated gluten from everything though, shampoos, cosmetics, craft supplies, building supplies and I eliminated it from my house in any food form. Don't lose hope but don't discount other possible reasons for your depression. Be sure to mention it to your doctor. It can be tough when you have to get used to a new life style like gluten-free and you also have other concerns that weigh on your mind. Try to make sure you get excercise and fresh air and make sure you reward yourself once in a while when things are rough. Even something as simple as going for a walk in a neighborhood that has some flower gardens or a bath with a nice gluten-free bubble bath can help a bit. Make sure to that you are taking some good gluten-free supplements, the B's in particular and know your not alone.

[jknnej]

Unfortunately for me, depression hit only AFTER going gluten free. I was never depressed a day in my life. then, I went gluten free and now I've been on anti-depressants for a year. I think it's the gluten withdrawl. My stomach issues are gone, but I fear I will always have to take this medicine.

I tried stopping the meds but I got all my depression back.

But, don't despair; for some, it gets better after going gluten-free. I don't know why mine was so opposite.

But the anti depressants really saved me. I feel normal again.

[Guest ~jules~]

Unfortunately for me, depression hit only AFTER going gluten free. I was never depressed a day in my life. then, I went gluten free and now I've been on anti-depressants for a year. I think it's the gluten withdrawl. My stomach issues are gone, but I fear I will always have to take this medicine.

I tried stopping the meds but I got all my depression back.

But, don't despair; for some, it gets better after going gluten-free. I don't know why mine was so opposite.

But the anti depressants really saved me. I feel normal again.

I am deffinetly more depressed now than before. I really have to pull myself out of it sometimes I can't. I just started gluten-free, so hopefully I'm just a little whacked out right now, I deffinetly do not feel like myself these days.

[gfp]

I am deffinetly more depressed now than before. I really have to pull myself out of it sometimes I can't. I just started gluten-free, so hopefully I'm just a little whacked out right now, I deffinetly do not feel like myself these days.

Jules....

This is exactly how I felt when I was being "micro-glutened".....

I couldn't figure it out.... I lost tons of weight to a point where the DR was really worried and I was eating things I was so certain were gluten-free.... my diet got increasingly more limited as I couldn't find what is was.

In the end it was a brand of tortilla chips... made in the same factory (and later labelled as such)

Make sure to that you are taking some good gluten-free supplements, the B's in particular and know your not alone.

This is another major boost.

[debmidge]

for my husband, he had almost suicidal depression which lifted a few months after going gluten-free. He's not as bad as he used to be (can't take anti depressants due to neurological side effects).

[daffadilly]

for my husband, he had almost suicidal depression which lifted a few months after going gluten-free. He's not as bad as he used to be (can't take anti depressants due to neurological side effects).

He should be taking B12, and or getting the B12 shots. He probably has DQ1 genes, they are associated with depression and other neurological problems.

[debmidge]

He should be taking B12, and or getting the B12 shots. He probably has DQ1 genes, they are associated with depression and other neurological problems.

He goes for B12 shots monthly and takes the sublingual supplements....I would have to agree about DQ1 genes, it appears that way.

[darlindeb25]

There is another thing you need to understand about going gluten free. Even though we begin to feel better--in your case only being gluten free for 3 months may not be long enough to judge yet. Like someone said--give it time. Yet, we all mourn food. We mourn the fact that we can't just pop anything into our mouth at any given time--we even resent that fact at some level. I was so sick for so many years, that I don't think the mourn/resentment feelings hit me until this summer. I have been gluten-free for 5 yrs now. My problem is compounded by the fact that I am intolerant of so much now and I resent that. Gluten free, I could deal with just fine. I could make very good gluten-free pizza, yet now, I can't have that. My sister makes gluten-free food that no one knows is any different than the norm. I was making very good gluten-free bread, yet I can no longer have that either. I found Tinkiyada macaroni and spaghetti, yet now I can't have rice flour or tomatoes, so yes, I resent that. I never liked the corn products, yet now I can't have corn either, so it doesn't matter that I wasn't impressed with the corn products. I would be a wonderful vegetarian, yet now I can't have nightshades, no spaghetti squash, no cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower--so much and yes, I resent it and I do get depressed about it. Yet, I still feel so thankful that someone figured out what celiacs is. I don't sleep on the toilet anymore, I don't spend my nights in excruciating pain anymore, I can make plans to take trips, I work full time and in nearly 4 yrs, I have not missed a single day of work. I was on Paxil when I went gluten-free for chemical imbalances, 40 mg a day and barely scratching by. After several months, I weaned myself off of it and haven't had a regular anti-depession med since--occasionally a xanax, but very rarely.

So, keep up the gluten-free, do your very best to never be glutened--don't let the gluten monster get you down.

Deb