Mild Depression Symptoms Increased After Going Gluten-free?

[georgiagirl]

I've been gluten free for 3 weeks and I'm seeing very dramatic positive benefits. I no longer have the terrible fatigue, bloating, allergy symptoms, etc. The overall benefits are extremely positive. Instead of collapsing asleep before 10:30pm, I now am often up past midnight.

One unexpected negative change since I've gone gluten free is more occurrence of mild depression. Its a chemical depression - not the purely emotional "I'm sad because I miss pizza" sort of thing. I've already morned the loss of gluten products and I'm okay with that so that's not the cause of this.

The positive benefits of going gluten-free still FAR outweigh this negative so I'm not at all tempted to eat gluten.

Has anyone else experienced this experience of mild depression in the early stages of going gluten free? It feels like my circadian rythmns have completely changes in the last 3 weeks and I wonder if that is the cause of the depression? I no longer feel tired when it's bedtime, and no longer am starving at meal times. Sound familiar to anyone?

I expect it will pass soon when my body readjusts to this new diet, but I am interested to hear if this is a common early reaction.

[dionnek]

I experienced depression after my dx last May - at first I thought it was just the loss of gluten (and an important part of my life!), then I got Hashimotos and my thyroid was all over the place so I figured that was causing the depression, but after about 6 months when I wasn't mourning gluten anymore and my thyroid had been regulated for a few months, I was still having crying fits every day for no reason, and getting angry at my husband and daughter for silly things, so I started on Zoloft about 2-3 weeks ago. I am only taking half of the lowest dosage per day (25 mg) and after just a few days I noticed a difference. I am not back to 100% happy person, but I am MUCH better than I was. I ALMOST feel normal again

[DebbieInCanada]

Have you checked for sensitivities to other foods? After I went gluten free, I discovered I was also intolerant of corn. I find that corn products also give me depression and exhaustion symptoms. Once I removed corn (corn flour, corn starch, corn syrup, and other derivatives) from my diet, the exhaustion and depression went away.

Hope this helps.

Debbie

[gfpaperdoll]

Part of it might be the grieving process for the foods that you not eat anymore. But you will soon have new foods to replace those...

start taking a B12 everyday & for the rest of your life. I take Nature Made, buy it at Walgreen's

[georgiagirl]

Thanks you for your comments. This is very helpful.

[loraleena]

You could be having some withdrawal symptoms.

[mn farm gal]

My depression increased also and it was Vit B that was way below the right levels. I now take the liquid Vit B complex which is all B Vitamins.