Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Mild Depression Symptoms Increased After Going Gluten-free?


georgiagirl

Recommended Posts

georgiagirl Rookie

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.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



dionnek Enthusiast

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 Rookie

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 Rookie

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 Rookie

Thanks you for your comments. This is very helpful.

loraleena Contributor

You could be having some withdrawal symptoms.

mn farm gal Apprentice

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.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - knitty kitty replied to Sarah Grace's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      25

      Headaches / Migraines and Hypoglycaemia

    2. - trents replied to Sarah Grace's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      25

      Headaches / Migraines and Hypoglycaemia

    3. - Scott Adams replied to Russ H's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      1

      KAN-101 Treatment for Coeliac Disease

    4. - Scott Adams replied to miguel54b's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      1

      Body dysmorphia experience

    5. - Scott Adams replied to Colleen H's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      2

      Heat intolerant... Yikes


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,151
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Travis25
    Newest Member
    Travis25
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Excessive dietary tyrosine can cause problems.  Everything in moderation.   Sulfites can also trigger migraines. Sulfites are found in fermented, pickled and aged foods, like cheese.  Sulfites cause a high histamine release.  High histamine levels are found in migraine.  Following a low histamine diet like the low histamine Autoimmune Protocol diet, a Paleo diet, helps immensely.    Sulfites and other migraine trigger foods can cause changes in the gut microbiome.  These bad bacteria can increase the incidence of migraines, increasing histamine and inflammation leading to increased gut permeability (leaky gut), SIBO, and higher systemic inflammation.   A Ketogenic diet can reduce the incidence of migraine.  A Paleo diet like the AIP diet, that restricts carbohydrates (like from starchy vegetables) becomes a ketogenic diet.  This diet also changes the microbiome, eliminating the bad bacteria and SIBO that cause an increase in histamine, inflammation and migraine.  Fewer bad bacteria reduces inflammation, lowers migraine frequency, and improves leaky gut. Since I started following the low histamine ketogenic AIP paleo diet, I rarely get migraine.  Yes, I do eat carbs occasionally now, rice or potato, but still no migraines.  Feed your body right, feed your intestinal bacteria right, you'll feel better.  Good intestinal bacteria actually make your mental health better, too.  I had to decide to change my diet drastically in order to feel better all the time, not just to satisfy my taste buds.  I chose to eat so I would feel better all the time.  I do like dark chocolate (a migraine trigger), but now I can indulge occasionally without a migraine after.   Microbiota alterations are related to migraine food triggers and inflammatory markers in chronic migraine patients with medication overuse headache https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11546420/  
    • trents
      Then we would need to cut out all meat and fish as they are richer sources of tyrosine than nuts and cheese. Something else about certain tyrosine rich foods must be the actual culprit. 
    • Scott Adams
      I agree that KAN-101 looks promising, and hope the fast track is approved. From our article below: "KAN-101 shows promise as an immune tolerance therapy aiming to retrain the immune system, potentially allowing safe gluten exposure in the future, but more clinical data is needed to confirm long-term effects."  
    • Scott Adams
      Thank you so much for having the courage to share this incredibly vivid and personal experience; it's a powerful reminder of how physical ailments can disrupt our fundamental sense of self. What you're describing sounds less like a purely psychological body dysmorphia and more like a distinct neurological event, likely triggered by the immense physical stress and inflammation that uncontrolled celiac disease can inflict on the entire body, including the nervous system. It makes complete sense that the specific sensory input—the pressure points of your elbows on your knees—created a temporary, distorted body map in your brain, and the fact that it ceased once you adopted a gluten-free diet is a crucial detail. Your intuition to document this is absolutely right; it's not "crazy" but rather a significant anecdotal data point that underscores the mysterious and far-reaching ways gluten can affect individuals. Your theory about sensory triggers from the feet for others is also a thoughtful insight, and sharing this story could indeed be validating for others who have had similar, unexplainable sensory disturbances, helping them feel less alone in their journey.
    • Scott Adams
      The most common nutrient deficiencies associated with celiac disease that may lead to testing for the condition include iron, vitamin D, folate (vitamin B9), vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, and magnesium.  Unfortunately many doctors, including my own doctor at the time, don't do extensive follow up testing for a broad range of nutrient deficiencies, nor recommend that those just diagnosed with celiac disease take a broad spectrum vitamin/mineral supplement, which would greatly benefit most, if not all, newly diagnosed celiacs. Because of this it took me decades to overcome a few long-standing issues I had that were associated with gluten ataxia, for example numbness and tingling in my feet, and muscle knots--especially in my shoulders an neck. Only long term extensive supplementation has helped me to resolve these issues.      
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.