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Mild Depression Symptoms Increased After Going Gluten-free?

georgiagirl

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georgiagirl Rookie
georgiagirl
Posted

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.

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dionnek Enthusiast
dionnek
Posted

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
DebbieInCanada
Posted

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
gfpaperdoll
Posted

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
georgiagirl
Posted
  • Author

Thanks you for your comments. This is very helpful.

loraleena Contributor
loraleena
Posted

You could be having some withdrawal symptoms.

mn farm gal Apprentice
mn farm gal
Posted

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.

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    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

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    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
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    • Scott Adams
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

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      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
    • trents
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By trents · Posted

      Contact them.
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