Crushing Depression When Glutened

[Googles]

When I get glutened I get crushing depression. How do people deal with it? I end up feeling suicidal when it happens. Help me please. I work really hard to keep it from happening, and it's only been CC. I can't imagine what would happen if I like went to a restaurant and they accidently gave me something with gluten in it instead of gluten free. Ugh.

[sandsurfgirl]

If you are getting suicidal, you need to have a therapist that you can call when it happens. Maybe even be in therapy to deal with the effects of celiac so you are more prepared to deal with CC when it happens. A good therapist can give you coping strategies to get through the hard times.

[AVR1962]

Oh yeah, I do so hear ya! It's like my world caves.....I get an odd headache, my brain function starts slowing down, I become irritable, stomach feels sick, tired, dizzy. Sometimes I just want to hide as I know for me the first week is the worst. It is not easy to deal with so I try real hard to have no contact and take no chances. Nine months I was off balance until I could finally keep from being glutened.

Do something for yourself, something you can enjoy.....a hot bath, curl up with a movie, sit in the sun, whatever it takes to find enjoyment. Hang in there!

[ravenwoodglass]

This happens to me too and it's scarey. I now know it will last about 24 hours for me and that it is directly because of gluten. I know I will be a bit irrational, snappy and easier to anger at the same time so I avoid confrontational situations if at all possible. I will do something relaxing like reading a funny book, watching sitcoms, a bath etc and take it easy on myself those days. If I need to cry I cry. What helps me most I think is I just tell myself it is the gluten, it will end.

As another poster said you may want to consider talking to a therapist who can help you with learning to cope with those feelings. Mine was very helpful. If things are really bad call a suicide hotline and tell them what is going on.

[Leper Messiah]

I'm exactly the same. The only way I get through it is tell myself it's just 2-3 weeks. And ok that's not great but from a background of having been diagnosed with ME/CFS, 2-3 weeks is a drop in the ocean. I'm not downplaying it at all though, you need a lot of mental strength and an ability to focus on the positives that you are going to achieve when you get to the end of the reaction. At the end of the day though this makes you a better person and that's what I'd focus on.

Once glutened then batten down the hatches and cancel all planned activities where possible and redouble my efforts at avoiding getting CC'd.

It does get extremely tough when you are constantly getting glutened and with me living in a house with lots of gluen it's a delicate balancing act at all times when eating or drinking including snacking.

[dilettantesteph]

I'm the same. Get any guns etc. out of the house. So something soothing. Music, gardening. I watch sad dramas and cry. Remember the people who need you. Most important is to tell yourself that it is just the gluten and things will seem better once the reaction is over.

[Poppi]

This is exactly why there are trigger locks on the guns and locks on the gun cabinets and I don't know any of the combinations.

If I get cc'd then I've got a brief but intense period of feeling extremely emotional and weepy.

If I get seriously glutened then I can feel extremely depressed for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. It's tough. All I can do is to keep reminding myself that my life is really awesome and I'll be able to see it again soon, that it's just the gluten doing this to me.

[Googles]

Hello.

Just so everyone knows I don't have any weapons in my home. My problem is that when this happens if I don't realize that I have been glutened I am terrified that my depression is back. The depression hasn't lasted more than three days, but during that time it takes so much effort to even get out of bed. I am in therapy for other things, and have dealt with the diagnosis in therapy. But these days just knock my legs out from under me. Thank you all for your input.

[lucky97]

A crushing depression is not what I know as something that is associated with the Celiac or being "glutened" in particular instances. I have always had issues with Dysthymia but, even after the Celiac diagnosis, they did not change because of the radical change in diet. I wish it were so.

If feeling very differently low you should treat it like a true illness (from which relief can be had) and contact a doctor immediately to pursue relief.

Hope this helps you.

[Leper Messiah]

A crushing depression is not what I know as something that is associated with the Celiac or being "glutened" in particular instances. I have always had issues with Dysthymia but, even after the Celiac diagnosis, they did not change because of the radical change in diet. I wish it were so.

If feeling very differently low you should treat it like a true illness (from which relief can be had) and contact a doctor immediately to pursue relief.

Hope this helps you.

Depression is a tough one exactly because of this. It is a separate serious illness in its own right from which I have no experience as I have never had depression as a standalone illness. I only have asymptomatic depression symptoms when I get glutened because I know what this means for me.

Just as an aside I've went to the docs and been giving the depression pills, various ones. Every single one of these did zilch for me. I still had all the symptoms of being annoyed, feeling worthless, feeling suicidal, feelings of guilt, anger, you name it. And it still occurs everytime I get glutened only because I know it's 2-3 weeks of pure misery. It's human nature to me if you break it down.

Depression pills probably won't do you any harm if you do want to give them a shot although I have severe suspicions about long term effects. Modern medicine after all tends to suppress symptoms rather than invest the time (and money) in finding out the root cause from my own personal experience.

[AVR1962]

Hello.

Just so everyone knows I don't have any weapons in my home. My problem is that when this happens if I don't realize that I have been glutened I am terrified that my depression is back. The depression hasn't lasted more than three days, but during that time it takes so much effort to even get out of bed. I am in therapy for other things, and have dealt with the diagnosis in therapy. But these days just knock my legs out from under me. Thank you all for your input.

Good to hear! Life can throw us some mighty powerful curved balls at time and there is absolutely nothing wrong with reaching out for help. When all my symptoms came to a head so much other stuff was going on in my life and my head just could not comprehend it all. I went to a counselor weekly for 8 months and it helped me alot. I wish you the best!

[Celtic Queen]

Just as an aside I've went to the docs and been giving the depression pills, various ones. Every single one of these did zilch for me. I still had all the symptoms of being annoyed, feeling worthless, feeling suicidal, feelings of guilt, anger, you name it. And it still occurs everytime I get glutened only because I know it's 2-3 weeks of pure misery. It's human nature to me if you break it down.

I've been on anti-depressants for years, long before I found out about the gluten intolerance. For me I still get the symptoms of depression, especially if I've been glutened. The anti-depressants don't stop it totally. What they do help with is my coping skills. My episodes aren't as bad and don't last as long. My moods are more even. I still get angry, but it's less of a hormone driven, raging anger. I'm in better control of myself and my moods. That being said, they don't work for everyone. And certain types work better for certain people than others. But you might give it a shot and see if they help you. My other suggestion would be therapy, but you're already doing that.