A common question asked is "Can Lupus Cause Mental Illness?" Depression, irrational behavior and other mental illness issues often go hand-in-hand with lupus.

Rates of depression are noticeably higher among patients with chronic pain such as Lupus. Any progressive and chronic physical disorder can cause depression. Lupus is associated with several negative psychological outcomes, including depression. Most Lupus patients do experience some degree of depression, anxiety, and feelings of helplessness.

Many factors come into play when it comes to why people with Lupus experience depression at such high rates.

People with Lupus often feel alone in their suffering. Some people find that the legitimacy of their condition are questioned. Given the impact a chronic illness can have on quality of life, it is no surprise that people with Lupus also experience significant depression or anxiety.

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The physical condition of Lupus can render a person unable to work. Or, working a full-time job can strip the Lupus sufferer of all energy, making it very difficult to have the energy to drive to the office and work all day and then manage a hectic family and home life. Other chronic health conditions, living daily with severe chronic pain, a lack of emotional support and sleep disturbances common with Lupus contribute heavily to the depression.

It is normal to feel sadness concerning the loss of the lifestyle, about a job loss, changes in relationships or not being able to do the things you used to be able to do before Lupus. People with Lupus and depression are not just sad. Their feelings of depression linger affecting their work and social life as well as sleep and concentration. Lupus patients who experience depression begin to feel hopeless. With a lowered self-esteem, their depression distorts their thinking and interferes with day-to-day routine.

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Your physician might refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to help you learn coping strategies for dealing with Lupus and depression. Your physician might also prescribe antidepressant medications. Antidepressant medication can also be a very useful choice. The right choice of drugs may have a positive influence on mood and can also influence pain perception (reducing chronic pain) and insomnia.

If you suffer from Lupus and depression, or if a loved one does, watch out for warning signs of suicide. Statistically people with chronic illnesses such as Lupus suffer from depression and consider suicide more frequently than other people.

Lupus patients with clinical depression experience a lingering sadness that is not healthy. Their feelings of depression are associated with feelings of hopelessness, fatigue, loss of interest in entertainment, loss of appetite and no enthusiasm for living. They are essentially burned out.

While it’s natural to grieve about future hopes and dreams that may have been dashed upon developing Lupus, it’s important to adequately and safely address depression to improve the quality of life.

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