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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