Depression
Quite understandably, when you have lupus, you may sometimes feel sad or depressed. There are tensions that having lupus can cause in personal relationships; there is the knowledge that lupus is a chronic illness and cannot be cured; and there can be pain and other physical symptoms. The unpredictability of lupus, with its unexpected flares and remissions, and the uncertainty of what each day will bring can contribute to feelings of lack of control. Usually these feelings subside with time, as you learn to adjust to having lupus.
In some cases, though, these negative feelings can be overwhelming and long-lasting. Feelings of helplessness or hopelessness, sadness, anger, frustration, uncontrolled crying, inability to concentrate, diminished memory and recall, indecisiveness, and thoughts of suicide are all signs of clinical depression. Clinical depression is an illness, not just a symptom or side effect of having lupus, and may affect you in many other ways, such as:
- interfering with restful sleep
- making pain worse
- decreasing appetite or triggering overeating
- causing fatigue
- causing a lack of interest in things you once enjoyed
- sometimes making you feel unable to get out of bed
Depression often accompanies chronic illnesses. In fact, studies have found that between 15 and 60 percent of people with a chronic illness will experience clinical depression.
For people with lupus, several reasons may account for this.
- Depression may occur as a direct result of the physical effects the disease produces on your body.
- Some of the medicines that are prescribed to control lupus are known to play a role in causing depression (for example, depression that occurs with high-dose steroid usage).
- Depression may be a result of the continuous series of emotional and psychological stresses and strains associated with coping with a chronic illness.
- Depression may be a result of neurologic problems or experiences completely unrelated to the lupus diagnosis.
In many cases, anti-depressant medication can help ease the effects of depression. Anti-anxiety medicines are also available to reduce worry and fearful feelings. As with all medicines, these types of drugs have side effects, some of which can be confused with symptoms associated with lupus. If you are taking medicines to treat depression or anxiety, stay in close contact with your lupus doctor about any physical changes you notice.
Psychotherapy, either by itself or in combination with anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication, can be very effective in helping you understand your feelings, illness, and relationships, and how to cope more effectively. If you are experiencing signs or symptoms of depression, you should not hesitate to ask your doctor for referral to a mental health professional who is familiar with issues surrounding chronic illnesses such as lupus.
Related Information
Depression and Lupus
December 2008 webchat transcript with Dr. Al Herzog
The Challenges of Dealing with the Emotions of Lupus
June 2007 webchat transcript with Dr. Al Herzog
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