Battling a life long disease that can chronically affect your life forever is something that none of us would like to happen. Honestly, battling lupus together with its multiple chronic illness complications is a rough battle. It's like I have an invisible enemy that I don't know when it will attack me. I don't know when will be the days that it will torture me with so much pain in my muscles and joints. I don't know when it will paralyze me in my bed and disable me from doing the regular task I need to do. I don't know when I'll feel fine.
To be someone who is aware and cautious of what your body is telling you is necessary with this type of battle. Do you know that the longer you fight this kind of battle, it's exhausting? Though you're too conscious of your body, you'll eventually get tired of trying to keep up with it. Then, that's when mental illness partnered with your chronic illness. It's not because you're weak or you're getting crazy, but because it's the exhaustion in keeping up with your life, with your chronic illness, with your pain, and your body.
Some studies say that it is normal for chronically ill patients to experience mental illness or issues. The claim says that mostly but it's not normal for us to have it. Some people can manage it right away and deferred from a more severe mental illness.
According to studies, 1 out of 5 cancer patients develop PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) after their diagnosis. Around 15 to 35 percent of chronically ill patients are similar to this. It is believed that a chronically ill patient is twice likely to develop a mental illness or issue.
Why do Chronically Ill Patients May Develop Mental Issues?
It is said that any health condition that causes widespread inflammation raises the risk of developing depression because it is related to the inflammation of the brain. Let's say you're someone battling lupus or arthritis, there is chronic pain and when our body is in constant pain our brain secretes certain hormones that trigger anxiety and depression.
Otherwise, the feeling of being misunderstood by our family members, rejected, limited, and thinking of ongoing financial problems and increasing levels of medications can arise our risk of developing anxiety and depression.
Though the environment and hormones play a great role in the development of mental health issues to us, it is also possible for us to experience anxiety and depression as side effects of our medications.
List of medicines that triggers anxiety and depression are:
Beta-Blockers - types of medications that help in maintaining hypertension.
Statins - medications that manage cholesterol levels.
Opioids - it is believed that it can cause euphoric feelings at first. Somehow, in long term use, it can develop depression. (pain relievers, morphine, etc.)
Anticonvulsant - medications used to treat epilepsy, seizure, and fibromyalgia.
Corticosteroids - cortisone, prednisone, methyl-prednisolone is also known as anti-inflammatory medicines. These causes to raise the serotonin levels that contribute to develop depression and anxiety.
Stimulant -This alters the dopamine levels in our body which contribute to developing depression.
Summary
Battling a chronic illness is debilitating. Exhausting. Limiting. Fighting it with Mental illness is heavier. Our mental illness is caused by our hormonal imbalances resulting from the medications that we're taking which are also triggered by our environment, mood, pain, and fatigue.
Developing Mental health issue along with your chronic illness may be manageable to something that needed attention. When you feel that you can no longer manage it, don't be scared to talk with a psychologist or counselor. A proper therapy to manage it can help and improve your wellness.
To watch our complete talk about mental health and chronic illness, click here.
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