Psoriasis is a skin condition where cells build up and form scales and itchy dry skin. According to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, people living with psoriasis suffered more mental distress and were 1.5 times more likely to report severe depression than those without the condition. By having more awareness about people with psoriasis also living with mental illness, more can be done to do something about it.
What Role Can Psoriasis Play in Mental Illness?
People with psoriasis have increased levels of anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, social impairment, relationship, and intimacy impairments. People with psoriasis are normally unaware of what degree their condition has impaired their lives. Having a chronic disease can leave you physically and emotionally drained. This is a disease that people have to deal with every day like having a low immune system and chronic fatigue which can affect your mental health the most. This can affect a person’s ability to play sports, travel, and participate in extracurricular activities.
How Can Secondary Symptoms and Medication Influence Your Mental Health?
People with psoriasis could have secondary diseases like heart disease or diabetes. If you have a disease that creates enough inflammation that is affecting your heart, it can be hard for your brain to function. People with an autoimmune disease are often misdiagnosed or stay that way because of their unique symptoms. This can make it hard for them to get the right treatment they need, pushing them into isolation. Psychiatrist Dr. Robert Goldstein recommends people with psoriasis see a rheumatologist or an immunologist with a specialty in autoimmune diseases and to voice their concerns if their mental health is suffering because of their medications. Anxiety can prevent patients on how to take their medications properly, so it is important to get that under control.
Is There Hope for Psoriasis Sufferers with Mental Illness?
A recent study in Arthritis Care & Research journal recommended that improvements in therapy and treatment, as well as psychiatric support, could limit depression and embarrassment from those with psoriasis. Light therapy can help as well as seeking out others with psoriasis to prove to you that you are not alone. If you feel your medication is not working, speak to your doctors about it. By breaking the stigma of mental illness and psoriasis, you can be in control of both disorders and learn how to be content on a daily basis.
Located in Georgetown, Texas, Alma Loma is a transformative living center to help those struggling in early recovery to transition out of our Psychiatric and Substance Abuse residential center. Alma Loma believes that addiction is born from an untreated mental illness in which our facility is willing to help you. Our facility offers residency, medication management education, individualized treatment, life skills education, 12-step support, and more tools to bring patients the confidence to be able to live an independent life. For more information, please call us at 866-457-3843.
