Do you experience Depression Because of your Crohns? Is there connection?

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SarahChoueiry

SarahChoueiry

Joined
Nov 23, 2012
Messages
141
HI
I am working on a post on how depression plays a role in your life if you have Crohn's. Wether you have it and if you do, do you think it is because you have Crohn's. How do you deal with it? what would you suggest as advice to someone who is feeling depressed because of their diagnosis/issues with Crohn's?
I would like to share whatever you post, so if you can let me know wether to keep it anonymous or not when adding it to the post and I can share the link with you once posted :)

I find it so helpful when we share our own stories, and not just a study done. Always helps to feel like you can relate to real people.
 
Hmm. I was told I was depressed when I was younger, but I really don't think I ever was. I can see how Crohn's (or any chronic illness) and depression would be related. You're feeling awful and you realize that your illness is going to be for life. It's easy to get caught up in that and forget about the possibility of remission.

Basically, my advice to someone dealing with depression because of Crohn's would be to focus more on remission and less on "chronic." It might be a difficult journey, but these struggles strengthen us. It helps to put a positive spin on the negatives in your life. Communities like this, where people can relate to what you're going through, help too. It's easy to become isolated, but connecting with others is important. Most of all, it's okay to be upset. It's alright to take time out when things get rough. You don't have to be a superhero all of the time.
 
I would say it depends greatly on the person. I've read numerous posts on here about people that are depressed about their crohns and what not. Personally I have never been depressed, even when extremely ill I always keep a positive outlook on life and stay as positive as I can.
 
I was very depressed when I came to know that I had a desease which cant be cured....but that was the first and teh last time I have ever taken this situation of mine negatively...I have taken my life as a fight and now I have a mission at hand. But daily meditation has helped me and and now I never feel depressed or stressed.
 
Just did a quick blog post on that. Depression is definitely co-morbid with Crohn's, and should be something all docs and patients are on the lookout for. Since quality of life is probably the biggest measure of success in treating Crohn's from the patient's perspective, getting depression diagnosed and treated is critical.
 
With Crohn's vitamin deficiencies are very common and being low or deficient in certain ones can actually cause depression so yes, Crohn's and depression can come hand in hand. "There are a variety of vitamin deficiencies that can lead to depression symptoms." http://depression.about.com/cs/diet/a/vitamin.htm

The diagnosis and having to deal with that can also cause depression as well just like it would with any chronic illness.

First off is to always have your vitamin levels tested and get that under control (by supplementing or through shots or infusions if needed) to see if that's the cause.

Joining support groups and seeking counseling for depression is a big help. I've gone to counseling off and on over the decades for bouts of depression and it was helpful every time. You learn about different tools you can use to deal with depression and anxiety as depression and anxiety come hand in hand. Occasionally I took medication when needed for thoughts of suicide and attempting suicide yet I've done well over the years and haven't had any of those thoughts since.

Always take depression seriously and seek proper treatment even if its getting your blood drawn and/or seeing a therapist.
 
SarahChoueiry in your first post you did mention that if people wanted to be anonymous then they could let you know. If you want to be sure then you could send the people who responded a PM and ask again but I'm pretty sure we're all aware so it should be ok. :)
 
I'm depressed but because other problems in my life. Illness itself is not a cause of depression for me now. I think if I had no other problems, I'd be quite happy even with IBD (and my other illnesses).

I did get depressed when my digestive symptoms first started getting out of hand. I was a teenager and the disgusting wind, diarrhoea, incontinence, etc. too much for my self esteem to take. I'd had some bloating and mild problems for a few years before that, but when it became severe and constant, I was miserable. I don't think I would have been as unhappy about it as I was if my doctors and parents had treated me better. The doctors told me I was causing it myself through not eating properly or being too stressed. Sometimes they told me I was imagining it. My parents followed the doctors' lead.

This meant I could not explain to people that I had an illness - because everyone in authority was telling me I didn't have a physical illness but a mental one. I was very confused and didn't understand how I could be imagining it. If I'd been allowed to be physically ill, I wouldn't have been so depressed. I would have been able to see it as an unfortunate illness, not something I was responsible for or as a moral failing, which is what it felt people were treating it as back then.

When further down the line I got sicker, I got taken a bit more seriously, and I saw was able to see it as an illness and not my fault and became more accepting of it. I also read online about other people with embarrassing symptoms and realised I didn't think these people were gross, so maybe other people wouldn't find me gross either. And I just needed time to "grieve" for the easy life I'd lost and adjust, which I did in the end.
 
When I'm remission I feel great. When I flare up I get down from time to time, but it's not debilitating.

I was very depressed when I first got diagnosed because I was just 11 years old...but i've learned to deal with it. Exercise has helped me a lot, even during flares. Alternative treatments have helped me tremendously.

The only REAL depression i've experienced was after a break up, not related to my disease....i've always had anxiety issues, but that started before my diagnosis too.
 
I wonder how common it is to feel depressed when you first become sick, and then later come to terms with it. Maybe a poll on how long it took you to come to terms with your disease would be interesting.

I also wonder whether age at the time you get sick makes a difference. I always thought getting it as a teenager was hard. I think after middle age you are more likely to be settled in life, but as a teenager, child, or young adult you still have people to meet, a career to establish, or whatever you end up doing with your life. To me it seems it may be easier to accept an illness when you already have a stable life than having to go out into the world when you are already ill. But this all depends on individual circumstances, as some older people may face challenges in their lives too. One of my other illnesses - an endocrine condition - causes me to be infertile, which of course means it has changed my life radically in a way it wouldn't if I got it when I was older if I'd already had children (not that this particular condition could happen like that, as it's something you're born with that becomes obvious at puberty or in young adulthood).

There've been times when I've been in hospital and everyone on the ward with me was elderly, and it made me feel that ill health is a more accepted part of old age. Friends your age go through the same thing; if you're retired you don't have to manage ill health with work; it would still suck to get a chronic illness but perhaps it's easier to accept if you get ill when you're old?
I don't really know - this is just a hypothesis, as I can only speculate based on my own experiences. I only know I found the age I got ill very difficult.

But perhaps it's also a bit of a case of the grass always seeming greener on the other side. I remember times when I wished I'd gotten sick as a young child, because then doctors wouldn't have blamed it on teenage emotional problems, and I felt like it might also have been easier to get sick when you're still at an age where other people take care of you and shoulder your responsibilities for you. But I'm sure there are downsides to getting sick earlier too: I know I'm greatful that I had a childhood with only one health problem (not Crohn's), which allowed me to have a normal life for that time. No bathroom issues; no food issues. I appreciate that I had that time of normality.
 
Hi all

I think the word depression can be diffrent to everyone I had a bad flare at the end of last year I was more fed up but then I started taking vit d which helped along with b12 injections. I have recently had my vit d levels check and they are very low so my gp is re doing them starting a high dose vit d which will help. I dont think the dark nights help people who are felling unwell to raise there moods.
 
I think crohns and depression can go hand in hand like crabby said. I'm almost 30, and years ago, when first diagnosed, I was happy to at least know, that I had an illness, and not just ibs, because at that stage, I was having countless bowel obstructions, and gp's didn't take me seriously when I said how severe my pain was. So, in a way, I was happy, like ok, I have an illness.....now, what meds do I need to get well? After much much research online, I asked about diets meds, and my gi kept reminding me, that it had nothing to do with diet, I had a chronic illness, there is no cure. I kept researching, trying lactose free, blah blah, with my crohns getting worse and worse. I'd been on countless courses of prednisalone when my depression first started. I guess at that time, I didn't even think its 'depression' like an illness. Having surgeries and severe pain, naturally, no one is happy in that situation. For me a big part of that, was not doing normal day to day activities with my daughter. When she was 2-3-4, I'd take her to the park twice a week, run around, laugh whole heartedly with her, and pain has a way of stopping you from laughing all that whole heartedly :/ but after my last few courses of pred, that depression turned to psychosis, which was far worse. Thankfully, with a couple of antidepressants, I no longer have that. As far as depression, for sure. The simple things, like going to a friends place and not wanting to use the bathroom, because of not only the smell, but even keeping farts in, thinking ill sound disgusting. Or rushing home to go toilet, in severe pain, then having diahrrea run down my legs. Now it's at a point, where I don't want to go out most days, because a fart can turn into full on diahrrea in 2seconds, and many many days, I drop my daughter at school, think- I need a few things- oh better not go now because I feel a bit bloated, what if I start farting. One of my biggest fears, is ill crap myself in the supermarket, and be completely humiliated. If that's not supposed to be depressing then I don't know what is. My daughter has a few tummy issues now, at the age of 9, and that's the biggest depressing thought of al...what if she gets/has crohns. There are days she tells me her stomach hurts, and I can't stop crying for a half an hour. So I think a lot of the posts above, ie- no I don't let the fact I have a chronic illness depress me.... Dosnt apply when you have your illness in remission, or are fine on meds, able to work and live a normal life.
Sorry for the long reply, but that about sums up my depression.

And if your blogging, please don't write my name, as it is my name not just a nick name, and only post here, because everyone here expiriences the same issues more or less. :)
 
I know that my depresstion is because of my crohn's. I was 61 when I found that I had it, just retired and though to myself, "I didn't work all my life to retire with crohn's". It's been a year since I found out and I have had 3 major operation because of the crohns. I just had a reversal 3 months ago and now I have "D" all the time just like I did before all the operations. But now I think it is much worse than before. I have about 5-7 BM's a day. In the morning it is not complete "D" but as the day goes on it turns into that after BM 2. I don't know if it is a flair or not. I never had a flair before. They found the crohns when taking my appendix out and did a resection on the spot and 7 days later I went septic and they had to go back in and I got a ostomy bag, then last Aug. I had it reversed. After all that anyone would be depressed I think. I'm wondering if it is normal for a person with crohns to have 5-7 BM's and not be having a flair. No real pain, a small amout of cramping and I don't feel well most of the time but that could be the depresstion. Like I said, I'm retired now and I was very active before they found the crohns. Now all I do is sleep and hang around the house and do NOTHING. If you read this please send me a message and tell me what you think. I would be a great help. Thanks.
Pops
 
Jim (POPS) you may have retired but doesn't mean you have to retire with a Crohn's flare. No I don't think that's remission. You shouldn't be tired all the time and going to the bathroom so often. What meds are your currently taking to keep it under control? Whatever it is does not seem to be working. Be sure to have your vitamin levels tested too as you are tired and dealing with depression as well and have a lot of diarrhea so your body most likely isn't absorbing all it needs.
 
the only meds I am on is cholestyramine 2 times a day. I have been only taking it 1 time a day but am starting 2 X a day today. I called to GI and they won't see me untill Dec. 11th. I had Kaiser for over 40 years and loved it but not my pention provider will not let me have it so I have Unithedhealth care and hate it. I can never se a Doc.for 2-4 weeks. It sucks. They say if it gets bad go to the ER, man, that cost at least $1,500. I'm well of but not made of $$$$$ LOL. Thanks for the responce Crabby. I need to get this under control. Makes me mad that I just had a reversal less than 4 months ago and its starting up. Like I said I've never had a "FLAIR" before because they found the crohns when they took out my appendix and did a resection that went bad. Thanks again.
 
thanks Crabby, I have tryed the med 2 x a day and it is not working for the "D". Also mt knees and other joints are hearting and I feel somewhat sick. Not real pain in my tummy but I don't feel right thats for sure. I called the GI last wek and they said I can't see him till Dec. 11th. They put me on a cancelation list. I can't belive I have to wait till then. I had Kaiser for 40 years till Jan. My pention woun't give me Kaiser anymore , only UnitedHealth Care. I HATE the private Med. world. They are ALL ABOUT MONEY it seems like. I've been trying to see my PC for a month now and everytime I get a APPT. they call me back and puch it forward. I miss Kaiser sooooooooooo much.
 
@ Jim (POPS) I've never taken Questran before so I don't really know how good it is for diarrhea just that its sometimes prescribed for it. I take Lomotil as needed for diarrhea. Chances are your GI will put you on something else when you see them. Dealing with insurance companies really is a downer. They get in the way of proper testing and treatment all the time and put people's lives at risk all the time. Until its done away with entirely we'll have to continue jumping through their hoops so we can get the help we need. Hopefully help comes sooner than later though. :)
 
sid said:
I was very depressed when I came to know that I had a desease which cant be cured....but that was the first and teh last time I have ever taken this situation of mine negatively...I have taken my life as a fight and now I have a mission at hand. But daily meditation has helped me and and now I never feel depressed or stressed.
Click to expand...

I really do love meditation as well to help with keeping me calm and de stressed and totally recommend it on my blog to my readers. I actually had a yoga teacher teach it and filmed it. a simple guided one :thumright:
 
ormsklad said:
Hi all

I think the word depression can be diffrent to everyone I had a bad flare at the end of last year I was more fed up but then I started taking vit d which helped along with b12 injections. I have recently had my vit d levels check and they are very low so my gp is re doing them starting a high dose vit d which will help. I dont think the dark nights help people who are felling unwell to raise there moods.
Click to expand...

I totally agree, when i did my post on depression i noted that if they are feeling that way to check their blood levels, specifically vitamin D and B-12 bc same happened to me. I was feeling so down and could not point out what it was, did my blood work and both were SO LOW. once i took care of that, i was feeling way better
 
I agree with ormsklad's comment that depression can mean alot of different things, based on your experiences. The best way I can describe it for me is a chicken/egg kind of situation. They can say that stress doesn't cause a flare, but all mine seem to start that way... all stressed out and then a week or two after the worst of the stress, bam.

Of course, stress lives up to its name, but then the flare hits and really affects things and just takes a bad situation and magnifies it, as so many of us know too well, unfortunately. I used to think it was from the stress and feeling down, but I the more I experience it, the more I think it is a physiological bi-product of the flare, whether a change in vitamin levels, a result of all that fatigue, or something like that. I don't know if any of that holds water scientifically, but it sure is predictable for me.

In my experience, the highs and lows are tough. It's rough on relationships, careers, school, our bodies, our consistency, and really, life in general. One moment, you awake on the floor of the bathroom because your body just shut off from fatigue. And at other times, you're kicking butt at work, whistling and skipping along in life, and purchasing new clothes because you gained that much weight back.

If you're blue and sad, I recommend surrounding yourself with people that can love on you and give you good, sound perspective on things. In my opinion, this forum is excellent for this -- certainly full of people who can relate like few others can. If you're surprised or scared at the way you feel and you think it might be depression, seek out some help. There's no shame in it. :hug:
 
I have been depressed in the past, but ironically the past two years of my life have been my best so far and Crohn's has only kicked a slight dent in that. I wouldn't trade my crappy health for a return to three years ago!

Don't get me wrong, there's stress in my life but I've always thrived under it. It's stimulating to me, to a limit. I'm not a sociopath, I swear.
 

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