If you are a celiac (a person having celiac disease) then you will get a depression as a consequence of celiac disease sooner or later. A research study shows prevalence of celiac disease in one out of every 133 persons in US. So even if you are not aware of its occurrence, you may be continuously noticing peculiar symptoms. They all start from diarrhea and then go on to abdominal pain, chronic fatigue, abnormal skin sensations and finally headaches and depression attacks. In fact celiac is the disease of body and mind. As the disease catches you unaware most of the times, its important to understand the realities about celiac depression.
1. If you have English, Irish, Scotch or Scandinavian origin, if you have a 'family history' of celiac disease, if you get frequent diarrhea or constipation, and most important, if you experience constant fatigue and discomfort, affecting your performance in job and also in social engagements, then you are most likely the patient of celiac disease and consequent depression.
2. Celiac disease causes persistent low energy and depleted health condition in one-in-ten people. And this is caused by damage to your brain and nerves.
3. The mal-absorption of nutrients is also an important factor contributing to depression. Researchers are successful in establishing a possible link between depression and mal-absorption. A large number of food factors are involved in monoamine synthesis. Depression disorders as well as anxiety found in celiacs (people with celiac disease) could be consequent to a reduced production of monoamines.
4. The important factor about celiac depression is accepting your realities. Generally people are reluctant to accept that they are depressed and this makes things very difficult to manage. You cannot correct a problem which you are not prepared to even accept. Only after acceptance, you are geared to get back the control of your life.
5. Different people are bound to experience depression in different methods. A 25 year old depressed man may not experience similar symptoms as a 70 year old man. For some, the symptoms are so severe that it's seems obvious that something isn't right. For others, they may feel miserable or sad without knowing why.
6. Women tend to underestimate celiac depression. Many surveys suggest that women have a very different perception about it. They generally tend to underestimate the severity. They often think that the depression symptoms will spontaneously go away.
7. Depressed men are usually less likely than women to admit feelings of hopelessness and self-loathing. Frequently, depression is expressed in men in many "socially acceptable" forms like anger. Violence, aggression, reckless behavior abuse, may be signs of an implicit depression.
8. Children with Celiac Disease are more vulnerable to depression. Not being able to eat with their friends would certainly make things worse. Symptoms include crying, continuous feelings of sadness, increased sensitivity to rejection and repeated emotional outbursts, shouting or complaining.
9. The most important single treatment for celiacs is to follow a gluten-free diet. This means to avoid ALL foods containing gluten - avoiding all foods which contain wheat, barley, rye and oats. Gluten can 'hide' in many foods which are processed (such as modified food starch). Even soy sauce is manufactured with "wheat". All of this is to be avoided.
10. However, gluten-free diet cannot be considered as the only fix for depression all the times. Celiacs generally feel that their quality of life is lowered due to restrictions on them. They are also afraid about the effects celiac disease may carry on their life. These apprehensions and anxieties lead to severe depression, which needs to be treated with appropriate treatment.
A few treatment options are available for treatment of celiac depression. Understanding by both the care-giver and the celiac patient of the peculiar aspects of celiac disease is very helpful for employing the correct treatment options.
Note: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician on any matters regarding your health.
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