Do allergies contribute to Anxiety? Depression? #mentalhealth #anxiety #depression #shorts

Did you know that allergies might be connected to mental health issues like depression and anxiety? People with hayfever have a 45% higher risk of developing depression and a 65% higher risk of developing an anxiety disorder. A recent study highlighted in the New York times explores the connection. Scientists aren't’ exactly sure why allergies impact mood, but they think it has to do with the immune response, when a chunk of pollen hits your nose-hole, the body releases cytokines- an inflammatory response- to fight off that perceived threat, and a study with rats with allergies found that more stress hormones were released in the brain. Both chronic inflammation and stress hormones are closely linked with depression and anxiety. This is just a reminder that taking care of both our physical and mental health is vital to managing mental health.

Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC, and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.

About Me:
I’m Emma McAdam. I’m a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and I have worked in various settings of change and growth since 2004. My experience includes juvenile corrections, adventure therapy programs, wilderness therapy programs, an eating disorder treatment center, a residential treatment center, and I currently work in an outpatient therapy clinic.

In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction.

Copyright Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC

[brittanym.]

Oh cool so I'm not the only one! I had recently noticed that there are times when I take my allergy med/antihistamine and my anxiety also decreases. 😀

[monikap]

Thank you ...if i am in contact with allergens, i can not sleep, elevated histamine causes wakefulness, and chronic insomnia leads to anxiety and depression too

[joback]

I'm on a monoclonal antibody and I've noticed a SHARP drop in how reactive my body is to most things now. My IBS is quiet, anxiety and depression are at an unremarkable low point, and my allergies don't bug me as much after having become a thing in my adult years. We need more endocrinology and immunology worked into standard care ASAP, stop treating the symptoms and get to the CAUSE!

[jackmommiesg]

Wow … that blows my mind and makes so much sense

[MandVersusNature]

Part of it is that sinus pressure feels just like heavy depression. Sometimes these symptoms feel just like anxiety or other mental illness to the body and brain.

[menslin.melissaenslin]

I grew up with a nickel allergy, but didn't know it was an allergy, so I was just always uncomfortable - itchy, bloated, sore - which made me easily frustrated and aggressive. This contributed massively to poor mental health in so many ways. Once I learned how to live with this allergy and work around it, life turned around completely. It is so vital to learn how to not just medicate, but eat in a way that reduces the inflammatory response. It's amazing how much less stressed you will feel if you just give your body what it needs and stop making it work against the elements in a 24/7 onslaught. I appreciate this video so much for highlighting this reality! Actually, many of your videos speak to such useful things we can do easily to experience life better. Thank you :)

[arsonfly]

It's more direct than that I imagine. When I'm busy punching myself in the nose because it won't stop stinging I'm not at peace. I think weeks long stabbing sensations in the nose might contribute to feeling like crap.

[oddbjornbro]

Very true what you say 😊. I can feel that my stress reactions and allergy are connected.

[emilyb]

And PMS/PMDD - try antihistamine in days leading up to your period. Histamine does act in the brain so makes some sense

[stefanwullems]

During spring and the start of summer I stay inside by myself with the windows closed while everyone else is outside enjoying the beautiful weather.

Open air literally becomes your enemy, everything itches without end, you feel dull and stupid, it’s miserable.

I think apart from some collateral effects of some chemical, this isolation and feeling of inprisonment might be the main reason I am miserable come springtime.

[kt]

To add to this, I think the medications affect you as well. I've always had bad allergies and I've tried a lot of different medications for it but the one I always had problems with was Zyrtec. It really helps with my allergies like no other medication but it also really affected my mood and mental health. I wasn't sure if it was just me but a lot of people seem to struggle with zyrtec. (I'm on allegra and nasal sprays now and that's working well enough for me).

[melomaniac]

Thanks for sharing, I have bad hay fever and anxiety, this makes a lot of sense!

[samk.]

❤️ this courselor is so goood .. bless you.

[cerissabrown]

I’ve been saying this for years. I’m on daily dose of allergy cocktail and Dysautonomia cocktail and I’m on the lowest dose of mental health meds I ever been on. But my depression is high now because I’m deeply sad over somethings and lonely.

[monikap]

I have strong allergies and also am on medication for anxiety and depression too

[niveditaunnikrishnan]

This content really helped decode a lot about myself. Thank you so much. Love your work and inspired by it. Fellow Psychologist from India here❤

[altFEL]

Couldn’t agree more. Important message here. In a healthy body a healthy spirit, they say.

[annefitz]

Wow. I definitely fall into this category. I’ve a zillion allergies and struggled with anxiety for years. Better on both counts now. Acupuncture helped

[plantyfan]

Oooo that's so interesting!! I just started sublingual drops with my ENT. Excited to find out how my mental health changes over the course of treatment (2-4 yrs)

[HenryFL]

YES - I had sinusitis - but didn’t know it
I got anxiety over it because of the dizziness I experienced I thought it was something severe with me like a tumor .
I take a 1/2 Benadryl when I have mild allergies . The Benadryl also calms me as well - 2 birds with one stone
I was on Zoloft for a few months - but now Benadryl works fine for me