Psoriasis is a condition that affects your body and mind. From feeling self-conscious about the way your skin looks to physical limitations, having psoriasis can impact your emotional well-being and quality of your life.
When you have psoriasis, it’s normal to feel frustrated, angry and sad from time to time. The mere thought of developing psoriasis symptoms can make you upset and stressed. And since stress can cause your psoriasis to flare, a vicious cycle can occur.
Similar to other conditions that affect your skin, psoriasis changes your appearance, and it can change the way you feel about yourself, diminishing your self-esteem. And since psoriasis is a lifelong condition with no cure, it can leave you feeling overwhelmed and hopeless.
Like your condition, the emotions you feel as a result of psoriasis can come and go. But when you don’t deal with these emotions or they become too intense, you could be at risk for serious depression.
Psoriasis and Depression
Depression is more than just feeling sad or down. It’s a clinical illness that interferes with daily life, relationships, work, school, and self-worth. Most people aren’t able to recover from clinical depression without treatment.
Symptoms of depression can vary from person to person. But if you’re experiencing more than one of the following for a significant period of time, there is a chance that you may be depressed:
- Lasting feelings of sadness, emptiness, and anxiety
- Feeling hopeless, worthless or helpless
- Irritable Mood
- Restlessness or fatigue
- No longer enjoy favorite activities
- Trouble concentrating, remembering things or making decisions
- Sleep disturbances—sleeping more than usual or insomnia
- Changes in appetite, either overeating or having no appetite at all
- Thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts
- Otherwise unexplained physical symptoms—anything from aches to cramps to headaches—that don’t respond to treatment
To help prevent depression when you have psoriasis, consider these recommendations.
- Acknowledge the emotional toll of psoriasis and take steps to address it.
- Talk about your feelings with a loved one, a counselor or people in a psoriasis support group.
- Work with your doctor until you find an effective treatment for your emotional response to your psoriasis.
- Read and find out as much as you can about your condition, so you feel more empowered.
- Practice relaxation techniques, such as yoga or meditation.
- Exercise regularly by taking part in activities you enjoy.
When Should I Visit a Dermatologist for Psoriasis?
It’s important that you deal with the emotional side of psoriasis in a healthy way. Remember that taking good care of yourself means addressing emotional as well as physical aspects of your health. Working with your doctor or board-certified dermatologist will ensure that you find a psoriasis treatment that works best for you. We have multiple locations throughout the country, so fill out our simple online form to get in touch with us. One of our local team members will reach out to you shortly to answer your questions or schedule an appointment for you to visit us soon.
Find a location near me
or
