Depression and psoriasis

[Fred]

Thank you for adding comments to this thread it makes interesting reading, it's also interesting to see the results in the poll too.

Never: 4

Slightly: 1

Mildly: 8

Severely: 16

Also as a matter of interest the guest votes are:

Never: 2

Slightly: 1

Mildly: 4

Severely: 9

This goes to prove without funded studies that there is an increased prevalence of depression in people with psoriasis.

[D Foster]

I have never taken anything for depression but I can remember many days when I was very low especially working at a very stressful job that took me away on my own so I had nobody to even talk to. When you are driving then you suddenly wonder why you are crying that it hits home, I have never said this before and the thought of the problems that we all have had to endure with this P and PsA just strike home.
I am on Stelara now and that has been a like saver for me though the PsA is not as under control as it was on MTX (9 year nightmare ) I am so happy with my position now apart from the last 5 days flu which is slowly going.

[jiml]

I have never taken anything for depression but I can remember many days when I was very low especially working at a very stressful job that took me away on my own so I had nobody to even talk to. When you are driving then you suddenly wonder why you are crying that it hits home, I have never said this before and the thought of the problems that we all have had to endure with this P and PsA just strike home.
I am on Stelara now and that has been a like saver for me though the PsA is not as under control as it was on MTX (9 year nightmare ) I am so happy with my position now apart from the last 5 days flu which is slowly going.

Yes it's a bugger and we live with it day by day and think we are the only ones and yes although I don't think I've suffered depression I have had very low days with my psoriasis .... With me it's usually the start of summer ( the clothes shedding season)

[Fred]

I have never taken anything for depression but I can remember many days when I was very low especially working at a very stressful job that took me away on my own so I had nobody to even talk to. When you are driving then you suddenly wonder why you are crying that it hits home, I have never said this before and the thought of the problems that we all have had to endure with this P and PsA just strike home.
I am on Stelara now and that has been a like saver for me though the PsA is not as under control as it was on MTX (9 year nightmare ) I am so happy with my position now apart from the last 5 days flu which is slowly going.

Yes it sure has a lot to answer for and should be recognised a lot more by the people that treat us, having said that they will probably only prescribe little red pills. But at least today we have places like Psoriasis Club where we can share with others who understand, as for the tears I've been there mate and for me although being covered in flakes was bad, getting completely locked up with psoriatic arthritis was my worst time.

There's a thread from the old forum that others may be interest in reading The Hidden Enemy and if any member wants to add to it please do so if you wish as it will bump it back up to the top.

[Kat]

I have never taken anything for depression but I can remember many days when I was very low especially working at a very stressful job that took me away on my own so I had nobody to even talk to. When you are driving then you suddenly wonder why you are crying that it hits home, I have never said this before and the thought of the problems that we all have had to endure with this P and PsA just strike home.
I am on Stelara now and that has been a like saver for me though the PsA is not as under control as it was on MTX (9 year nightmare ) I am so happy with my position now apart from the last 5 days flu which is slowly going.

Yes it sure has a lot to answer for and should be recognised a lot more by the people that treat us, having said that they will probably only prescribe little red pills. But at least today we have places like Psoriasis Club where we can share with others who understand, as for the tears I've been there mate and for me although being covered in flakes was bad, getting completely locked up with psoriatic arthritis was my worst time.

There's a thread from the old forum that others may be interest in reading The Hidden Enemy and if any member wants to add to it please do so if you wish as it will bump it back up to the top.

I don't think psoriasis has made me depressed. It has however, made me be embarrassed. I think since I've found the psoriasis club that it helps to just be able to talk about it in a way that most people just don't understand. I had heard of psoriasis prior to my diagnosis, but I just thought it was a skin disease that cleared up with a cream (like eczema) and would go away. I certainly didn't know it was a life sentence and I think most people who haven't dealt with it or known someone with psoriasis probably sees it much the same. So people outside of the psoriasis world don't get just how life changing it is and how bad it can be for some people. It is a depressing disease, and I certainly understand people who are depressed because of having psoriasis. None of us "want" it but I'm one that tends to think of how it "could be worse" so I don't get depressed over it.

[Fred]

I had heard of psoriasis prior to my diagnosis, but I just thought it was a skin disease that cleared up with a cream (like eczema) and would go away.  I certainly didn't know it was a life sentence.

Most do think it is something that will pass, yes it can be managed but once you have it it's there for life.

I know there are people reading this that will say different, but I've yet to see any good solid evidence/proof. Unfortunately it can be something that can make one feel depressed or embarrassed, but like you said Kat talking with others who understand does help and that's why we are here.    

[D Foster]

I have never taken anything for depression but I can remember many days when I was very low especially working at a very stressful job that took me away on my own so I had nobody to even talk to. When you are driving then you suddenly wonder why you are crying that it hits home, I have never said this before and the thought of the problems that we all have had to endure with this P and PsA just strike home.
I am on Stelara now and that has been a like saver for me though the PsA is not as under control as it was on MTX (9 year nightmare ) I am so happy with my position now apart from the last 5 days flu which is slowly going.

Yes it sure has a lot to answer for and should be recognised a lot more by the people that treat us, having said that they will probably only prescribe little red pills. But at least today we have places like Psoriasis Club where we can share with others who understand, as for the tears I've been there mate and for me although being covered in flakes was bad, getting completely locked up with psoriatic arthritis was my worst time.

There's a thread from the old forum that others may be interest in reading The Hidden Enemy and if any member wants to add to it please do so if you wish as it will bump it back up to the top.

I don't think psoriasis has made me depressed.  It has however, made me be embarrassed.  I think since I've found the psoriasis club that it helps to just be able to talk about it in a way that most people just don't understand.  I had heard of psoriasis prior to my diagnosis, but I just thought it was a skin disease that cleared up with a cream (like eczema) and would go away.  I certainly didn't know it was a life sentence and I think most people who haven't dealt with it or known someone with psoriasis probably sees it much the same.  So people outside of the psoriasis world don't get just how life changing it is and how bad it can be for some people.  It is a depressing disease, and I certainly understand people who are depressed because of having psoriasis.  None of us "want" it but I'm one that tends to think of how it "could be worse" so I don't get depressed over it.

I think that when I was at my lowest my job was very stressful and I was on my own quite a lot travelling both in UK and abroad working in high value situations which were down to my decisions. At that time my P was about 80% cover and cracked/bleeding and coupled with the PA it did start to get me down a little to say the least.

[ccarr06]

Depression is a topic that many people have a hard time speaking about. Personally, I suffered from depression in the past before I had psoriasis in the form I have now (I had it on my scalp as a teenager, not knowing what it was, and in times of stress my hands would break out, but again, I didn't know what caused it).

I would be lying if I said that breaking out in psoriasis didn't cause depression. There have been days where I didn't want to leave the house, because I didn't want people to see how bad it was. I unfortunately get break outs on my face, no big flaky plaques, but, red inflamed patches which could be mistaken for spots from a distance. In work, I used to be embarrassed by the 'shedding', something my colleagues could see. Working with kids, they also asked lots of questions, which is their nature, but it meant that I couldn't forget that something was wrong. Parents would eye me with concern, afraid that what I had was contagious, which meant I would have to subtly inform them what it was. (I had one parent ask my manager if what I had was contagious, instead of asking me). Doing my job was also hard, when the patch on my back made it painful to bend, which is a requirement when you work with toddlers. Even at home, again, the shedding was embarrassing, as the house was carpeted and any shedding was easily spotted by my housemates. I didn't want my friends to see, so I avoided going out. It's very isolating, and that only makes depression worse when you feel the world is looking at you. Which, they probably aren't, but when it gets you down, it's hard to believe otherwise.

I think the impact of psoriasis on mental health needs to be taken more seriously. It's hard to explain to people, and in one way, they see it as vanity as it's 'only skin, not cancer'. They don't realise the painful side to psoriasis, and how it impacts on your life.

[Fred]

I think the impact of psoriasis on mental health needs to be taken more seriously. It's hard to explain to people, and in one way, they see it as vanity as it's 'only skin, not cancer'. They don't realise the painful side to psoriasis, and how it impacts on your life.

Thank you for sharing, I'm sure these comments are helping our readers.

Some very good words there, how many times have I heard "It's only a skin problem" I would love to be able to give everyone psoriasis for just one day then they would think differently. If they didn't I would give them psoriatic arthritis for the next day, that would shut them up for sure.

[Caroline]

Very ccarr !
Exactly as it is.
I myself have been so lucky that at least my psoriasis was very limited and only to my scalp behind my ears, so easy to hide with a bit of long hair.
But I am quite sure that at my side the PsA started after a period of extreme stress.