Depression and 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.

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.