Health Boards
Wed-07-01-2015, 20:32 PM
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.
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.