Connect with others who understand.

Sign up Log in
Resources
About MyPsoriasisTeam
Powered By
See answer
PSORIASIS
NEWS

The Relationship Between My Anxiety and Psoriasis

Written by Katya Meltaus
Posted on December 21, 2021

I had anxiety and depression long before I first experienced psoriasis. They are an expected part of my life, and I have learned to manage them through medication, therapy, and lifestyle choices. Although my mental health disorders predate my psoriasis, I see a strong link between the two. I am curious to see if or when more research about the connection will be explored.

I wonder about whether my having anxiety and depression was an environmental factor that, combined with other factors, contributed to my psoriasis showing up in the first place. Even though I have a family history of psoriasis, had I not experienced severe anxiety and depression, would my psoriasis never have shown up?

The Anxiety and Psoriasis Cycle

To be sure, I was anxious and depressed for years without psoriasis. However, I can attest to a parallel increase in my anxiety and increase in my psoriasis that took place during its most extreme period. A vicious feedback loop was created. More psoriasis triggered more anxiety, which triggered more psoriasis.

My only hope to interrupt this cycle was to work diligently with my therapist on distress tolerance and on accepting my psoriasis, rather than fighting it or fearing it. Of course, I was anxious about other things as well, but I tried my best not to let my anxiety run wild about what was happening to my body, because I knew it would only make it worse. At one point, I even created a designated time to worry, journal about psoriasis, research solutions, and contact doctors. I forbade myself from thinking about it outside of those designated times.

In the other direction, psoriasis has obviously exacerbated my anxiety and depression. When I first started to experience psoriasis, I had anxieties about what was happening to my body, whether or not it was going to get worse, how — if ever — I could make it go away, the sheer physical discomfort I was in, and what people would think of me.

Full Body Coverage Despair

Once I was experiencing full body coverage, my anxiety shifted more into a depressive despair. At this point, my psychiatrist and I decided to increase my antidepressant, and my therapist and I were meeting more often than ever. As I have written about before, my psoriasis also contributed to a resurgence in my obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). When I was frantically trying to treat psoriasis, I developed obsessions and compulsions around food, in particular. In this way, psoriasis greatly impacted my mental health journey and contributed to a worsening of my anxiety, depression, and OCD symptoms.

In my experience, mental health and psoriasis are surely linked. I am excited for the medical community to investigate and learn more about this connection, as I think it will have a lot of implications for the treatment of both conditions.

MyPsoriasisTeam columnists discuss psoriasis from a specific point of view. Columnists’ articles don’t reflect the opinions of MyPsoriasisTeam staff, medical experts, partners, advertisers, or sponsors. MyPsoriasisTeam content isn’t intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Posted on December 21, 2021

A MyPsoriasisTeam Member

When I've been really anxious or depressed my psoriosis flares up and it goes all over me like chicken pots so I definitely think there is a link between anxiety depression and psoriosis x

December 29, 2022
All updates must be accompanied by text or a picture.

We'd love to hear from you! Please share your name and email to post and read comments.

You'll also get the latest articles directly to your inbox.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
Privacy Policy
All updates must be accompanied by text or a picture.

Subscribe now to ask your question, get answers, and stay up to date on the latest articles.

Get updates directly to your inbox.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
Privacy Policy
Katya Meltaus is an early childhood educator living in the Bay Area. She has been managing severe psoriasis for the past two years. Learn more about her here.

Related Articles

A recent study found that nearly 1 in 3 people with psoriasis achieved clear or almost clear ski...

33% See Skin Clearance From At-Home Light Therapy

A recent study found that nearly 1 in 3 people with psoriasis achieved clear or almost clear ski...
This fall and winter, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expects the number of ...

3 Layers of COVID-19 Protection: New Vaccines, Prevention Drug, and Tests

This fall and winter, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expects the number of ...

Recent Articles

Certain underlying health conditions are more common in people with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) tha...

Comorbidities and Complications of Psoriatic Arthritis

Certain underlying health conditions are more common in people with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) tha...
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a complex disease characterized by joint pain, tenderness, and swell...

8 Treatments for Psoriatic Arthritis: What’s Best for You?

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a complex disease characterized by joint pain, tenderness, and swell...
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the joints and skin that ...

6 Immunosuppressant Medication Types for Psoriatic Arthritis and How They Work

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the joints and skin that ...
For many people, injectable medications are a good option for treating psoriatic arthritis (PsA)....

Psoriatic Arthritis Injections: Names, How They Work, and More

For many people, injectable medications are a good option for treating psoriatic arthritis (PsA)....
It’s not always easy to find the motivation to eat a balanced diet and be physically active when ...

Psoriatic Arthritis and Weight: Can Joint Inflammation Cause Weight Gain?

It’s not always easy to find the motivation to eat a balanced diet and be physically active when ...
About one-third of the 7.5 million people in America living with psoriasis also have psoriatic ar...

What Back Pain With Psoriatic Arthritis Feels Like

About one-third of the 7.5 million people in America living with psoriasis also have psoriatic ar...
Translation missing: pst.site_noun_short News

Thank you for subscribing!

Become a member to get even more: