wthellokitty:

portmanteaunail:drkathleenyoung:psychotherapy:

Spring always brings a rash of sneezing, sniffling and stuffy noses. But can seasonal allergies be psychologically harmful?

A wave of emerging research suggests that may be the case. While there’s no firm evidence that allergies cause depression, large studies show that allergy sufferers do seem to be at higher risk of depression.

Severe allergies can bring sleeplessness, headaches, fatigue and a general feeling of physical depletion, all of which can worsen mood. Studies have found that allergic reactions release compounds in the body called cytokines, which play a role in inflammation and may reduce levels of the hormone serotonin, which helps maintain feelings of well-being. And it’s well known that some common allergy medications, like corticosteroids, can cause anxiety and mood swings.

Several large studies have found that the risk of depression in people with severe allergies is about twice that of those without allergies. In 2008, researchers at the University of Maryland reported that this link may help explain a widely established — but poorly understood — increase in suicides during the spring every year. Analyzing medical records, the authors found that in some patients, changes in allergy symptoms during low- and high-pollen seasons corresponded to changes in their depression and anxiety scores.

A Finnish population study in 2003 found a link between allergies and depression; however, women were much more likely to be affected. In 2000, a study of twins in Finland also showed a shared risk for depression and allergies, a result of genetic influences, the authors wrote.

BTW in Japan the new expression for mild(er) depression is kokoro no kaze (translation: your soul has a cold).  This is to distinguish from utsubyo which refers to major depressive or manic episodes.

This really strongly correlates with my own experience. I’ve joked before that I have some sort of inverse SAD, because late spring to late summer is typically when I am more likely to be depressed. I have year-round allergies like mold, dust, and pets (I love my cat and think he helps with any depressed feelings more than my being allergic to him hurts them), but I have some serious pollen allergies—right now there’s something blooming that has even my skin itching (no hives yet!). My allergies can trigger migraines for me, which certainly don’t help with my mood, either.