I had not really been prone to anxiety or depression until 3 years ago when after lots of difficult times in addition to my physical health issues, I started to suffer terribly with general anxiety and a whirring unsettled state of mind. Lots of crying. After many months during which I paid for expensive c.b.t and desperately tried to keep busier I improved. The c.b.t. practitioner said the root of my problem was that I was struggling with my physical health and that the problems that year had been the final straw (2 close family members very ill ). I eventually improved and returned to being about 90% my old self mentally. I felt that her comments were right. Now after nearly 2 years of mental improvement I've started sinking again. My physical symptoms are worse than ever, particularly my aches and pains so I'm assuming the dip in my mental wellbeing is mainly due to never feeling well and waking up full of aches every day. I'm doing what I can to get on top of my pernicious anaemia, more frequent injections, iron infusion etc. Is anxiety/depression linked to P.A? Do things get better as the P.A. is treated better? I was never a person who cried. How can I nip this in the bud so I don't sink again?
Anxiety and P.A.: I had not really been... - Pernicious Anaemi...
Anxiety and P.A.
I was never one to suffer from depression or anxiety it came as one of the symptoms of my B12 deficiency ! This lifted once on injections.
You might find this link helpful.......... pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/353....
You didn't state how often your having injections.
Thank you. I will read that. I've been on 10 weekly injections since 2005. I've just got a g.p. to agree to 8 weekly and seen a private consultant who has prescribed self injections once a week for 8 weeks then once a fortnight with blood tests and follow up in May.
I have my injections prescribed 8 weekly, mind you it was a battle to get them. It's great to hear the consultant has prescribed weekly injections but he /she should be going by your symptoms not a blood test ! It is common sense your levels will be high when your on treatment hence why it states in the guidelines not to retest.......... nice.org.uk/guidance/gid-ng...
Hi Suesue246,
I am very sorry to read about your health. Unfortunately, Western medicine has divided physical and emotional (mental) health right down the middle. This is extremely silly. Health encompasses several aspects.
You were able to establish why your emotional health was impacted. Your physical health and 2 family members becoming seriously ill. This must have been an extremely difficult time for you and others.
I admire the fact that you are self-aware, you know that you are struggling. I totally appreciate that every day, many people wake up with severe pain, aches and never feeling physically well.
PA/B12D and iron deficiency anaemia does affect our moods. Yes, I’m dragging myself like a zombie. My body will rest here and I have collapsed on my living room floor.
I do hope you are taking a multivitamin/mineral as well. Other micronutrient deficiencies impact our energy, ability to function. Pacing is extremely important because PA/B12D is an Energy Limiting Illness.
chronicillnessinclusion.org...
Have a look at your life. We run homes, we have relationships with family members and friends. We self-care such as wash, dress, brush teeth, eat food, drink, take medication such as iron or injections. We do all these small tasks without thinking. Sometimes we overdo it. Leaving us ‘frazzled’. The Energy Deficit - it is a relapse. We need rest and people to understand it may take us 3 weeks to recover.
Recently, I had a conversation with a person regarding my family. I was asked who I was close to. I replied, No-one. My family is far too large. I would become utterly exhausted with all the interactions. I would not be able to look after me and I would not have the energy to undertake my work. I decided and I knew I had to choose.
If others cannot accept my disabilities, it is their problem not mine. Here are the U.K. laws that protect you and others, Equality Act (2010) and Human Rights Act (1998) .
😘
Thank you. I know you always give thoughtful replies. I have too much time for myself. Too much time to rest. Time to myself used to be precious and appreciated. Now my children are adults and my little job of only a few hours a week contributes to my physical pain. On the one hand I want to stop working but on the other it gives a bit of structure. I did try hobbies to help when the anxiety hit 3 years ago but I'm not up to these now. I have always counted my blessings and appreciated small things. I have a very supportive husband. I've done a lot of reading on P.A. I've had an iron infusion, upped my B12, added folate, vit D with K2 and magnesium. I'm going to add B complex. Fingers crossed it all helps. Thanks again for your reply.
Suesue246, my heart goes out to you. Everyone has given you lots of great advice. Anxiety/depression are a major symptom of B12d/PA.
You are getting one injecting every 8 to 10 weeks? For me that doesn't seem like nearly enough. It seems your body is trying to let your know, it needs more. The only treatment for everything pa does is b12. You can't OD on it, so if you need to start treating yourself, i would surely consider that. You can also choose to go to a b12 spa and pay $30 or more for injections. They are allowed to administer something like 59 injections to one person in a 90 day period. So they are allowed to administer way more than we are prescribed or allowed.
I struggle pretty badly still from A&D. more b12 helps and also, so i go outside. Nature restores me. It grounds me. Even when i can't walk, i sit in my car at the lake. Without that i would surely go bonkers. I'm literally telling you to hug a tree. Take off your shoes and walk on grass and dirt. My feet hurt terribly, (although improving) so when I'm out walking, i stop and put my feet in the cool river and instantly, the pain is relieved. And my heart patters and my body relaxes and my nerves and anxiety disappear. Listen to the birds. Watch the deer. If you live in a city. Go to a park. Watch people playing, smell the air watch the insects. Do deep breathing exercises outside. Whatever you do, go outside. I promise it helps! 💚🌳💚
Thank you so much for your thoughtful answer. The g.p. has agreed B12 every 8 weeks plus I saw a consultant recently who has prescribed weekly self injections for 8 weeks then fortnightly then a review in May. I love getting outside but my back and hip pain make it harder. I was walking 6 miles plus a year ago despite the pain. I can still do up to three miles though it will be painful. I have done breathing exercises before. I should try again. Thank you.
You're welcome. Glad to hear they have approved the increase. Yes, Hip/groin pain is what is keeping me from walking more. Often times I can't walk, so I just sit in my van. but just getting out and watching nature helps me get my mind off of everything. I like to shoot little nature videos and share them on line. It's very emotionally therapeutic for me. Someone on here also watches videos that are meant to strengthen your cognition. I think it was this one. youtu.be/m4m0BPoJQtM
If the anxiety doesn't get better with the new injection frequency, then it probably just means you need even more frequent injections. Don't let it scare you to feel like you need it daily. That is very normal. If doctors weren't involved and regulating this, we would be medicating ourselves according to how we feel each day. Not each month. Daily injections are more the norm than not. But don't expect your doctor to feel that way. They simply just don't know.
Have you ever looked at the PAS site? pernicious-anaemia-society....
There is lots of very useful research info on there that doctors don't know. It really made me feel more confident in treating myself and believing my symptoms and not the doctors. Because of this forum and PAS, I have gained the confidence to know when my doctors are gaslighting me or just giving me a line of BS.
Anyway, have a good day 😀🤗
Sounds as though could be hormonal changes too. Take a step back to evaluate.
Some time alone.
Keeping a diary.
I had never suffered anxiety before b12 deficiency.
Have been in too many stressful situations so know how my body 'normally ' reacts.
I obviously 'presented ' with such ax was offered antidepressants on too many occasions.
Knew it wasn't though.
We are all different.
You mat need to try z higher frequency of b12.
Less frequently
Have bloods done .
It took time and more injections for me with keeping a diary.
When doing any trial do it for weeks months to truly evaluate.
Look into food .
Regularity of food
Types
Do you drink alcohol ..any patterns there
Low blood sugars seesaw blood sugars cause shaking / anxiety lije feelings
Itx a minefield but I'm a great list maker to eliminate or record at least .
Hope you can work it out
Thank you. No I don't drink alcohol. I lead a simple life. I used to be usually very easily satisfied with life and accepted my limitations. I know I'm never likely to feel physically "good". I just want to feel relatively comfortable physically and peaceful mentally. I do keep a symptom diary. Maybe my extra jabs and supplements will help. At least I can have a review after my next blood tests in May. Maybe things will improve again. Thanks again for your reply.
My sincerest apologies Suesue246,
For being unaware of your particular circumstances of ‘I have too much time for myself. Too much time to rest.’
Work does give us structure to our days, routine and we feel we are contributing to society. You are being methodical by keeping a symptoms diary and increasing supplements or the building blocks of neurotransmitters (nerve chemicals) and hormones. Plus, you know yourself that hobbies are not an option.
However, I have looked at your previous posts and noted that you have no stomach acid. I hope you have found a solution for this. People often forget that we also need amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. There is one that particular springs to mind which is called tryptophan. If we struggle to break food down then we cannot have adequate amounts of the happy hormone serotonin, our moods can be impacted and we can have increased pain especially in our muscles.
verywellhealth.com/tryptoph...
Read around it before coming to any decisions because you know your body far better than anyone else.
😘
Just a thought here as thyroid problems can cause awful anxiety/depression...
Medichecks Advanced Thyroid Function Blood Test is a finger prick test which obviously checks thyroid but also b12, ferritin, folate etc and is a good snapshot of levels, particularly when feeling vey unwell. It's £89 but I think good value when on offer at 20% off.
Thank you. The g.p. did the basic thyroid test but I've read that private ones check more so I've thought about doing this. Didn't know whether to wait to see if my new regime of increased B12 helps. Maybe I will do those tests sooner. Thanks.
It could be the more usual female troubles. Are you on hrt? It may be worth cutting out sugar and going on a low carb diet to stop the insulin/cortisol roller coaster.
Big hugs.
I'm in the same situation, I just wanted to say hang on in there and well done on trying everything to keep on top of things
Hi Suesue246
I can relate on a personal level to the issues you are experiencing. Have you considered that your stress anxiety and feelings of depression , could be brought on psychosomatically. Your mind can create physical symptoms such as the ones you are experiencing. When you say you have “ too much time to rest “. This could be a major factor which could lead to you overthink everything. Basically, unknowingly causing the feelings and thoughts that your mind is attempting to process. It becomes a vicious circle that can become extremely debilitating. This does not mean that it can’t be cured.
I suggest that we all have coping mechanisms that we can use to overcome the challenges life throws at us all. There are breathing techniques that you can learn to use when you feel the anxiety coming on. Always remember “ It’s never too late to become the person you always wanted to be “. I wish you well on your journey and hope you find the pathway that leads to peace and contentment.
Sue, this is me. I have always been a happy good natured person. PA ripped me. The symptoms of low B12 were so horrible of course I was depressed and anxious. My family couldn't understand how I could cry so much. I certainly presented as a person with mental health issues. My new doctor also diagnosed me with depression and anxiety. I told her you don't know me. I did counseling and meds, SSRIs. A light went on at a nerve conduction test during which the doctor said, "It looks like your B12" is low. No one had every thought my number of 223 was low but it was for me! I began conversing with my GP and she agreed to try injections. I got my life back. Now my numbers are high and I feel like myself again. Self injections for the rest of me life. I wish all of you well. Spreading the word, so many suffer with no diagnosis.
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