One study showed that depressed or anxious people are more likely to have allergies than those who are not. Other studies indicate that people with allergies were more likely to develop mental fatigue or depression. In another study, those with hay fever were found to be twice as likely to develop a major depressive episode over the next few years as those without hay fever!
Interesting results were obtained from a study at Columbia University. The link between depression and allergy was found to be stronger in women while that between neuroticism and allergy was stronger in men.
Allergy causes Depression?
Several possible explanations are on offer for this hypothesis.
- Allergies take a toll on the immune system and over a period of time, depression can set in
- Constantly having to battle allergy symptoms and coping with the consequences of allergic episodes gradually allows depression and mental fatigue to settle in
- Lack of sufficient or quality sleep due to allergic symptoms tires the mind and body. Sleep is an important contributor to mental and physical wellbeing.
- A food sensitivity can result in an initial high, caused for example, by a rise in your blood sugar. However, this “high” is shortly followed by a “low”.
- People having a gluten sensitivity, celiac disease or a systemic yeast infection, are likely to have intestinal permeability and digestive enzyme deficiencies. Certain chemicals may reach the brain because of the “leaky gut” and some of these cause abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Depression has been found to be directly linked to such abnormal brain activity.
- Your allergy medication may be causing depression as an adverse side-effect. Check your drug literature for possible adverse drug reactions.
Depression leads to Allergies?
A case can be made out for this proposition as well.
- The immune system can be compromised by prolonged episodes of depression, due to the associated chemical and physical changes in the body
- Depressed people may neglect their diet, exercise and sleep requirements, leading to detrimental health and compromised immunity
Practitioners of energy based therapies, such as Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) or Tapas Acupressure Technique (TAT), and those accepting the mind-body connection, will find the relation between depression and allergies relatively easy to understand. An allergy can sometimes be traced back to a strong emotional reaction to an adverse situation.
A hypothetical case can illustrate the logic. John has a severe allergy to cheese and eggs. On questioning, he reveals that the allergy started around the time he got divorced. Further questions and tapping (EFT) may reveal that he often had fights at the breakfast table. Sub-consciously, he has come to associate his breakfast food with negative emotions and situations, and his body presents strong reactions whenever confronted with this “reminder” or trigger food. Logically, the same “allergen” would also remind the subconscious of negative emotions and may contribute to depression.
EFT, TAT and other holistic practitioners address the symptoms (allergy and/or depression) as well as the emotional reaction to the original episode.
How does all this affect you?
If you suffer from either Depression, or Allergies, you should discuss this association with your medical consultant. If required, take suitable measures to investigate and treat the other condition, concurrent to your present treatment plan. You are likely to see better results and experience improved mental and physical health.
