Celiac Disease & Mental Health: The Link Between the Two & Tips to Help You Cope

An estimated 1% of people around the world have celiac disease, though the prevalence may be much higher due to misdiagnosis or lack of diagnosis. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that causes damage to the villi lining the small intestine and impairs the absorption of nutrients from food.

Though technically not a digestive disorder, celiac disease is often lumped into the same category as digestive issues like leaky gut and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). What many people don’t realize, however, is that dozens of symptoms have been associated with celiac disease and many of them aren’t physical at all.

Receiving a serious medical diagnosis such as celiac disease can be stressful, especially when the necessary treatment involves significant change to a person’s diet and lifestyle. Many people with celiac disease struggle with their mental health following their diagnosis but, for some, mental health issues become a constant battle.

How Can a Celiac Disease Diagnosis Affect Your Mental Health?

Being diagnosed with celiac disease comes with a mixed bag of emotions. Depending how long you’ve struggled with symptoms, finally receiving a diagnosis can be a relief – especially if you’ve been misdiagnosed in the past. But any medical diagnosis can affect your emotions and trigger feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression.

When it comes to celiac disease, the only effective treatment involves a complete dietary overhaul – one you’ll have to maintain for the rest of your life. Making the transition to a gluten free diet can be stressful and confusing. Even after you’ve gotten the hang of it, having such a serious dietary restriction can contribute to feelings of isolation.

Everyone responds to their celiac disease diagnosis differently, but if emotional or behavioral symptoms persist, it might be time to seek help. Here are some symptoms to be on the lookout for in yourself or loved ones who have been diagnosed with celiac disease:

• Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
• Withdrawing from social interaction
• Panic attacks or severe anxiety
• Loss of pleasure in things once enjoyed
• Changes in eating and sleeping habits
• Racing thoughts, agitation, or irritability
• Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
• Low energy or having too much energy

If you or a loved one are experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide, don’t ignore it. Once known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides a 24/7 helpline and a national network of crisis centers open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Simply dial 988 to get help.

Does Celiac Disease Increase Your Risk for Mental Health Issues?

Aside from an increased risk for mental health problems following diagnosis, celiac disease has been associated with long-term psychological issues as well. In some cases, celiac disease itself may be misdiagnosed as a psychiatric illness because neurological and psychiatric symptoms can manifest in some people who have untreated celiac disease.

While the connection is not fully understood, research has revealed that the gut and the brain are closely linked. It follows then that a condition that negatively affects the gut might also have an impact on mental health.

Some of the ways in which celiac disease might impact mental health include:

• Nutritional deficiencies and malnutrition. Celiac disease impairs nutrient absorption which affects the brain’s ability to produce neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.
• Toxin accumulation. Many celiac disease patients experience leaky gut syndrome which allows poorly digested food to impair the function of filtering organs like the liver. This can lead to the accumulation of toxins which may then affect the opioid receptors in the brain.
• Autoimmune response. Not only does celiac disease cause physical damage to the small intestine due to autoimmune activity, but it may trigger the production of stress hormones and reduce blood flow to the brain.
• Secondary health problems. Chronic autoimmune activity can put a lot of stress on the organs and systems in the body, increasing the risk of disease. Some chronic diseases like thyroid disease have been linked to psychiatric issues such as depression.

A celiac disease diagnosis also frequently comes with some degree of social isolation. People with significant dietary restrictions (like those on a gluten-free diet by medical necessity) may avoid social events – particularly those involving food. Social isolation in itself can worsen feelings of anxiety and depression or other psychiatric illnesses.

Tips for Coping with Mental Health Struggles

Unfortunately, stories of misdiagnosis are common with celiac disease and many people go completely undiagnosed for years or even decades. It often falls upon the patient’s shoulders to request additional testing or to seek out medical specialists. All of these things can have a negative impact on your mental health, so it’s important to learn and utilize coping strategies.

Here are some tips for coping with the psychological impact of celiac disease:

• Learn as much as you can. The more you know about celiac disease the better equipped you’ll be to protect yourself against cross contamination and accidental gluten consumption – when you feel prepared, you may feel less anxious.
• Share your knowledge. The social isolation that often accompanies a celiac disease diagnosis is very real, but you can help fend it off by educating the people close to you about celiac disease. When your friends and family are equipped with knowledge, they can make accommodations or adjust plans to ensure you have safe food options.
• Find a gluten-free friend. Celiac disease is more common than many people realize, so it’s possible that someone in your social circle also has it or knows someone who does. Having someone show you the ropes when you’re first diagnosed can help mitigate emotional symptoms.
• Be patient with yourself. You should stop intentionally ingesting gluten immediately following your diagnosis but be patient with yourself as you learn the ins and outs of interpreting food labels.
• Find gluten-free alternatives for your favorites. It’s natural to have emotional connections to food and suddenly having to give up your favorite dishes can be a major blow to your mental health. Make use of gluten-free mixes and 1-for-1 substitutions or really invest yourself in gluten-free cooking to discover new favorites.
• Exercise a little every day. Even if it’s going for a walk around the block after work, a little bit of exercise goes a long way in boosting your mood and energy levels.
• Be proactive in preserving your mental health. Nobody knows what’s going on inside your head except for you, so it’s important to be aware of psychological symptoms linked to celiac disease so you can take steps to deal with them if they manifest.

There is currently no cure for celiac disease or any effective treatment to reduce or prevent the damaging autoimmune effects gluten has on the small intestine. However, the condition can be managed with consistent adherence to a gluten free diet. If you also struggle with anxiety, depression, or other psychological issues associated with celiac disease, talk to your doctor.

While mental health struggles such as depression and anxiety can be difficult to understand, effective treatments do exist. Talk to your physician or a mental health professional about treatment options such as cognitive behavioral therapy, medication, or a combination of both.