Mental health is intricately connected to our overall well-being, extending its influence beyond the realm of emotions and thoughts. Research has increasingly unveiled the profound impact that mental health issues can have on various physical conditions, potentially exacerbating symptoms and complicating treatment strategies. This article delves into the interplay between mental health and physical diseases, shedding light on 12 specific conditions that can worsen under the influence of mental health challenges
Gastrointestinal Conditions
According to findings from a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, symptoms of disorders such as depression may include gastrointestinal problems and changes in appetite.
In the same vein, Dr. Hayley Willacy warns on Patient that with some mental illnesses, there may be a lack of appetite or inadequate attention to nutrition, leading to physical problems.
Skin Rashes
Skin conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema, can worsen due to issues like chronic stress or anxiety, as noted by the Top Doctors medical directory.
According to research from the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, there is also a link between the hormonal response to stress and the release of allergy hormones in the skin.
Immune System Conditions
In a similar line, it’s worth noting that stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol could alter parameters of cardiovascular health, such as heart rate or blood pressure.
They can also impact the immune system, especially when the body responds to a sense of danger, triggering its fight-or-flight instinct.
Hypertension
According to the information from the same portal, hypertension is one of the most common psychosomatic diseases due to stress and anxiety.
In fact, according to Dr. Willacy, heart diseases could also be prone to worsening due to factors like stress or anxiety.
Vision Problems
A study conducted in Germany in 2010 found that depressed individuals have difficulty perceiving differences in black and white.
Muscle Pains
The peer-reviewed study mentioned earlier suggests that symptoms like chronic joint pains in the limbs and back may be related to conditions such as depression.
Also, there may be changes in psychomotor activity.
Pain Intensification
The Journal of Neurological Science has also published another study on how individuals with depression appeared to experience a decreased pain threshold. In other words, their pain tolerance was lower than that of people who appeared to be healthy.
A similar conclusion was reached by another study conducted by the University of Oxford, demonstrating that pain has a greater impact on individuals who are depressed.
Migraines
Chronic stress can severely affect individuals prone to worse migraine episodes, as headaches are a characteristic symptom of this disorder.
These headaches often manifest as a mild throbbing sensation, especially around the eyebrows, according to the National Headache Foundation in the United States.
Feeling of Sluggishness
According to Healthline, among the physical symptoms caused by chronic stress—when cortisol and adrenaline levels remain elevated—is a feeling of sluggishness, of being thicker than in a calm situation.
This symptom could explain why many people have experienced a sense of losing enthusiasm for everything during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fatigue
At least mild fatigue could accompany most illnesses due to the effort it takes for the body to recover from an illness. Hence, it is one of the most common symptoms of COVID-19, for example.
Presenting chronic fatigue could also be a result of mental illnesses like depression, according to the specialized platform Healthline, which would be exacerbated by the negative feelings accompanying the mental disorder.
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Beyond transient pains, stress and trauma could also lead to autoimmune diseases where the body attacks itself. One such condition is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, where the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, as described by Mayo Clinic.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is another such condition. In this case, the immune system mistakenly attacks tissues. The patient suffers from a chronic inflammatory disorder that can affect the entire body, not just the joints.
