The connection between psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and anxiety is a two-way street. Anxiety and stress can worsen PsA symptoms, but the reverse is also true: PsA can impact your mental health.
Research shows that joint pain and inflammation from PsA can impact your confidence and your quality of life.
There is also evidence that cytokines, a type of proteins released by your body’s cells, play a role in both PsA inflammation and symptoms of depression and anxiety. So there’s a reason you might feel both anxious and inflamed.
Still, there are ways to manage social anxiety with PsA that create a positive feedback loop. Research in 2021 found that managing anxiety and depression made it possible to minimize the effects of PsA.
PsA and the resulting inflammation can cause a wide range of physical and psychological symptoms.
Some of the physical symptoms of PsA are:
- fatigue
- painful and inflamed tendons
- swollen fingers and toes
- joint pain and stiffness
- reduced range of motion
- nail changes
- eye redness and pain
Anxiety symptoms that may affect people with PsA include:
- anxious thoughts
- restlessness
- rapid heart rate
- dizziness
- shortness of breath
- sleep disturbance
- social withdrawal
- fatigue
- muscle aches
Symptoms of depression include:
- sadness
- irritability
- hopelessness
- fatigue
- trouble with concentration
- sleep disturbance
- appetite changes
- physical signs like headache and digestive issues
- thoughts of suicide
It’s a bit of a vicious cycle, because physical and mental symptoms can intensify each other. For example, some research suggests stress may cause PsA flares, which can create anxiety, which can feed into depression. In turn, depression can worsen the impression of pain, according to a 2003 research review.
Mood disorders are more common among people with PsA. A 2014 study found that rates of depression were higher among people with psoriasis than in the general population — and that rates were even higher in people with PsA.
A 2020 review found that 51 percent of people living with PsA may experience depression.
Fatigue resulting from PsA sleep disturbance and pain is associated with anxiety and depression, according to research from 2020. Anxiety and depression can also contribute to fatigue.
It’s no surprise that these complications can all impact your social functioning.
When PsA affects your ability to enjoy time with friends, social events, and travel, you can miss out on an important outlet. Social interaction is essential for your well-being. We are people who need other people! But sometimes other people can cause anxiety.
A 2017 study …….
Source: https://greatist.com/psoriatic-arthritis/social-anxiety-and-psoriatic-arthritis