It will not be an approximation if one says that anxiety is an omnipresent symptom when we deal with any type of illness. From common cold to the severe heart diseases or from bony fractures to deadly cancer, anxiety is an inseparable component of the ailment. But things really get interesting when there is involvement of an autoimmune disorder.
Generally, such diseases are vexing and quite frequently vaguely presented, which derive a conclusion that patient with autoimmune diseases are highly susceptible to the stress inducing agents and their effects which cause anxiety as a resultant.
Cycle of Illness
As it is already mentioned, anxiety is an omnipresent symptom among almost diseases. It is a harsh truth that anxiety is not only a symptom, but can also be a causative agent of multiple diseases and researches have proved that it provokes certain autoimmune disease in hibernation. The simultaneous presence of anxiety and mental and medical disorders create a vicious cycle, in which one fuels the deriving a harder intervention and prognosis. Such combinations of disease and symptom are called “comorboid” conditions.
Is Anxiety a Typical Symptom In Autoimmune Diseases?
While there is a huge uncertainty over the causative factors of autoimmune conditions, one cannot disagree over the two major reasons behind development and advancement of the disease i.e. anxiety and its relative co-factors which tends to enhance the suffering of the patient.
There has been a myth in the society that all the autoimmune disease is chronic illnesses. As the word ‘myth’ suggests that is so untrue. Autoimmune disorders like – albeit with flares along with remissions in most of the patients sadly wears down the person and its personality over the period of time. The mere realization of the lifelong suffering creates multiple devastating effects such as financial, psychological, etc over the person and the family as well. However, there are number of people who conquered the disease by sheer willpower and accepting the fact their lives still can be cheerful and honorable if they don’t feel little of themselves and this way they have also cut down the roots of thoughts which give birth to so call debilitating anxiety.
One of the most important and the second factor is the involvement of a huge uncertainty which circumferences initial symptoms, fearful actions, hazy clinical pictures and misdiagnoses. While reports carrying uncertain diagnoses, and more uncertain management and almost uncertain prognosis becoming more and more daunting, irritating and overwhelming. They defeated the notion that presence of opportunistic and dormant medical conditions can scare an autoimmune patient.
Can Autoimmune Disease Cause Anxiety?
Is anxiety an inducing factor of autoimmune disease? Yes, it is. Though, the observations in the different researches have shown a huge variation yet, expert medical practitioners agreed on the point that anxiety is a risk factor in autoimmune disorders and more than that vice-versa. In contrast to above statement some researchers believe that it is too early to tag anxiety as a risk factor by itself alone, they further suggests that anxiety along with other mental problems like stress can induce a dormant auto-immune condition. It has been concluded when they observed a similar pattern of symptoms that lead to flares and to the level of surprise, they can enumerate certain events of stressful condition which initiate another medical symptom hence, acting as an alarm. Such warning symptoms plays a crucial role in figuring out a way to ensure preventing measures that have to be taken in order to diminish the effects and severity of the upcoming flares of an autoimmune disease. With this conclusion, it become mandatory to essentially recognize the origin of stress that presents in various forms such as mental, physical, and immunological, due to exertion, obesity, fatigue or it can be originated from a sedentary lifestyle.
Also Read:
- Autoimmune Hepatitis or AIH: Causes, Types, Risk Factors, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Complications
- What is Autoimmune Encephalitis: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Recovery, Diagnosis
- What is Autoimmune Retinopathy & How is it Treated?
- What are Autoimmune Diseases & Does it Affect Pregnancy in Women?
- Is Endometriosis an Autoimmune Disease?|Endometriosis Increases the Risk of Cancer & Other Cardiovascular Conditions?
- 20 Signs You May Have an Autoimmune Disease
