Depression, anxiety, anger and shame are all feelings that people with psoriasis have reported.
This does not mean to say that all people with psoriasis experience emotional distress, just that these feelings have been found to be more common in people with psoriasis than in those with other long-term conditions.
Living with psoriasis can be challenging. Things that get some people down are not knowing when they are going to have another flare, trying to find a healthcare professional who understands and helps, making decisions about which treatment to try and the daily demands of using psoriasis treatments.
If you feel low it can be hard to stay motivated about all sorts of things, especially your psoriasis treatments.
We all experience low mood at some point. This is normal life. However, feelings of sadness or anxiety which last a long time, or which start to interfere with the rest of your life, your relationships or work, should be addressed.
Don’t be an ostrich! Don’t ignore low mood if it seems to last a long time. Your emotional well-being is a priority.
Your healthcare provider will be able to discuss ways of getting help with mood. There are online programmes such as ‘Beating the Blues’ or ‘Living Life to the Full’. NHS Choices also has a Health Apps Library with information about all sorts of health related apps that you can download onto smartphones and tablets, including ones that can help with your mood.
When we feel low we are more likely to do unhealthy things that can make our psoriasis worse… eat too much, drink too much etc.
Take a look at the Staying Well with Psoriasis resource set for ideas.
There are lots of things that we can do to improve our mood and you may be pleasantly surprised to find out how many people understand what it is like to feel low. See Psoriasis: Look Deeper is a campaign that specifically highlights the need to look after your psychological well-being when you have psoriasis.
I avoided social situations for a long time because of having psoriasis, but it was getting in the way of normal relationships.
After talking to a friend I realised he didn’t judge me. It didn’t make a difference to to him and it made me more confident. It wasn’t an overnight change. I practised ‘acting confident’ even when I didn’t feel like that inside.
When you feel down even familiar, everyday tasks can feel daunting. It can be hard to stay motivated. Set yourself two simple goals that you can achieve in the next 2-3 days.
Make sure that one of these is something that usually gives you pleasure or satisfaction: seeing friends, reading for pleasure, going to a film alone or with others. Write yourself a note of when and where you are going to do this. Tick off when you have done it and set new goals.
Doing something physical, a walk, gardening, going to the gym, taking the dog for a walk can not only improve your mood, it also is better for your psoriasis!
Your journey with psoriasis
Keeping active, feeling good
Smokeless
How we THINK and FEEL about our psoriasis influences what we DO. Jot down some of your thoughts and feelings about living with psoriasis.
For further advice or information please consult your healthcare provider or psoriasis patient association in your region
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