Are Allergies Causing Your Anxiety?

Do you experience anxiety, panic attacks, or depression? If so, did you know that allergies could be the cause?

In the past, I always thought that allergic reactions only consisted of things like: watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose, rashes, hives, & coughing. However, after experiencing anxiety, depression, and panic attacks for years (and no treatment options were helping), I was referred to COEM (Center for Occupational & Environmental Medicine). They had a patient who got panic attacks from eating eggs and another who got panic attacks from moving into a dormitory containing mold. When the patient stopped eating eggs and the other received mold allergy shots, their panic attacks went away.

At COEM, they tested me, and I finally discovered the cause of my symptoms – food allergies, mold/inhalant allergies, and a sensitivity to the hormone, Progesterone (the hormone sensitivity ultimately led to a hormone-based disorder called PMDD). They custom made drops for my specific allergies/sensitivities, and within a few weeks, my symptoms started diminishing.

Dr Weirs at COEM recommended the book, The Allergy Solution, Unlock the Surprising, Hidden Truth about Why You are Sick & How to Get Well. Here are a few quotes from the book.

“…allergies can cause all sorts of misery – not just the symptoms that we ordinarily think of as allergic, like itchy skin, a runny nose, watery eyes, and wheezing. The symptoms that allergies produce go well beyond these classic symptoms.” The book lists several conditions that allergies can cause.

1. Fatigue

2. Weight Gain

3. Muscle Aches

4. Joint Pain

5. Headaches

6. Stomach Pain & Bloating

7. Heartburn

8. Trouble Sleeping

9. Depression/Anxiety

10. Hair Loss

11. Vaginal Itching/Discharge

12. Painful or Frequent Urination

13. Brain Fog

The book states, “Allergies are all too easily mistaken for different conditions altogether.” So, many people get misdiagnosed.

Also, if you go to The Allergy & Asthma Foundation of America, it lists the symptoms of an allergic reaction. See image below. The last symptom is a sense of “impending doom.” If you feel a sense of “impending doom,” that can cause anxiety, depression, and/or panic.