
Parkinson’s Disease: Anxiety and depression
Anxiety and depression can also be a symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. I had never really experienced severe anxiety until after my Parkinson’s diagnosis. It was distressing to feel that way, when I didn’t really feel stressed otherwise.
Unfortunately, our society has attached a stigma to seeking help for mental health conditions. This often results in those who suffer from mental health problems even more isolated, because they fear that it will be perceived as a sign of weakness.
We need to put an end to this. There are no other medical conditions other than mental health issues in which in some cases the person experiencing it would choose to be dead rather than experience it.
A person suffering with severe pain from cancer, or a broken leg get support and empathy from those around them and they are fighting to live no matter how sick they are. Those suffering from mental health problems often suffer alone and in isolation.
Fortunately there are effective treatment options, and it is not a sign of weakness to take an anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication, or to talk to a counselor and seek help.
In my case, I was prescriped lexapro (an SSRI) to manage my anxiety. Unfortunately it also made me hungry all the time. When the hunger was combined with some moderate impulse control issues as a side effect from a dopamine agonist, I would devour food constantly.
After I managed to put on 30 pounds in a year, I talked with my primary care doctor. He suggested we switch to Wellbutrin (buproprion) which is better for depression than anxiety.
Interestingly, Wellbutrin is a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, which means that there is more dopamine available for the brain to use. Wellbutrin does manage my anxiety, and the weight came off relatively easily after I made the change.
In addition, as I started to increase the amount of exercise I was doing, the exercise also significantly helped my anxiety.
I hope that some of you will feel comfortable sharing how Parkinson’s has affected your mental health, and some things you have found that help manage it. Please include in comments below.