Anxiety and Psoriasis

Anxiety and psoriasis can go hand in hand. My psoriasis likes to give me gifts all the time. Although, these gifts are not one that I really want or need. Having said that, I worry about my own health and my family's. My own worries about my psoriasis make me anxious. Do I look okay? Will this outfit be okay? Do you think this pair of shoes is ok? Then there is worry that my skin is cracking or bleeding. You don't want to go out in public like that. I worry that people with me are embarrassed by the way I look. The anxiety can be overwhelming at times. It is something I deal with daily. The anxiety never seems to take a break.

My husband's health

Aside from all that worry, there is a regular worry about my loved ones. I go through so much that I worry that their health could be affected by my health. My husband takes good care of me. He helps me whenever he can and is a big support. When he has health issues I worry about him. My mind is always active thinking what if his health gets like mine? He has been very healthy until recently. Having someone around me that is so healthy is reassuring but now that reassurance is not there. It plays on my anxiety weighing me down like a ton of bricks.

It seems like psoriasis has hidden agendas in the form of adding comorbidities. I don't want to always sound negative and think the worst. I try hard to remain positive. Others don't necessarily have the autoimmune system that I do. It’s very overactive. My psoriasis is moderate but was severe at one time. My anxiety works in two ways: it makes me worry about what's going to happen now and about what will happen later. In my family medical history, there is heart disease and cancer. It is on both sides of my family. The chances are great seeing as psoriasis can create these issues as well.

My anxiety continues

There are times that I think about what the treatments are now and then how they will affect me later. My goal is to keep myself well and not cause damage later. I worry about my family the same way. I think about what treatments they may need and ponder if it will be bad for them later. I don't know if people realize how much it really can affect your overall thinking.

I have had feelings like not wanting to go out because I don't want to deal with other people. I know that sounds awful, but sometimes I just like being around people I am comfortable with. There is peace in knowing that I don't have to worry about what they think of me, because they already know. My friends tell me that I should realize that I don't need to live my life based on other people’s thoughts. Knowing you have people around you that are your support is always a comfort.

How does anxiety impact you?

When I think of my husband, children or grandchildren being ill, I feel my own anxiety rising. It seems like a huge circle of anxiety. Sometimes things feel overwhelming. That’s when I sat down with the doctors. I take medicine to help me cope with the anxiety. Do you feel anxious from your Psoriasis? Does it affect the way you think about your own family and their health? I know I cannot be alone in thinking about this.