Psychological Damage from Lyme Disease

I've spoken with many Lyme patients who went down that long, frustrating path to diagnosis. Some were sent to psychiatrists, some to psychologists, and some given tranquilizers and told their symptoms were psychosomatic...manifested by them. Perhaps these patients will fully recover from Lyme disease with proper treatment, but it may take longer for them to recover from the emotional trauma.

It's true that each of the following symptoms is not alone indicative of Lyme disease. However, if several symptoms on the list are evident you should be concerned about the possibility of Lyme and find a recently educated and aware *Lyme doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

Symptoms of psychological involvement of Lyme disease:

Major depression, extreme fatigue, emotional instability (cry easily) irritability, mood swings, eyes are sensitive to light, sleep disturbances, memory problems, getting lost in familiar places, dyslexia (reversals), loss of libido, nightmares, panic attacks, thoughts of suicide, mental fog, easily disoriented, rage, taste and smell abnormalities, sensitivy to noise/vibrations, spatial problems and changes in appetite (bulimia, anorexia).

Depression is the most common symptom and can be quite debilitating. The changes are subtle at first, usually a gradual withdrawing from social contacts that progresses into complete isolation. This can lead toward suicide so diagnosis and treatment is important.

The diagnostic criteria for major depression is sleep, interest, guilt, energy, concentration, appetite, psychomotor and suicidal tendencies. If symptoms are from four or more the the above, the patient meets the criteria for major depression.

Knowledge is the key to diagnosis. Learn all you can about Lyme disease and use all available resources if you have physical and/or psychological symptoms.

*Contact the Lyme Disease Foundation: www.lyme.org

Go To Page: 1