Research shows that people who experience intense stress may be more vulnerable to autoimmune diseases.
At the same time, the stress of living with a chronic condition can take a toll on a person’s mental health.
If you have an autoimmune disease, therapy can provide a safe space to process your experiences and learn healthy coping strategies.
Autoimmune diseases can cause a person’s immune system to attack their healthy organ and tissue cells. These conditions can affect every area of a person’s body. They include things like autoimmune hepatitis, Type 1 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Autoimmune diseases can take a toll on physical well-being. But they can also affect your mental health. One study found that having an autoimmune disease may increase a person’s risk of depression by as much as 45%. Another study found that about 60% of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) will experience depression at some point.
If you’re living with an autoimmune disease, consider talking to a therapist or psychiatric provider. These providers don’t treat autoimmune diseases. But they can provide a mental health evaluation, work with your treatment team, and help ensure you’re getting the right care for your needs. With their support, you can manage your mental health and live a full, balanced life with an autoimmune disease.
How autoimmune disease can impact mental health
Autoimmune diseases and mental health challenges often go hand in hand. While they don’t have a direct causal relationship, they can worsen each other. In other words, autoimmune diseases on their own don’t cause mental health challenges. But living with an untreated autoimmune condition might make your mental health worse (and vice versa).
Here are a few examples of how that might happen:
Inflammation: Autoimmune diseases can cause inflammation in the brain. Some evidence suggests that this could increase your risk of developing depression.
Stress: Managing a chronic condition isn’t easy, and living with an autoimmune disease can be stressful. Chronic stress is known to have a negative impact on physical well-being and mental health.
Fatigue: Having an autoimmune disease can lead to sleep disturbance and chronic fatigue. This can make it harder to focus, regulate emotions, and maintain a balanced mood.
Isolation: Living with an autoimmune disease can make some aspects of daily life more difficult. For example, it might make it harder to work, attend school, or do other activities. This can result in social isolation, which is a known risk factor for poor mental health.
Misdiagnosis: Sometimes, a mental health condition can be mistaken for an autoimmune disease, and vice versa. This can lead to delayed treatment and misdiagnosis, which can negatively affect your mental health and quality of life.
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How mental health challenges can contribute to autoimmune disease
Mental health conditions don’t directly cause autoimmune diseases. But stress can play a significant role. Researchers have found a strong association between trauma and autoimmune diseases. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) seem to be especially relevant, with one study linking childhood traumatic stress with an increased likelihood of hospitalization as an adult.
ACEs can include:
Childhood physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
Witnessing domestic violence
Growing up with household substance abuse, mental illness, or parental divorce
Having an incarcerated household member
One study on people living with autoimmune diseases found that 64% had at least one ACE. And the more ACEs a person had, the greater their risk of being hospitalized for an autoimmune disease.
Some people who experience trauma as children or adults develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research shows that people with PTSD are almost 60% more likely to develop an autoimmune disease. But the link between these experiences isn’t entirely clear.
In addition to stress and trauma, certain psychiatric medications may contribute to the onset of autoimmune diseases. The most widely documented example of this phenomenon is drug-induced lupus (DIL). However, some psychiatric medications may have a beneficial effect on autoimmune diseases. So be sure to talk to your providers before making any changes to your medication.
Managing autoimmune and mental health conditions together
If you’re living with an autoimmune disease and a mental health concern, you can do many things to maintain your well-being. Consider the following:
Take a whole-person approach. Caring for your body by getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, and doing some gentle daily movement can positively impact your mental health. At the same time, making stress management and self-care a part of your daily routine can help boost your physical health.
Strengthen your support network. Living with a mental health condition and an autoimmune disease can lead to isolation. So try to stay connected to your friends and loved ones in whatever ways you can. For example, if you’re not up for an active social event, send a text or make a phone call.
Seek collaborative care. You might be working with several providers who may or may not be part of the same healthcare system or facility. So be sure to share information with each person and ask that they collaborate with each other. Having your care team on the same page can help promote the best possible outcomes.
Talk to a mental health professional. Therapy can provide a safe space to unpack the emotional challenges of living with a chronic illness. It can also help you learn coping strategies to manage stress. You can also connect with a psychiatric provider if you’re interested in taking medication for a mental health concern.
A common mistake that I see people make when trying to manage autoimmune diseases and mental health is that they only focus on one of them. It’s best to treat both at the same time to improve both conditions.
Halee Fullerton, PMHNP-BC
Clinical reviewer
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Research shows a strong link between autoimmune diseases and mental health concerns like depression and PTSD. But strengthening your mental health can have a positive impact on your physical well-being, and vice versa. Additionally, meeting with a therapist or psychiatrist can help you strengthen your coping skills, advocate for yourself, and build resilience as you navigate life with an autoimmune disease.
At Rula, we’re committed to delivering a comprehensive behavioral health experience that helps people feel seen and understood so they can get back to feeling their best.
Rula makes it easier to find a licensed therapist or psychiatric provider who accepts your insurance so you don’t have to choose between affordable care and excellent care. With a diverse network of more than 15,000 providers, 24/7 crisis support, and appointments available as soon as tomorrow, we're here to help you make progress — wherever you are on your mental health journey.
Liz Talago
Liz Talago, M.ed. is a mental health professional turned content writer and strategist based in the Detroit metro area. As an independent consultant for mental health organizations, Liz creates meaningful connections between brands and their audiences through strategic storytelling. Liz is known for championing diverse perspectives within the mental health industry and translating bold ideas into inspiring, affirming digital experiences.
In her free time, you can find her hiking with her two German Shepherds, puttering around her dahlia garden, or spending time with her family.
Halee Fullerton, PMHNP-BC
Halee is a psychiatric nurse practitioner with experience treating children, adolescents, and adults. She has worked in outpatient community health with children/adolescents as well as inpatient substance use disorder treatment. She currently sees patients via outpatient telehealth. Before becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner, she worked in emergency rooms, medical-surgical units, long-term care facilities (including Alzheimer/dementia units) and the intensive care unit.
She chose a career in mental health because she wanted to help people and to contribute to breaking down stigma around mental health. She is especially passionate about working with people who are navigating substance use disorders, depressive disorders, and anxiety/trauma-related disorders. She has three labradoodles that she adores.
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Rula's editorial team is on a mission to make science-backed mental health insights accessible and practical for every person seeking to better understand or improve mental wellness.
Members of Rula’s clinical leadership team and other expert providers contribute to all published content, offering guidance on themes and insights based on their firsthand experience in the field. Every piece of content is thoroughly reviewed by a clinician before publishing.
