What to take to improve mental health with manageable UC

The short version of this post is: What do others here take to help with depression/anxiety occurring as a result of UC?

The longer version:
I have proctosigmoiditis, DX in 2016, and managed through Mesalamine oral and rectal meds. In terms of symptoms now, I have none other than an occasional abdominal tightness and a slightly higher level or urgency around BMs. I don't know whether you'd call this 'in remission' or not, but I do know that if I forget a dose for a couple of days, my body will soon remind me through tightness of the lower colon.

So as a UC sufferer, my life is virtually normal these days.

But my mental health has just not been the same since I first started showing symptoms. I've been having frequent bouts of anxiety, and depression seems to creep up on me from time to time as well. I've learnt a few insights about how it develops, and have gotten better at managing it, but compared to life pre-UC, I just seem to require a lot more effort to manage my mental health.

Last year, I battled fatigue and low energy levels, which stopped me from being active. I put on weight as a result. After seeing my GP many times and having bloods done that showed nothing wrong, I came to the realisation that a low state of mental health was the cause of my fatigue. Since realising that about 5 months ago, I'm still proving myself right.

This year, I've been dealing with a lot of stress at work, which has been challenging my self-soothing capabilities. I can do a few things to help, but I always wind up running out of energy at the end of the week. Living like this week after week eventually leads to mild depression. It's gradual, and creeps up without me even noticing. Until one day I realise I've become negative and not excited about much any more. I was managing to drop my weight down steadily over the first few months of the year, but lately it's become harder and I've put some back on again.

The point is, I never used to live like this. I've got nothing to be negative about in my life, and so much to be grateful for. Yet I feel like keeping myself in a positive mental state these days is like herding cats.

I've read a lot on here (and other places) about people taking D3, Omega 3, and Vitamin B complex to help with depression and anxiety. I took D3 at the end of last year for a while, but stopped. I've recently started again a few days ago.

Are there others who have mental health issues whilst their UC is manageable, symptom-wise? What do others take to help their overall mental state?

I really have no interest in going on prescription anti-depressants.

OP said...
I've read a lot on here (and other places) about people taking D3, Omega 3, and Vitamin B complex to help with depression and anxiety. I took D3 at the end of last year for a while, but stopped.

Yes, vitamin D3 and omega-3 from fish oil are helpful for depression. Also good for arthritis and joint pain. There is also a lot of literature showing that D3 helps with ulcerative colitis. Omega-3 reviews on IBD are mixed, it doesn't seem to help everyone, but I find that it helps me.

Because those with IBD have difficulty absorbing nutrients many are deficient in B complex and zinc.

Get your blood levels of vitamin D tested. Unless you work as a lifeguard, (in the sun all day long), then most people are deficient. Optimum range of 40-60 ng/ml is the equivalent of around 100-150 nmol/L Take as much D (D3 is the best form) as you need to achieve that level. Over 100 ng/dl is flirting with overdose.

I agree with the mental health fatigue aspect of this. Neurotransmitters are very important. I have been influencing my neurotransmitters for quite a while, it was pretty much necessary for my work as my energy levels used to fluctuate too much and it bothered me a lot. I've settled on using low dose l-theanine mixed with one of either low dose tyrosine or tryptophan. I use lower than what's normally in a bottle doses as I take caution with the aspect of down-regulation of receptors. More only seems better for a few days. Theanine helps provide a calming balance as trytophan is positive energy and tyrosine provides focus. They are massively more complicated than that but I'm keeping this post short.
They didn't fix anything especially when it was at the worst but it did make me feel better most of the time and there is a high likely hood that neurotransmitters are messed with during UC as we know there are many systemic symtoms not isolated to the guts.

I suggest starting a daily meditation and exercise practice, if you are healthy enough to exercise. I take Xanax for anxiety, but don't really recommend it as a daily thing. It can become addictive. I don't recommend antidepressants. Cymbalta sent me into a bad flare within days when I tried that. Plus, if you actually look into them, they are not any more effective than placebos.

You could just start with an easier exercise, like going for a walk every day. I've been under extreme stress the last year and it has been hard for me to exercise because of it, too. I used to run 6 days a week and lift weights twice a week. I find walking and hiking is easier for me when I am stressed out. Something is better than nothing.