SARCOIDOSIS AND MENTAL HEALTH
Sarcoidosis is a chronic health condition for around 30% of patients. Chronic, or long-term, conditions are conditions for which there is currently no cure, and which are managed with drugs and other treatment. Mental health problems are common amongst patients with chronic health conditions. This page explains what mental health is and how it can affect patients with chronic health conditions such as sarcoidosis. You will also find useful tools to help yourself and and tips on where to look for further support.
The information on this page has been compiled with the help of SarcoidosisUK Nurse Jenny who has years of experience talking to people with both sarcoidosis and mental health problems.
What is Mental Health?
Mental health includes your emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how you think, feel and act and so helps determine how you handle everything life throws at you, good and bad. Mental health doesn’t always stay the same and can change as circumstances change through different stages of your life.
If you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behaviour could be affected. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:
- biological factors, such as genetic makeup
- life experiences, such as illness
- family history of mental health problems
The most common mental health problems include depression, anxiety, stress and bi-polar disorder.
Mental health problems are common and living with them can be very tough. However lots of help is available, see further down this page. People with mental health problems can get better and many recover completely.
Why Does Mental Health Affect Patients with Chronic Conditions?
Our physical and mental health are inseparably linked. People who live with a chronic physical condition such as sarcoidosis are also likely to experience mental health problems. Some reasons why chronic conditions may impact mental health include:
- the anxiety and confusion of a new diagnosis, or waiting to get a diagnosis
- adjusting to a new life living with sarcoidosis
- living with pain, fatigue and other chronic symptoms
- changes to social relationships, employment or finances
- social isolation
- low self-esteem
- stigma and discrimination
It is important to remember that mental health problems are common and are normal reactions to stressful and difficult situations.
When is an Evaluation or Treatment Needed?
Each mental health condition has its own signs and symptoms. In general, professional help might be considered if you experience:
- obvious changes in personality, eating or sleeping patterns
- an inability to cope with problems or daily activities
- strange or grandiose ideas
- excessive anxiety
- prolonged depression or apathy (lack of enthusiasm or interest)
- thinking or talking about suicide
- using alcohol or drugs as a way of coping
- extreme mood swings or excessive anger, hostility or violent behaviour
Mental Health and Coronavirus
Many people are, understandably, worried and anxious about coronavirus. For some advice on managing your mental health during this time, please watch our video with our nurse Jenny.
You might also find the following resources useful:
- Headspace have a free app called Weathering the Storm as well as paid for mindfulness and meditation options.
- Mental health charity MIND have information on coronavirus and wellbeing.
- Find or offer support in your local community using a new website with a searchable map of the COVID19 voluntary and community-run services.
- Psychology Tools’s guide to Living with Worry and Anxiety Amidst Global Uncertainty.
- Dr Russ Harris’s FACE COVID with practical steps for managing anxiety.
- Drink Aware have information and advice for anyone worried about their drinking.
- Talk to Frank have information and advice for anyone worried about drug use.
- Therapy Route offer a tool that lets you search for your nearest Mental Health Clinics near you.
Urgent Mental Health Support
- If you have been working with mental health professionals and have a crisis team number (or a care plan that gives you information on who to call in a crisis), call them.
- If you need urgent care call the NHS on 111 or contact your GP. If it’s an emergency, call 999.
- The Samaritans can help you talk confidentially about issues including mental health. You don’t have to be suicidal to benefit from their support. Call free on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.
- Mental health charity Mind has an urgent help toolkit with ideas to help you cope with difficult thoughts and feelings.
What Can I Do to Help Myself?
Step 1: Understand mental health and recognise any symptoms you may have. Use the tools and information on this page and the external links to help you understand more.
Step 2: Talk to someone about how you feel! Partner, friend, family member, colleague, SarcoidosisUK Nurse Helpline or another confidential support line.
Step 3: Consult your family doctor or make an appointment with a counsellor. With appropriate support, you can identify mental health conditions and explore treatment options, such as medications or counselling.
Many people who have mental health conditions mistakenly consider their signs and symptoms as “nothing to worry about”.
If you’re concerned about your mental health, don’t hesitate to seek advice.
There are tool and tips to help you below.
Further Support and Information:
- Support and information from charity No Panic.
- Listening and support from Breathing Space (Scotland only).
- Support for men who are feeling depressed or suicidal from CALM.
- Confidential emotional support from Supportline.
- Mental Health Information from the Asthma+Lung UK.
- Mental Health Information from mentalhealth.org.
Quick Self-Help Tools:
- Test your Stress
- Test your Anxiety and Depression
- Find out your ‘‘Good Mental Health’ score
- Support and tips for everyday living from Mind
- NHS self-help leaflets on a range of subjects, including Anxiety, Depression and Low Mood, Sleeping Problems, and Stress.
Mental Health Services:
Counselling is a talking therapy that involves a trained therapist listening to you and helping you find ways to deal with emotional issues. You can get many psychological therapies, including counselling, free on the NHS. You can refer yourself directly or you can get a referral from your GP if you prefer. Click here to find out more about NHS counselling. Sometimes there can be long waiting lists for NHS counselling services. You can search for private counselling services here.
Mental health services are free on the NHS. In most cases you will need a referral from your GP to access them. NHS mental health services are explained here.
If you’re living with sarcoidosis, the NHS long term condition assessment will tell you what help and support you may be entitled to. It will assess your situation and give you personalised advice and a printable checklist.
Self-management Courses in the UK
England: The Expert Patients Programme is a free self-management course for people living with any long term health condition. It covers lots of topics that people with sarcoidosis may find helpful, including dealing with difficult emotions, relaxation techniques, action planning, managing common symptoms, and communication skills. It’s available in many areas of England, so it’s worth asking your local council or GP surgery if there’s a course near you. Other areas may have similar schemes, usually called self management programmes, or schemes for people with particular symptoms, for example breathing problems.
Wales: EPP Cymru runs a Chronic Disease Self Management Programme, including an online course, in Wales.
Scotland: The Scottish Recovery Network has information on mental health self-management. They describe it as working with people to provide the right support at the right time to enable people to choose how they want to live.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse:
Having sarcoidosis (or waiting for a diagnosis) can be tough, and some people turn to alcohol or other substances (drugs) as a way of coping. Many of these substances, including alcohol, may affect your mental health and can actually increase anxiety and stress. There’s more information on alcohol and mental health on the Drinkaware website.
If you are concerned about your use of alcohol or drugs, it can help to talk to someone. The following helplines offer confidential advice and information:
England: Drinkline: 0300 123 1110 and Frank (drugs): 0300 123 6600
Scotland: Drinkline: 0800 7 314 314 and Know the Score (drugs): 0800 587 5879
Wales: Dan247: 0808 808 2234 (alcohol and drugs)
Northern Ireland: Addiction NI: 028 9066 4434 (alcohol and drugs)
What Evidence is There for Mental Health Affecting Sarcoidosis Patients?
Those with a long-term condition such as sarcoidosis are two or three times more likely to develop mental ill-health. People with two or more long-term conditions are seven times more likely to experience depression than those without a long-term condition (World Health Survey, 2007).
Find out more about Mental Health and chronic health conditions from mentalhealth.org.
Read the Rare Disease UK Report on the effect living with a rare condition has on mental health.
Watch our Mental Health Video with SarcoidosisUK Helpline Nurse Jenny
Further Reading:
Cox, C. E., Donohue, J. F., Brown, C. D., Kataria, Y. P., & Judson, M. A. (2004). Health-related quality of life of persons with sarcoidosis. Chest, 125(3), 997-1004.
Chang, B., Steimel, J., Moller, D. R., Baughman, R. P., Judson, M. A., Yeager Jr, H., … & Rand, C. S. (2001). Depression in sarcoidosis. American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine, 163(2), 329-334.
Goracci, A., Fagiolini, A., Martinucci, M., Calossi, S., Rossi, S., Santomauro, T., … & Pieroni, M. G. (2008). Quality of life, anxiety and depression in sarcoidosis. General hospital psychiatry, 30(5), 441-445.
Related content from SarcoidosisUK:
Nurse Helpline
The SarcoidosisUK Nurse Helpline exists to provide free, quality support and information to anyone affected.
Support
SarcoidosisUK has a range of support services that may be able to help you with mental health problems.
Contact
We would love to hear from you. Please get in touch with any questions, comments or suggestions.