How Gluten Sensitivities & Autoimmunity Can Cause Severe Depression, Psychosis, OCD, Anxiety and More

We know that autoimmune diseases like Celiac disease can deeply impact the gut, but surprisingly, it can also affect the brain and one’s mental and emotional health. Celiac disease is a common autoimmune disorder that affects about 1 in 100 people. That’s 1% of the population and a HUGE portion of the people we meet. Some studies suggest the prevalence is even higher and that the proportion of people with celiac disease and gluten allergies are rising at rates that can’t be fully explained just through awareness and diagnostic efforts alone.

Celiac disease is a condition where your immune system attacks your own tissues when you eat gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and other grains. It’s different than a gluten allergy or sensitivity, but often has similar symptoms. Celiac is known to produce digestive issues, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. Gluten allergies, celiac, and many autoimmune diseases have a profound impact on mental health issues and can produce brain fog, anxiety, depression, and even hallucinations. Some people only have mental health symptoms, without other physical concerns present.

Lesser Known Mental Health Impacts of Celiac Disease:

severe brain fog and cognitive impairment
depression and suicidality
anxiety and panic
ADHD
OCD
hallucinations, delusions, psychosis

Common Symptoms of Celiac Disease:

Gluten & Celiac Disease Can Cause Depression, Psychosis, OCD, Anxiety and Mental Health Issues

weight loss or weight gain
bloating
stomach pain
nausea
vomiting
malnutrition
anemia
changes in bowel movements
joint inflammation and soreness
loss of bone density
extreme chronic fatigue
skin rashes
headaches
ulcers
lessening the functioning of other organs like the spleen, thyroid, and liver
hormonal imbalances
impact nervous system
alter sleep cycles
delayed puberty
systemic inflammation

“It’s really important to understand that any phenomenon in the body or the mind has multiple factors that contribute such as genetics, trauma, inflammation, issues with the immune system, the endocrine system, food allergies, and other co-occurring health concerns that happen at once. We have to be willing to look at them all at once in order to really address what’s happening.”

How The Immune System Affects The Mind & Brain

When someone is diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, it’s usually not the only thing going on, creating a complex web of diagnoses. Oftentimes, those of us with autoimmune issues tend to be sick often as children, possibly developing co-occurring viruses and other illness. This means that our immune system is not just overtaxed, but also under-resourced, not being able to fully eliminate toxins from the system. Autoimmunity also sometimes causes a compromised gut lining, through which toxins can leak into the blood stream, and the gut may not be able to absorb the nutrients we need to heal and restore the system, therefore creating a vicious cycle.

The gut plays a huge role in our mental and emotional health. Researchers have found up to 90% of the serotonin (a neurotransmitter that’s crucial to mood, emotions, and sleep-wake cycles) we produce in the body is actually produced in the gut, not the brain. Biology is important, but the biology of our mental health is not just about brain chemistry as we tend to believe, but all of our bodily systems.

The Role of Stress, Inflammation & Trauma

Dr. Bulmoor and some of his colleagues agree that a primary pathway through which our immune system can help or hurt our mental health is through inflammation. He says there are “fascinating new insights into how high levels of social stress can increase bodily inflammation and there’s growing evidence that people who have experienced adversity or abuse in childhood are more likely to be inflamed as children and adults.” Other research shows that they’re not only more likely to be inflamed, they’re also more likely to be hospitalized with an auto-immune disease and to experience mental health concerns. Time and time again, trauma has been shown to be massively correlated with inflammation in the body. Inflammation is seen as a mediator between physical or environmental harm and mental health.

This trifecta of concerns: trauma, autoimmunity, and mental health, is my biggest area of interest as those who I work with often come to me with all three. If you struggle with any of these read on and watch the video below to find out how to best support your body and mind.

*I share from my lived experience and research but this article is not meant to offer any healthcare advice. Please use your best judgement and seek personalized treatment from a trusted healthcare provider.

“Inflammation is the pathway through which we can understand the biological impact of extreme stress and trauma.”

What We Should know About Celiac Disease and Mental Health:

1. Celiac Disease May Be Affected By a Variety of Factors

Although it is not definitively known what causes celiac disease, we can point to a variety of factors. It is important to understand any phenomenon in the body or the mind has multiple factors that contribute such as genetics, trauma, inflammation, issues of the immune system, the endocrine system, food allergies, and other co-occurring health concerns, often all at the same time. We have to be willing to look at all of them in order to really address what’s happening.

2. Get Tested for Celiac Disease or Other AutoImmune Diseases

If you have celiac disease or a gluten allergy, it’s very likely you won’t notice after eating gluten if it has been a part of your diet for a long time. If you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself or a close friend, or loved one suspects you may have celiac, don’t write it off. Go get tested if you can. A simple blood test will state whether or not your body is reactive to the gluten protein, followed by a biopsy to confirm celiac disease. If you don’t have celiac disease, you may have another autoimmune disease that is impacting your mental health. You can also attempt to determine whether your body has issues with gluten by eliminating all gluten from your diet for two weeks. Make sure to also check nutrition labels for gluten by-products or cross-contamination. After two weeks, you after adding it back in and monitoring how you feel, you may notice symptoms that were less pronounced before.

3. Celiac Disease May Be one underlying factor of Mental or Emotional Issues

If you have celiac disease, or another autoimmune disease, you might not feel any physical effects at all. Everyone reacts differently. Don’t invalidate your symptoms as purely psychological or behavioral if you suspect autoimmunity may play a role. Many people only present with mental or emotional symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, OCD, or suicidal thoughts. It is important to understand that celiac disease or another autoimmune disease may be one of the factors that is contributing to these issues.

4. Healing Celiac Disease is not just about going gluten free

Going gluten free is not enough to heal celiac disease for many people. It requires really understanding all of the co-occurring things that are happening in your body. Functional medicine doctors can help you understand the way your body has been responding through this autoimmune disease in order to formulate a plan to improve your health. Healing celiac disease can require things like changing your diet in other ways, taking anti-inflammatories, antifungals, antibiotics, and receiving other types of therapies for the nervous system. Your nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system are all highly intertwined with each other. Get advice from a healthcare professional that can map out a unique treatment plan for you.

5. Address the Nervous System

Healing the nervous system is key, especially if you are someone with a co-occurrence of an autoimmune disease and trauma. Systemic inflammation from autoimmunity, depending on how long you’ve been living with it, can actually make structural changes to your body that can either start with the nervous system or impact it. This can send your body into a flight or fight mode. Addressing the nervous system is very crucial. Finding a doctor or healing modalities that address the nervous system specifically can be really supportive, for example, osteopathic medicine, massage, physical therapy, breath work for emotional release, and more.

If you are struggling with celiac disease or any autoimmune disease, know that t is possible to heal and find the right supports for you. Treatment and healing may not take the form of a single person, healer, or doctor but it’s going to come from your knowledge and wisdom that your body already has. Your body is trying to tell you what’s happening. Create a team for yourself of the right types of support systems.