Your Health Matters
By Claudia Parks, R.N.

"My allergies are driving me crazy!" I've heard this statement many times and I may have used this expression myself. There is some truth in the matter- Psychological allergic responses. Just what are psychological allergic reactions?

In an allergic reaction, the body's immune system goes into action against substances (allergens) that are harmless and normally tolerated. This can produce a variety of symptoms affecting many different organs and bodily functions. In a psychological allergic response, the person experiences emotional or mental changes. These may range from feelings of depression or disorientation to hyperactivity and unsettling mood swings.

The causes of psychological allergic reactions are something of a mystery. In fact, many doctors and traditional allergists scoff at the notion that an allergy can affect emotions and behavior. Still, numerous allergic people describe psychological symptoms that come on after exposure to a specific allergen.

SYMPTOMS: Unexplained feelings of depression; Mood swings; Periods of irritability; Hyperactivity or lethargy; unusual fatigue; Loss of appetite.

Whether these symptoms are actually caused by the interaction of antibodies and allergens or as a result of other sensitivity symptoms is unknown. For example, a person who is allergic to pollen will experience itching, congestion, teary eyes, a runny nose, and sneezing and wheezing during the traditional hay fever season. At this time, the person may also feel depressed, on edge, and irritable. Are these psychological symptoms caused by the pollen allergy, or are they caused by the itchiness and other physical symptoms? No one knows the answer, but many allergists think it's a combination of the two.

Exposing a person to the suspected allergen and then observing the body's response to it usually diagnose allergies. Physical symptoms, such as a rash or difficult breathing, obviously are easier to observe and measure than psychological complaints. Onetactic entails double-blind testing in which the patient is exposed to a variety of substances- some placebos (inert substance- sterile water) and some suspected allergens. All look, smell, or taste the same, and not even the person doing the testing knows which is the real thing and which is a placebo. Any psychological response is then measured, either by observation or standard psychological tests.

Once a diagnosis has been established, treatment entails either avoiding the allergen or undergoing allergy shots. The latter involves building a person's resistance or tolerance by giving increasing does of the allergen. This process may take several years.

You can help yourself by keeping a careful diary of your emotional ups and downs, along with a list of activities or substances that may produce the psychological changes. For example, if you find you invariably feel angry after eating peanuts, it may be safe to assume that something in peanuts is producing a reaction.

Use common sense in trying to resolve your problem. Many allergic people fall victim to unproved nutritional remedies, especially in dealing with psychological symptoms. There is no evidence that high-dose vitamins are of help, but they can cause nutritional imbalances. Such strategies should be avoided.

You should see a doctor if emotional problems are interfering with your ability to function or your relationships with family members and other people. Since the symptoms may be hard to pinpoint, try to be as specific as possible. The doctor will ask you about any other allergic symptoms you may experience. He or she may look for other possible causes of the emotional problem.

Once it is fairly certain that your problems are due to an allergy, treatment is directed toward trying to avoid the allergen or making you less sensitive to it.

An estimated 1 in 3 Americans suffer from allergies, and a large number of these complain of psychological as well as physical reactions. In general, psychological allergic reactions come and go quickly. Since the psychological components are highly variable and difficult to measure, they often are dismissed as being trivial or imaginary. This does not diminish their distress; in fact, failure to convince a doctor or others that a problem exists may make it more disturbing.

For the most part, psychological allergic reactions are not dangerous. But they may interfere with your feelings of wellbeing, and it is important to "feel good." To locate more information than you can possibly read, Google allergies!

Claudia Parks, RN is a former doctor's office and emergency room nurse and retired as an educator from Fulton County Schools. She writes Your Health Matters as a public service; the information here is designed to help you make informed choices about your health. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of your physician. Claudia and her husband now make their home in the beautiful north Georgia Mountains. Claudia can be reached at YHM@windstream.net