Emotional Wellness

Some people with HIV experience emotional problems such as anxiety, depression, sleep disorders and nightmares, or mental problems such as foggy thinking, memory difficulties and loss of the ability to concentrate or focus. If you are experiencing these symptoms or have friends, family or coworkers telling you they are observing such problems in you, it is important to work with your doctor and possibly other health professionals to obtain an accurate diagnosis and to establish a treatment plan.

There are a number of possible causes of emotional problems in people living with HIV. Sometimes, multiple causes can interact to create problems. The causes may or may not be associated with HIV disease and its treatments.

It is particularly important to discuss symptoms of anxiety or depression with your doctor. It is normal to have feelings of worry or anxiety about different issues in your life from time to time. However, if anxiety persists, symptoms can intensify beyond general worrying and include irritability, changes in appetite and weight, difficulty falling or staying asleep and sexual problems. Anxiety is a health problem that can and should be treated. Moreover, if anxiety does not resolve, it can, in some cases, turn into depression.

People may say they are depressed when they experience sadness or “the blues;” such short-term feelings are part of everyday life for most people. True clinical depression is a serious condition that has emotional, physical and behavioural effects, including long-term feelings of sadness, the inability to feel pleasure, disinterest in previously pleasurable activities, low self-esteem, the loss of the ability to concentrate on tasks, fatigue, poor quality of sleep, feelings of hopelessness and, in the most extreme cases, thoughts of suicide.

Many people with HIV at some point experience depression, anxiety or other mental problems not caused by HIV disease but rather by their life experiences, lifestyle or biochemical imbalances in the brain. However, it is very important to remember that there are specific HIV-associated causes that should always be considered as you seek answers for depression and other emotional or mental problems. If any of the following HIV-associated issues are contributing to your emotional or mental symptoms, they will need to be addressed in order to restore your emotional health. See also our publication HIV and emotional wellness.

Many antiretroviral medications can cause emotional or mental problems as side effects. These side effects may diminish or disappear after a period of days, weeks or months but can also remain long-term. In some cases, changing drugs may be the only option.

The drug most likely to be a cause of mental health problems is the non-nucleoside analogue efavirenz (Sustiva and in Atripla). This medication can cause fatigue, unfocused thinking, feelings of paranoia and disorientation, depression, anxiety, insomnia, vivid dreams and nightmares. Though many people do not experience any of these side effects on this medication, in those who do these side effects typically disappear gradually after several weeks on the drug, so waiting out the problem for at least a month is advisable, if possible. For others, the problems continue and changing drugs may be the only solution.

Consider beginning efavirenz on a weekend or taking a few days off from work since it can take a few days to get used to this drug. Also, it is best to avoid street drugs and alcohol when starting efavirenz because they can worsen some of the central nervous system side effects of this medication. Taking efavirenz on an empty stomach can also help, as food (especially fat) can increase levels of the drug in the blood and thus worsen side effects.

Although rare, serious psychiatric disorders have occurred in some people taking efavirenz, including severe depression, aggressive behaviour, delusions, paranoia, psychosis-like symptoms and suicide attempts. Patients with a prior history of psychiatric disorders appear to be at greater risk for these serious problems.

Interferon, a drug often used to treat hepatitis C (and some cancers) can often cause symptoms of anxiety and depression. These symptoms can range from mild to very severe. Some doctors find it useful to treat people who have hepatitis C with an antidepressant before beginning their treatment with interferon.

Deficiencies of certain nutrients, especially vitamin D, vitamin B₁₂ and other B vitamins_, are common in people with HIV and can cause a variety of emotional and mental symptoms.

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to depression. It is very important to get your vitamin D level tested regularly and use supplements when necessary to boost vitamin D to an optimal level. Studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency is a common problem in people with HIV, so this is a possibility in anyone who has developed depression, especially in the winter. With proper supplementation, depression and associated problems caused by vitamin D deficiency can usually be reversed. See the appendix for more information about this important vitamin.

Vitamin B₁₂ has been shown in studies to be deficient in many people with HIV, and the deficiency can begin early in the disease. Vitamin B₁₂ deficiency can result in a deterioration of mental function that can cause symptoms such as foggy thinking, memory loss, confusion, disorientation and psychiatric disorders, including depression and paranoia. If you have developed such emotional or mental symptoms, especially when combined with chronic fatigue, it is very possible that vitamin B₁₂ deficiency could be contributing. If you also have other symptoms this deficiency can cause, such as neuropathy, weakness and difficulty with balance or walking, it is possible vitamin B₁₂ deficiency is a problem. See the appendix for more information about this important vitamin.

Other B vitamins are also sometimes deficient in people with HIV. Deficiency of almost any individual B vitamin or of the whole B complex can cause anxiety, depression, lack of focus or difficulty concentrating. Most important in this regard is vitamin B₆. Always accompany an individual B vitamin supplement with another supplement that contains the whole B vitamin complex in order to maintain the proper balance of these important vitamins.

In untreated HIV disease that has advanced, certain opportunistic infections, as well as HIV itself, can affect the brain in a way that causes symptoms of depression, memory loss and other serious mental and emotional symptoms. If your CD4 count is low and symptoms like this become noticeable, be sure to discuss this with your doctor right away. Such symptoms could be an important sign of another infection for which treatment is urgently needed. If you are not currently on antiretroviral therapy, beginning effective treatment will be very important to control the virus and help restore your immune system.

Testosterone deficiency frequently causes depression, fatigue and loss of sexual desire in both men and women living with HIV. The appropriate use of transdermal testosterone patches or gels to return testosterone to optimal levels can help eliminate depression and fatigue if testosterone deficiency is the cause. A Columbia University study showed that 79 percent of HIV-positive men who had been diagnosed with depression and had low blood levels of testosterone had their depression reversed and their mood improved with testosterone replacement therapy.

It is possible for the hormonal changes that occur during and around menopause to cause depression or anxiety. Testing of hormone levels followed by discussion with your doctor of what can be appropriate for replacement therapy is very important. See Menstrual Changes for more information about menopause.

Thyroid hormone deficiency (called hypothyroidism) is a problem for some people with HIV. It can cause fatigue, depression, foggy thinking and difficulties with focus and concentration. Talk to your doctor about whether thyroid function tests should be a part of your regular blood tests. In people who have low thyroid hormone levels, restoring their thyroid hormones to optimal levels can create mental focus and physical energy, though it may take weeks to months of supplementation before these levels return to normal. Hormones tend to work slowly so patience is necessary.

Stress may be causing your anxiety or depression. Many people face stressors in their relationships, finances and work. Living with a disease like HIV or other chronic illness can add to that stress. Stress reduction can come from a combination of behavioural strategies and counselling with a good mental health professional, along with meditation, other relaxation techniques or homeopathic remedies. See the discussion of St. John’s wort below, and check with your doctor or pharmacist about any potential drug interactions between the medications you take and any complementary therapies you are considering.

There are many simple self-help techniques that can help deal with anxiety, including:

• Deep, slow breathing – Concentrate on taking slow, steady breaths. Breathe in to the count of four, pause and breathe out to the count of four. Repeat. Find some time every day to focus on your breath and slow it down.
• Relaxing – Tense up each muscle in your body, one at a time, then release it to see how a relaxed muscle feels. A hot bath with aromatherapy oils or Epsom salts or getting a massage also helps to relax muscles.
• Laughing – Studies show that laughter reduces stress.
• Living in the here and now – Life with HIV can be all about living in the past with regrets or in the future with worry about what lies ahead. Find some time every day to try to let go of the past and future and live in the moment.
• Appreciating the good things – Every day, try to count five things in your life that you are grateful for. This reinforces a positive attitude.
• Problem solving – If the source of your stress is something you have control over, try to address it and eliminate the root cause.
• Talking about your fears – Keeping your fears bottled up makes them worse. Find a friend, a counsellor or an elder you can talk to about your biggest fears and worries.
• Learning about stress reduction – Many complementary therapies teach relaxation and stress reduction. Some community organizations offer free massage, yoga and meditation classes.

A healthy lifestyle contributes to mental and emotional health. Eating a nutrient-rich healthy diet is important for mental and physical health in people with HIV. Many studies have shown that regular exercise can help to improve mood and counter anxiety, stress and depression. Getting a good night’s sleep is also very important for maintaining a good mood in general, as well as for ensuring you have sufficient energy to address your health and well-being.

Socializing with friends and family and finding social support can contribute significantly to emotional wellness, too. People with HIV who are isolated or have little social support are more likely to experience depression and anxiety. Making the effort to socialize, or joining a peer support group can be very helpful for restoring and maintaining good emotional health.

In addition to finding support within your circle of family and friends, you may want to reach out to healthcare providers. A good place to start is with your family doctor or HIV specialist. They can work to uncover any medical causes, and they can refer you to mental health professionals such as counsellors, psychologists or psychiatrists for more help.

Talk therapy, either one-on-one or in a group, can be very effective in dealing with emotional problems. If you are feeling emotionally unwell, it is crucial you have someone to listen to you, understand your feelings, give you support and help you understand what is troubling you. Antidepressant medication may also be part of the solution.

Antidepressant medications may also be needed to treat depression, anxiety and other mental health issues common in people with HIV. There are many different antidepressant medications available today; you may need to try more than one to find the medication that works best for you.

Medications that are most commonly used today for the treatment of depression are called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). They work on serotonin, the brain’s “happiness chemical.” Because it is a serotonin precursor, 5-HTP (5-hydroxy-tryptophan, related to tryptophan) may also work for countering depression. (See Sleep Problems for more on 5-HTP supplements.) Many people have found that combining 5-HTP supplementation with other emotional wellness strategies is a successful solution for depression. However, 5-HTP should not be taken by people who are also taking medicines to treat depression or anxiety.

Be sure to tell your pharmacist or doctor about all the medications, over-the-counter drugs, supplements and herbal therapies you take. These products can interact with your antiretroviral drugs, causing them to become less effective or increasing the risk you will experience side effects.

The herb St. John’s wort is widely used as a natural antidepressant but it can interact with many medications, including antiretroviral drugs. It should never be used without consulting with your doctor or pharmacist regarding the possibility of drug interactions.