Flu with depression

[wheo]

Does anyone else feel horrifically depressed when ill? I've been hit really badly with the flu this week and I feel so hopelessly depressed, about everything, work, relationship.

I'm incredibly happy with my life usually.

Is this just a virus thing?

This has only happened to me with covid not flu. But it was remarkable - like you I don’t normally feel depressed, I was shocked how down I felt, then it went as soon as I recovered.

I would say the key is not to think about anything at the moment. Watch tv, read gripping books (if well enough) - if a worry or negative thought pops up tell yourself you will think about it properly in a fortnight, not dwell on it now.

misuse of the word depression.

Isn't this a recognised effect of flu? It happened to my sister once. She came for Xmas, whilst recovering from the flu and spent the whole time crying. When she was fully over the flu she cheered up. Everyone seemed to think it was common. Anyway my advice is similar to the previous poster: mindless distraction and keep telling yourself the depressed thoughts aren't real.

I’ve had flu over Christmas and a really low mood, which just isn’t me. Flu symptoms went by new year but the low mood and general tiredness and not wanting to do anything continued. However, I’ve really perked up the last 2 days and suddenly feel normal again. Illnesses are weird.

My DH had this over Christmas, I posted here at the time as I was so worried.

He had flu for 2 weeks and was so down. He wasn't just down about feeling ill; like you say it was everything. He was tearful for days. It was bizarre, I've never seen him that way before. As soon as he was up and about after the flu, his mood lifted and he's absolutely fine now.

I did some reading at the time and apparently this is a common flu symptom. Actually, once he knew that he found it easier.

Hope you feel better soon.

Interesting.
What leads you to conclude that?

I’ve had flu and a chest infection over the past few weeks, and have found myself wallowing quite a bit and catastrophisong that I’ll never get better and life is going to be unmanageable forever.

Part of it is that inflammation does adversely affect your mood (and people with depression diagnoses not uncommonly have comorbid autoimmune conditions or other stuff going on to cause high inflammation)

Part of it is I can’t remember what it feels like to be well and energetic when I’m not, so it feels hard to imagine myself recovered from my lurgy.

After several weeks & some antibiotics I’ve turned a corner and one of the first things to come back was a feeling that I could do things and wasn’t permanently drained of energy and will. I’m still coughing up revolting shite from my lungs, mind you, but I’m more cheerful while I do it.

I hope you feel better soon.

I think this is common something to do with the immune system and inflammation causing a temporary depression.

I have experienced this when my autoimmune disease flares or when a virus flares it. I'm not normally depressive. I also experience it when I'm overly fatigued.

Thank you. It's comforting to know it's normal and these thoughts aren't actually real.

I'm going to try and do some yoga tomorrow morning if I'm up to it

I had flu over Christmas and new year. I really noticed a very bleak low mood - as you described, questioning my life, friendships and relationships which is not something I would normally experience. During the convalescent stage when I was starting to try and do a bit more I noticed a very particular mood shift from one day to the next, as though something just lifted. Weird, I’ve not experienced that with other illnesses, flu or covid before. I actually thought “Oh, I feel like myself again” -and even though my energy isn’t quite back to normal still, mentally I’m feeling better. Hope you start to feel a lot better soon. I’m sure your mood will return to normal. Rest as much as you can and distract yourself with drivel on the tv!

This happened to me. I felt really low and doom laden with the flu and was a bit worried as I'm normally an optimistic sort. I'm pretty much back to normal now after 3 weeks.

True influenza does something to the brain afterwards. I'm not sure what. You definitely don't get it with flu like colds.

It can be months of feeling low before recovery and getting back to your old self.

The few times I've had proper flu I've had this.