Endometriosis and mental health

It is quite common for people living with endometriosis to feel depressed and anxious. There are many reasons for this:

• Living with a chronic and painful condition can make people feel sad and isolated, especially when the disease can’t be ‘seen’ on the outside and is difficult or embarrassing to describe
• People living with a condition like endometriosis can find that they’re not able to go to school, work, or have as much of a social life as they would like – this can make people feel lonely and upset
• Getting enough good quality sleep can be difficult when a person is in pain and/or bleeding heavily on their periods. Sleep is very important to avoid mental health problems, so if people are not sleeping well, this can have a considerable impact
• Sometimes, the medication being taken to help with symptoms can have an effect on mood and/or sleep patterns
• Some people become anxious because symptoms can be unpredictable, they feel they’re not being believed, or they’re finding it hard to find or access a treatment that works in a timely way.

Support groups, whether online or in person, can be very helpful in making people feel less alone and more confident about seeking help.

Make sure you tell the doctor all the symptoms and worries you have as they can make you feel miserable and bad about yourself, your daily life, and your relationships. Your doctor should be willing to talk with you about making a plan to help your pain and improve your quality of life.