Prostate Conditions and Mental Health
We’ve all experienced the stress of needing to find a bathroom quickly to relieve our bladder. Whether that’s after being in the car for a long time, on a plane, or waiting in line somewhere. However, as one of the primary symptoms for men with prostate issues, this experience can be acutely stressful during the waking hours, and can also interrupt sleep, thus adding to mental distress as well. But this isn’t the only troublesome symptom that men with prostate conditions experience that can affect their mental health. Let’s take a look at the most common prostate conditions, and what, if any, impact their symptoms can have on mental health.
Enlarged Prostate or BPH
The most common symptom of prostate enlargement is Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS). The symptoms of LUTS include increased frequency of urination, increased urgency of urination, and needing to urinate more often during the night. Other symptoms that exist alongside an enlarged prostate, involve issues emptying the bladder, such as a weak urinary stream, hesitancy when trying to urinate, dribbling of urine after you have finished urinating, and incomplete emptying of the bladder.
These symptoms are annoying at best, but at their worst, they can create tremendous amounts of stress and may be a source of anxiety and depression in men. The stress of needing to constantly get to a bathroom, and having to get up multiple times throughout the night, can lead to mood changes and exhaustion and can exacerbate other mental and physical health issues.
Prostatitis
Prostatitis is an infection or inflammation of the prostate gland. Prostatitis also causes, amongst other troublesome symptoms, difficulty urinating, pain and discomfort, as well as a lowered sex drive.
Experiencing prostatitis can be painful, stressful, and difficult to treat. This reality can often lead to feelings of hopelessness in men afflicted with prostatitis. These feelings and experiences can not only exacerbate anxiety, they may even lead to the development of depression.
Prostate Cancer
Men that are diagnosed with prostate cancer are at a higher risk of experiencing mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. Not only are the symptoms a contributing factor, but more often than not, a cancer diagnosis, in general, is enough to incite feelings of anxiety and stress. These feelings over time can develop further leading to depression and other stress-related health problems.
Though all of the symptoms related to prostate conditions can adversely affect mental health, there are many ways to lessen their impact.
In the case of enlarged prostate issues, there are several things that can be done to relieve symptoms. By speaking with your doctor, you can determine the best course of action. This can be everything from diet and lifestyle changes, medications, and potentially the non-invasive procedure, Prostate Artery Embolization- which, has a high rate of success, with over 90% of men experiencing relief in the first year. When it comes to prostatitis, the key is to remember that there is a solution. It may take time to uncover the cause, and find the most effective treatment- but it is treatable. And, once the right treatment is found, it can relieve symptoms more often than not, completely. In the case of a prostate cancer diagnosis, knowledge is key. Just knowing how common prostate cancer is in men, and how often it is successfully treated, is a great start towards shifting the thoughts and feelings associated with it. There are also various support groups that can be found online that have proven to be very helpful.
Regardless of the diagnosis, seeking out professional mental health counseling and treatment can be extremely beneficial. Talking to someone about the thoughts and feelings that come up regarding your prostate condition, can help provide relief and a framework for further recovery. In some cases, it may be helpful to speak with a psychiatrist who can help treat anxiety and depression with medication.
The bottom line is that your thoughts feelings and experiences surrounding your prostate problems are valid. Feeling stressed, and having an increase in anxiety and depression is not uncommon, and there is no shame in asking for help.
