Can seasonal allergies cause anxiety and depression?

Author

Andrew Walker

Published Feb 22, 2026

Can seasonal allergies cause anxiety and depression?

From interviews with more than 1,700 people, the study authors found that seasonal pollen allergies seemed to lead to increased anxiety in people compared to year-round allergies. People with perennial allergies seemed to show higher rates of depression.

Keeping this in view, can seasonal allergies cause anxiety?

New research shows seasonal allergies may lead to increased anxiety. If you're one of the millions of Americans who get persistent sneezing, coughing, and congestion this time of year, you might want to pay attention to new research that suggests a link between seasonal allergies and anxiety.

Furthermore, can allergies cause psychological problems? This study shows that a history of seasonal allergies was associated with significantly higher odds of reporting lifetime mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders.

Also, can seasonal allergies cause depression?

Research has shown that there is about a 50% increase in the risk for depression in a person suffering allergies, and if you've been seen by an allergist, that about triples the likelihood of having depression, said Dr. Paul Marshall, neuropsychologist at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.

Can allergies make you agitated?

Both untreated allergic conditions and allergy medications can cause mood changes. When people have severe nasal allergies, they often complain of feeling irritable and utterly exhausted. Others describe a nervous agitation.

How bad can allergies make you feel?

But allergic reactions can also release chemicals that cause you to feel tired. These chemicals help fight your allergies but also cause swelling of your nasal tissues that can make your symptoms worse. A lack of sleep and constant nasal congestion can give you a hazy, tired feeling.

Can allergies cause weird feeling in head?

If you have allergies, allergen exposure leads to ongoing inflammation. And nasal congestion and disturbed sleep combine to give you that fuzzy-headed feeling. “Chronic inflammation from allergies can lead to that foggy feeling,” he says.

Can allergies make you feel sick?

Allergies can cause symptoms that are very similar to a cold or flu, such as a runny nose, sore throat, or sneezing. However, allergies do not cause a fever. Because each allergy has a different underlying cause, it is essential that a person receives the right diagnosis, so that they can get the best treatment.

Can anxiety make sinuses worse?

Stress and anxiety can affect your sinuses indirectly by increasing your susceptibility to a range of health issues that, in turn, worsen your sinus problems. Sustained stress can weaken your body's immune system, making you more vulnerable to the effects of allergens, as well as germs, bacteria, viruses, infections.

Do histamines cause anxiety?

Beyond the heart, inflammation in the brain caused by excess histamine has also been linked to anxiety (as well as a series of other psychiatric presentations that are in fact, again, symptoms of histamine intolerance).

Does Claritin give you anxiety?

Side Effects: Anxious,depressed,insomnia,nightmares,scrambled brain,quick temper,loss of appetite,paranoia,restlessness,no interest in anything. Comments: Had a reaction to 3 days on Paxil years ago so when I woke up in the night having same reaction I knew it was drugs and Claritin was the

Do antihistamines help with depression?

Can antihistamines cause depression? One study of 92 people with chronic itchiness saw that patients who took the antihistamines cetirizine and hydroxyzine reported an increase in depression and anxiety. The effects of all antihistamines on mood disorders have yet to be studied.

Can Zyrtec help anxiety?

Antihistamines: Antihistamines are usually prescribed to treat allergic reactions. However, some are also used to treat anxiety on a short-term basis. Antihistamines work by having a calming effect on the brain, helping you to feel less anxious.

Can nasal spray cause anxiety?

All of these adverse reactions can mimic the symptoms of anxiety, and in sensitive individuals, may even precipitate panic attacks. While oral decongestant drugs may be more likely to lead to unwanted side effects, decongestant nasal sprays may also cause side effects to a lesser extent.

Why am I suddenly getting allergies?

However, allergies can start unexpectedly as an adult. A family history of allergies puts you at a higher risk of developing allergies some time in your life. Allergies develop when your body thinks a substance such as animal hair, pollen, or mold is harmful.

Can stress cause allergy attacks?

A new study shows that even slight stress and anxiety can substantially worsen a person's allergic reaction to some routine allergens. Moreover, the added impact of stress and anxiety seem to linger, causing the second day of a stressed person's allergy attack to be much worse.

Can allergies cause neurological problems?

But many people with the condition might not realize they have it because these reactions aren't limited to the hives and itchy mouth commonly associated with allergies. Reactions can also include neurological problems, such as migraines or trouble concentrating, and array of gastrointestinal issues.

Can allergies cause brain inflammation?

A recent study demonstrated that experimental models of allergic rhinitis are associated with a Th2 pattern of cytokine mRNA expression in the brain [27]. Thus, a potential link between allergy, brain inflammation and AD seems to be worth exploring.

Can anxiety cause food sensitivities?

The role of external factors, such as psychological stress, in triggering inflammatory reactions has become a topic of intense research activity. Stress may trigger allergic reactions in the gut and other organs, and depression or anxiety may worsen symptoms in inflammatory disorders of the intestine.

Can allergies make you achy and tired?

If you experience sneezing and coughing as a result of your allergies, you may suffer from muscle, joint and neck pain due to the repeated sneezing or coughing. Seasonal allergies can also make you feel tired, which can ultimately make your symptoms worse.

Can allergies make you short of breath?

Asthma symptoms like shortness of breath are often closely linked to allergies and exposure to allergic triggers, such as ragweed, pollen, animal dander or dust mites. Irritants in the air like smoke, chemical fumes, strong odors or extreme weather conditions can also be triggers.

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Can seasonal allergies cause anxiety and depression?