How Lyme Disease Can Affect Personality

Recognizing and Treating the Effects of a Bad Tick Bite

Aug 3, 2009 Venice Kichura

People suffering from Lyme disease can suffer emotionally as well as physically. Here are tips for recognizing and treating symptoms of this bad tick bite.

Most people have heard how Lyme disease affects a person physically in different parts of the body such as the heart, joints, and nervous system. However, the disease can also have an emotional effect on people. The mental and emotional effects of Lyme disease have aroused recent attention, especially with an ABC News story recently aired on "Good Morning America". Dr. Marie Savard, an ABC News medical contributor and former Lyme disease patient, cautioned viewers that often there can be changes in someone's personality because of the effects of Lyme disease.

What is Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is an acute inflammatory disease caused by minute-sized bacterium of small animals such as mice. It’s usually transmitted to people by an infected tick as tiny as poppy seed. These disease-carrying ticks, also known as deer ticks, are mostly along the eastern U.S. coast, although some regions of the Midwest and West Coast have high incidences.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease

It’s important to know the symptoms of Lyme disease so treatment can begin as soon as possible. Generally the disease occurs in three stages, although some people don’t experience all of them. The first stage is a circular bull’s-eye appearing rash, appearing within one to two weeks of an infection. The rash is generally accompanied with flu-like signs such as fatigue, headaches, muscle aches and swollen lymph nodes. The final stage, which may occur if early stages weren’t properly detected, can have symptoms such as arthritic pain (especially in the knees) and memory lapses.

Neurological Effects

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center roughly 15 percent of untreated patients are in danger of developing neurological effects. These symptoms can strike any area of the nervous system or occur in all of the disease’s stages. Typically, neurological symptoms develop during the initial skin rash. On the other hand, they can surface during the six weeks following the rash’s disappearance. Fortunately these symptoms improve or disappear after a few weeks or months. Neurological symptoms may include headaches, sleep disorders, mood swings, depression and memory problems.

Coping with Neurological Symptoms

Besides treating physical symptoms, it’s important to address emotional problems. Patients should ask the doctor treating them for physical symptoms for good recommendations for either a psychiatrist or counselor who can help them work through any depression or other neurological pain. A good therapist can help patients explain the condition to others, in addition to offering coping strategies.

When Dr. Savard’s spoke on ABC’s “Good Morning America” on July 30, 2009, she stressed the importance of removing a tick as soon as it’s found, besides how to do a self-examination for possible ticks. The sooner a tick is removed from the skin, the less severe are the symptoms, she noted. Even more important is preventing a tick bite in the first place. People placing themselves in harm’s way are those who walk in tall grass and weeds not wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Failing to protect with insect repellent is another danger.

Most of all a positive attitude is vital for recovery. Patients should rest as much as possible, not letting the disease control their life. Moderate exercise and a sense of humor also help improve mood. Even if in pain, people should keep getting together for social functions rather than isolating. Just as with any physical disease, the key for coping is staying healthy emotionally.

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Bull's Eye Rash of Lyme Disease