Candida and Anxiety?

[osu-danuki]

Lately my CPPS has been much better, though I had an unhappy resurgence of panic attacks, insomnia, and anxiety recently, due to having consumed an herbal supplement I didn't realize had strong stimulant properties.

Around the same time, I also had a "yeast infection" of the male variety, all around my groin, which was treated with two fluconazole tablets, and I have struggled with varying degrees of toenail fungus infection all my life.

Now there are all these people, seemingly mostly "alternative" naturopath types online talking about how candida can release "toxins" that cause anxiety and depression. I would view this as pretty far-fetched if not for the recent coincidence of an obvious fungal infection and a resurgence in my anxiety, along with the fact that I've been prone to anxiety for much of my life, and also very vulnerable to fungal infection (also easily develop athlete's foot if not very careful) most of my life.

Of course, correlation is not causation, but I wonder if there's any possible connection? Has anyone ever tried these "get rid of candida" diets and regimens as a successful treatment for anxiety? I'm reluctant to go out of my way to do it, especially since one of their first recommendations tends to be a low carb diet, which generally makes me MORE depressed, since, I think, carbs stimulate serotonin. Then again, I do have a tendency to feel more anxious after a big meal, so I'm not quite sure what to make of it all.

Thanks for any advice or experience!

[webslave]

Could yeast infections impair recovery from mental illness?

Anti-candida diets focus on low carb foods and elimination of high carb foods, like grains. Eliminating grains often makes people feel much better, but I'd say more because of food intolerances and even hidden celiac disease.

Gluten makes me profoundly depressed and anxious. I know a number of celiacs who react like this.

[osu-danuki]

I've actually been gluten-free for the past 5 or 6 months. It seemed to help for a while, and may still be helping in terms of the CPPS. I guess I could go full-blown paleo (no grains at all), though it sounds pretty tough, cooking-wise, and I'm also worried about the aforementioned "low-carb depression." (When I'm feeling bad, nothing makes me feel better like peanut butter, jelly, and milk--and prior to my gluten-free days, a pb and j sandwich with milk; I wonder if these are sadly all the things I'm not supposed to eat).

[European]

I firmly believe that there is some link between candida and CPPS. I was struggling with candida more than a decade (on-off), mainly in my groin area. Candida appeared first time cca 2 years before CPPS onset, so it is not a major cause of my pain but surely a contributing agent. Candida produces neurotoxins, and what we see in our groin is only a tip of the iceberg, it is more active inside. Appearance of the candida in groin area indicates that pelvis is the main scope of its action and it might highly facilitate neuropathic component of pain associated with CPPS.

[eltenso]

As I always very cold feet (or some kind of pathological cold intolerance in my whole body), and lab test ruled out hypothyroidism, I suspect I may have candida overgrowth. I considered trying the Paleo diet but I just lacked the willpower.
Is there some kind of lab test that can diagnose candida?

[webslave]

Back in the day I was very symptomatic (1990s), I became convinced I had candida too. I followed an anticandida diet and took many courses of Diflucan (at that time the Big Gun in antifungal meds). I even had blood test results that showed I had a lot of candida antibodies.

In the end, the help it did provide, I eventually worked out, was because of the restriction of gluten and sugar in the anti-candida diet.
https://ucpps.men/fung ... ostatitis/

I now do not believe candida is involved at all.

[eltenso]

Thanks, Webslave, for sharing your insight on this.
Now, whether the main factor is gluten intolerance or Candida, I think I should try the diet and see the results.
How long do you think I should go gluten-free to make a conclusion?

[webslave]

Several months. Gluten can damage the body, and specifically the nerves, in ways that take a long time to heal.
https://www.practicalpainmanagement.com ... neuropathy