Dry/chapped lips - can that be a sign of anxiety & depression?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 7:25 am

Thanks everyone for your responses. I appreciate them:-)

I guess I am going to have to see what happens..let this run its course. The problem is that my hypochondriasis has kicked in and makes me think that something might be seriously wrong with me and that this is a sign.

I realize that my sugar is fine and that my allergy test came back virtually normal. I always drink a ton of water so I shouldn't be so dehydrated.

I am going to try a different chapstick and look into getting a humidifier.. but this probably has to run its course.

Thank you.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 7:58 am

You are welcome DeeDee

Blake I do agree dry lips or anything that is not "healthy" is a sign that your body isn't in perfect health, but we aren't talking about some deadly disease or anything.

Most of us are not in optimal health due to our processed cooked diets and lack of activity, chemicals in our food, air and water, etc, but this is the Western way of living.

I really do believe your mouth & lips are reacting the way it knows how to the climate as most all of us do, and with a few changes they'll be back to normal.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 8:19 am

Hi Blake, I have never posted on here before but I do read other posts all the time to calm myself down, I have had anxiety/ panic attacks for about five years. I am responding to you because I have had dry/chapped lips for as long as I can remember. There was a response on here saying most chapstick is actually MORE drying and I believe this is true since I have literally tried hundreds. The only things to ever give me real relief are: vitamin E, Burt's Bees lip balm(with no color or other additives) and the best is Neosporin lip treatment. Keep in mind these are suggestions with no medical basis, only based on experience! Hope this helps

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 2:57 pm

Blake -

I'm not sure if you're taking any medications, but many of them have dry mouth as a common side effect. Just one more thing to consider...

Jamie

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 5:08 pm

Dry lips and mouth, I know that all too well. In the past i've been the type to have lips so dry that they would bleed daily, It's very uncomfortable and annoying. There is something you can do and it's pretty easy.

What I was taught In chinese medicine class is that dehydration can be 2 diffrent things...1 you have too much heat in your system...you eat alot of spicy foods, you have insomnia, red face, red tongue....2 you don't have enough fluid in your system which is shown by red cheekbones, dark colored urine and you can actually show signs of insomnia for that one too.

What would work is to drink at least 1.5L of water (warm/hot water in winter) and eat a bit of fruit and that'll take care of it. I speak from experience as I haven't had chapped lips in about a year now.

Hope that helps,

Mike

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 2:40 am

There is such a thing as artificial saliva, however to my mind a little mineral oil is as good as any expensive treatment for dry mouth and cracked lips. In our cold winters quite a few people stash a small bottle of mineral oil in their ski or skidoo gear to use for just such a thing. It is no big deal really, but lip balms are drying. And chapped lips are a genuine upset, especially if they are so chapped as to bleed.
I know you have much advice so just tossing this in for your info.
All the best!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 10:27 am

Thanks everyone for your posts:-)

I think a lot of it has to do with my tongue.. my tongue is still irritated and has a geographical-look to it. Typically, when I am going through a bad time or stressed out my tongue becomes irritated.

I am going to let this run its course. I presume that my lips and tongue will get better around the same time.

I through away a lot of the chapsticks that I had and am only going to use the ones suggested on this forum.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 5:57 am

Hello all,Its been a while since I have been here.I still have severe depression,and I still have problems dealing with it.I start to listen to the program and then loose my concentration.I have started drinking again and got myself in some trouble with some text I sent a cousin of mine.I guess I had a black out and told her I was going to end it.She tried calling me ,but I must have passed out.So she then called 911 and then it all began,what a night.I know I need help I started aa with a friend.I need all of you to pray for me.Thank you,Chicago nutjob

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 12:31 pm

NO LISTEN UP--STOP examining your tongue. It is just as bad as 'naval gazing' and twice as unproductive.

Come on now, think about it--Who the heck has a nice looking tongue??
Right?
And for Harrys' Trying--Nobody ever found help in the bottom of a bottle, no matter how many they emptied. Go to AA with your friend and Godspeed to you with this problem. You will be fine if you stick to AA. The rest will fall into place for you then!! :p

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 1:27 pm

Hey cantbeme even though you make me ROFL, there's nothing wrong with checking our tongues.

When there's white stuff on there we are in "detox" mode, my dentist told me I have a "scalloped tongue" which was shaped from my crowns. So there is a lot of truth and answers in our tongues.

Tongues are cool - they are one big muscle, they are an amazing creation where we can taste so many different things.

I agree that it is unhealthy to obsess over anything, that is, without doing something about it. If one keeps looking at his/her tongue day in and day out without making any kind of lifestyle changes or something proactive of that nature, sure it is obsessive and unproductive.

I have never heard of "naval gazing" okay I'm not so sure I want to find out, are we talking about oranges or belly bottons?