Bed bugs are nasty creatures that survive by feeding off human blood. The small, wingless pests leave red itchy bumps on the skin looking as if a rash is taking place. The bed bug psychological effects can be just as bad at times, leaving you wanting to sleep alone in a cot for nights on end. This can become a problem within itself, especially if you are the sort of person who sleeps with their significant other every night. Bed bugs scare the living daylights out of people. They don’t just come out at night, but can be seen anytime of the day. They like to hide in dark places and come out when you least expect it, scaring the hell out of you. Sounds scary enough? It gets worse. With bed bug infestation comes psychological effects. The psychological effects of bed bugs go beyond the sleepless nights and would drive anyone crazy. If you think of all the things we’ve done to eradicate bed bugs, it’s clear that they are a significant problem and a threat. But there are many other unsung victims of bed bugs as we’re seeing more serious mental health conditions as well. Will you be next?

Bed Bug Psychological Effects

Introduction

The psychological effects of bed bugs can be more devastating than the physical ones. Bed bug bites themselves are usually not dangerous, and they don’t spread disease. However, dealing with an infestation can put a lot of stress on people, especially those who already have anxiety issues. The mental effects of bed bugs sometimes take months or years to go away. Here is what you need to know about how bed bugs can affect your mental health

Anxiety

If you’re experiencing anxiety and stress due to bed bug infestations, it’s important to seek help from a psychologist. Bed bugs can cause anxiety in some people, but there are many other factors that influence how a person feels about them. Anxiety can lead to stress, which in turn can cause depression. If you are feeling depressed as a result of your bed bug experience and want to seek treatment, here are some resources:

• HelpGuide offers a great deal of information on mental health issues including depression and anxiety disorders. You may also want to check out their page on managing stress at work or home by creating healthy habits like getting enough sleep, eating right, exercising regularly and spending time with loved ones (or pets!).
• The National Association for Mental Illness provides resources for people suffering from various types of mental illness including schizophrenia; Alzheimer’s disease; bipolar disorder; obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD); panic attacks; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), etc..

Stress

Stress can have a number of psychological effects. Stress can cause sleep loss, which in turn leads to weight gain. Stress also causes depression, irritability and forgetfulness. In addition to these serious issues, stress manifests itself in less obvious ways as well. For example, if you are stressed out about something then your ability to concentrate on other things may be diminished; this may lead to a decline in productivity at work or school and cause problems with social relationships.[1]

Here are some tips for dealing with stress:

• Exercise regularly – Exercise is one of the best ways to reduce stress levels because it releases endorphins which makes us feel happier! It also increases blood flow throughout the body and helps promote better sleep quality at night when we’re resting up.[2]
• Meditate – Learn how meditation works by taking some classes at local community centers or yoga studios around town (or even online). There’s nothing like learning from an expert instructor who has lots of experience teaching others how mediation works so they can take advantage of all its benefits too!

Misery

Feeling sad or miserable is a psychological effect of bed bugs. This could be caused by the fact that you’re being bitten, or it could be caused by the fact that your home has been infested with them. Either way, you’re going to feel bad about what’s been happening in your life.

According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry in 2004, people who suffer from anxiety disorders are more likely to be affected by psychological effects of bed bugs than those who don’t have anxiety problems.

Depression

Bedbugs can cause depression and anxiety. They don’t mean to, but the little pests can create a lot of frustration when you’re trying to get rid of them. Bedbug infestations are often associated with poor mental health, including symptoms such as stress, anxiety and depression.

In addition to this, common factors which contribute to mental illness include:

• Lack of sleep
• Poor diet/lack of exercise

Accordingly, if you have bedbugs in your home then it may be worth checking in on your lifestyle habits in order to help manage your mental wellbeing during this time.

Paranoia

You might be feeling paranoid. This is a common bed bug psychological effect, especially in the early stages of infestation. You may feel like you are being watched—by the bed bugs themselves and by someone else who may want to harm you or your family. The paranoia can become so intense that some people start taking actions to ensure their safety, such as sleeping in shifts, locking doors with chains (to keep out vermin and intruders) and even moving away from their home altogether.

Isolation

Isolation is a very common psychological effect of bed bugs. People try to hide the problem from friends and family, often because they are ashamed to have them in their home. This can make it difficult for people to reach out for help when they need it most—especially since they may not even know what kind of assistance they need!

The fear of being stigmatized is also another reason why some people isolate themselves from others during this time period. They avoid going out and interacting with others because of the shame associated with having pests in their homes, which may result in feelings of loneliness or depression as well as feelings like “I can’t do anything right.”

Anger

A common reaction to an infestation of bed bugs is anger, both directed outwards at others and inwards at yourself. This anger can be either a result of feeling powerless or being blamed for the situation you’re in. In the long run, this can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as drinking too much alcohol or taking drugs. If you’re dealing with someone who is angry because they believe they were wronged by their landlord or another party involved with the infestation (for example, if they were told that their apartment building was not infested with bed bugs when it actually was), try to understand where your loved one is coming from before jumping on them for being rude during an argument.

Hopelessness

Many people who have been living with bed bugs for a long time, or who are in the process of dealing with them currently, begin to feel hopelessness. When you are being eaten alive by monsters while everyone else seems fine, it’s easy to feel like it’s not going to end. You may even start believing that no one else knows what you’re going through—that this is just how life is and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. This feeling can make it seem impossible to keep going day after day until finally something gives way and the situation improves (or doesn’t).

Bed bug infestations can cause serious psychological issues.

Bedbugs are a type of parasitic insect that feed on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals. They are often found in mattresses and box springs, but can be found hiding in furniture, bed frames, rugs, clothing, and even electrical outlets. Bed bug infestations usually occur when people travel to places where the insects live: motels or hotels with low-quality linens; flea markets; used furniture stores; secondhand stores. If you think you might have bedbugs – check for signs such as red welts on your skin after waking up from sleep; dark brown feces stains around your mattress (this is their waste material).

If you believe that you may be affected by bed bugs psychologically because of their presence in your home or apartment building, it’s important to seek professional help immediately so that they don’t negatively impact both your physical and mental health!

Conclusion

It is important to know the risks of bed bug infestations before they occur, as well as what steps to take once an infestation has occurred. An infested person may be at risk for severe psychological trauma, including anxiety and depression. If you find that you are suffering from these symptoms after a bedbug infestation, we advise that you seek immediate medical attention and/or therapy. Bed bugs can cause serious damage not just to your home but also to your mental health, so it is best not