The Mental Side of Lichen Sclerosus

This week I make my contribution to World Mental Health Day. I am super passionate about the aspect of mental health in Lichen Sclerosus. In this episode, we discuss what research has been done on Lichen Sclerosus and mental health as well as hear from some Lichen Sclerosus sisters and their thoughts on LS and mental health. If you need help with mental health please reach out. I'm always available even if it's just to talk. I shared lots of resources in this episode so please don't suffer in silence. Website - lichensclerosuspodcast.com/mentalhealth IG - @lichensclerosuspodcast FB - https://www.facebook.com/lichensclerosussupportnetwork Resources: Psychological and psychiatric morbidity in lichen sclerosus in a cohort recruited from a genitourinary medicine clinic - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19917638/ Vulvar lichen sclerosus et atrophicus - https://www.jmidlifehealth.org/article.asp?issn=0976-7800;year=2017;volume=8;issue=2;spage=55;epage=62;aulast=Nair My Vulva Burned Like It Was On Fire, Then I Got A Diagnosis That Changed My Life - https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/2019/01/221855/vulva-disease-lichen-sclerosus-cancer Dr. Sanaza’s website - https://www.alchemyoftrauma.com/ Dr. Sanaza on Instagram @dr.yaghmai Previous episodes referenced in this episode: Lou's Lichen Scleorsus Diagnosis Story - https://lichensclerosuspodcast.com/lou My Diagnosis Story: Dr. Sanaz Yaghmai - https://lichensclerosuspodcast.com/my-diagnosis-story-dr-sanaz-yaghmai/ Lichen Sclerosus Symptoms - https://lichensclerosuspodcast.com/symptoms Do you need a support group? - https://lichensclerosuspodcast.com/supportgroup Emma Norman and Clair Baumhaur’s Accounts Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/221930761513570/ Website - https://lsvcukawareness.weebly.com/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/LSclerosus & https://twitter.com/Vulvalcanceruk Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lichensclerosusuk/ & https://www.instagram.com/vulvalcancerukawareness/  Mentioned in this episode:Finally Get Clear Answers About LS, Menopause, and Your TreatmentIf you’ve ever found yourself listening to this podcast searching for answers… trying to figure out why your body feels different… why your treatment isn’t working… or whether this is menopause, lichen sclerosus, or something else entirely… You’re not alone. And more importantly— you’re not the problem. Most people with LS are left trying to piece together a care plan from short appointments, conflicting advice, and hours of searching like this. That’s exactly why we created the Wholistic Healing Summit. This free, live event (May 11–15, 2026) brings together 12+ leading specialists to help you finally connect the dots between your symptoms, your treatment, and your next steps. Inside the summit, you’ll get answers to questions like: Why does my treatment stop working? Is this LS progression… or hormonal change? What order should I actually be using my medications? How do I navigate intimacy, pain, and changing skin? And if you choose to upgrade, you’ll also get access to exclusive Q&A sessions, where you can hear real questions from people just like you… and get expert answers you’d normally wait months (and pay hundreds) for. This is where the guessing stops. 👉 Register here: https://lssupportnetwork.org/whs If you’re tired of second-guessing your care… this is your next step. P.S. If you’ve ever wished you had more time with a specialist or left an appointment with unanswered questions, the All-Access Pass gives you direct access to expert Q&As you can revisit anytime.