A millennial woman who spent most of her life believing she was struggling with a mental illness—specifically depression—has finally discovered the real medical condition behind her symptoms.
Lisa Healy, 29, from Toronto, Canada, dealt with decades of fatigue, weakness, and low energy that affected her mood and were often described as signs of sadness or depression. Like many people, she thought she was living with a mental illness, but the reality turned out to be far more complex.
Working in commercial real estate, she believed the stress of her career was weighing her down. In search of peace, she moved to Bali, Indonesia, hoping a slower lifestyle would help. But her symptoms continued.
She recalled: “I had no excuse, I’m literally unemployed on an island of Gods, what’s wrong with me?”
When Depression Symptoms Mimic Mental Illness
For years, Healy’s symptoms mirrored depression and other mental illness patterns: persistent tiredness, apathy, mood swings, brain fog, and difficulty concentrating. She even tried antidepressants during the pandemic, which helped slightly with mood but not with her physical exhaustion.
Doctors and therapists repeatedly assumed her struggles were psychological, even though she never received a formal diagnosis of depression. She said, “Multiple therapists all agreed it’s depression. The argument was that if they put this label on me it might hinder my future opportunities with no upside.”
A Family Clue
Her turning point came while spending time with her mother in Bali. Her mother had lived with similar unexplained symptoms for years and was later found to have a rare issue with iron absorption despite normal test results.
Healy noticed the same pattern in her own labs: normal iron and ferritin levels, but persistent weakness. An endocrinologist finally diagnosed her with latent anemia, a condition where iron is present but not effectively used by the body.
According to Dr. Ravina Bhanot, a general practitioner, “Iron deficiency can mimic depressive symptoms and lead to misdiagnosis. Fatigue, poor concentration, irritability, headaches, and sleep disturbance are overlapping features of both conditions, making it easy to confuse with a mental illness.”
What Is Latent Anemia?
Anemia occurs when the body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen. In latent anemia, traditional blood tests may not always reveal the deficiency, making it harder to diagnose. Symptoms include:
- Constant fatigue and weakness
- Brain fog and low concentration
- Feeling unusually cold
- Dizziness and low blood pressure
- Mood swings and irritability
- Pale skin and low exercise tolerance
For Healy, these symptoms began as early as age 7 and persisted into adulthood, deeply impacting her quality of life and fueling the belief that she had a mental illness.
Mental Health, Mental Illness, and Misdiagnosis
The overlap between physical and psychological conditions often leads to misdiagnosis. Many people living with hidden deficiencies are treated for depression or anxiety when the root cause is biological.
This case highlights the importance of a holistic approach to mental health and mental illness, where doctors consider both psychological and physical health before making a diagnosis.
Mental health professionals emphasize that conditions like anemia, thyroid dysfunction, and vitamin deficiencies can mimic mood disorders, making it difficult to distinguish from a true mental illness without proper testing.
Finding Relief
Today, Healy takes high doses of iron along with B12, vitamin D, magnesium, iodine, and Omega supplements. Within weeks, she noticed a profound shift: “I opened my eyes one morning and just felt alive. I wasn’t crying every other hour, I had energy, and my emotions felt stable.”
She continues to monitor her health through regular blood tests, hoping to eventually rely more on diet and lifestyle than supplements. For the first time, she feels she’s no longer battling an invisible mental illness but treating the real root cause.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) –
1. Can anemia really mimic a mental illness like depression?
Yes. Iron deficiency and latent anemia can cause fatigue, low motivation, brain fog, and mood changes, which are often mistaken for depressive symptoms.
2. How is latent anemia different from regular anemia?
In latent anemia, iron and ferritin levels may appear normal on standard blood tests, but the body cannot properly utilize them. This makes diagnosis more challenging and more likely to be confused with a mental illness.
3. What are the most common symptoms of latent anemia?
Fatigue, weakness, dizziness, irritability, pale skin, poor concentration, and feeling cold are the most common signs. These are also common symptoms in many types of mental illness.
4. How can doctors tell the difference between anemia and a mental illness?
A combination of lab tests, medical history, family history, and symptom tracking helps. If physical symptoms persist despite mental health treatment, further blood work should be considered.
5. Can iron supplements improve mood?
Yes. In people with iron deficiency or latent anemia, iron supplementation often improves both physical energy and emotional stability. This may reduce symptoms that are sometimes mistaken for mental illness.
