Deer ticks and western blacklegged ticks.

They’re the size of a sesame seed, yet they have the power to wreak havoc on a person’s physical and psychological well-being. Equipped with eight legs that nimbly carry their red, tear-shaped bodies across their host, these small, unassuming creatures show no mercy when they bite their victims and leave them with a bacterial infection known as Lyme disease. While the corkscrew-shaped bacteria can cause symptoms such as joint soreness, muscle soreness, and rashes, Bryant’s Joseph Trunzo, Ph.D., notes that individuals can also experience biologically driven psychological symptoms.

“If the tick’s bacteria finds its way into the nervous system, it can invade neurons and cause significant cellular dysfunction,” says Trunzo, a Psychology professor and associate director of the School of Health and Behavioral Sciences who authored the book, Living Beyond Lyme.

Lyme-related psychological symptoms may include overstimulated anxiety, cognitive difficulties, and mood difficulties such as depression. While less common, severe symptoms could lead to psychosis.

Trunzo adds that patterns can help detect if Lyme is biologically driving an individual’s symptoms or if a person’s symptoms are simply a psychological reaction to being sick. For instance, someone with Lyme disease may become depressed or anxious because they don’t feel like themselves, don’t have much energy, can’t do the things they used to do, and are unsure of how long their symptoms will last. These individuals will usually present with waxing and waning anxiety.

“On the other hand, Lyme-driven anxiety is like having the gas on the floor and it doesn't stop; it tends to be much more persistent,” says Trunzo, who's also a practicing clinical psychologist and has helped individuals with chronic Lyme disease.

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Psychological symptoms that are biologically driven tend to be more resistant to normal treatment intervention, notes Trunzo. Therefore, it’s important that while providers treat the bacterial invasion, patients understand what’s going on and gain perspective as they live through the emotional ups and downs.

Family and friends can support individuals with Lyme by being aware of the psychological changes and understanding that they may witness some difficult to disturbing symptoms. Additionally, they can help their loved ones stick to treatment regimens and stay as safe and as functional as possible.

From lone star ticks that leave their victims with red meat food allergy known as Alpha-gal syndrome to the Asian longhorn ticks that are killing livestock, tick-related dangers continue to emerge. As for deer ticks and western blacklegged ticks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 476,000 people may be diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year in the United States.

Lyme disease has been documented in all 50 states, with the tick population increasing due to America’s milder winters. To limit tick exposure and mitigate chances of Lyme disease, Trunzo emphasizes staying alert in tick endemic areas, especially in the northeast from Virginia to Maine. Additionally, be careful around tall grass, fields, leaf litter, and firewood, and diligently check for ticks after being outdoors. Early symptoms can include a rash that looks like a target or bull’s-eye, extreme tiredness, and joint stiffness – though in some cases Lyme-related warning signs will go undetected. Generally, Trunzo notes, the earlier the treatment, the more successful and less complicated the disease course is.

“One of the best things you can do is get repellent-treated clothes,” Trunzo says, adding that individuals can send clothing away to be treated with tick-repellent chemicals.

Lastly, as individuals take precautions for themselves, they should also focus on their furry, four-legged friends, who are prime targets for ticks. Even if a pet is being treated with repellent chemicals, ticks can still hitch a ride into the house.

“Always remain vigilant – these precautions can go a long way in keeping the little buggers off you,” Trunzo says.