Thyroid Issues and Hashimoto's Disease
The Mask of Mental Illness
An important culprit in your diagnosis pursuit is the uncanny similarities between thyroiditis and mental illness. According to the Thyroid Foundation of Canada, the psychiatric disturbances of both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism mimic mental illness.
For instance, those with overactive thyroid may exhibit; marked anxiety and tension,emotional mood swings, impatience and irritability, compulsive over-activity, over-sensitivity to noise, bouts of depression with sadness, and problems with sleep and appetite.
An under-active thyroid can lead to mounting loss of interest and ambition or drive , brain fog, lack of concentration, poor short-term memory, change in personality and liveliness, general intellectual deterioration, depression with a tough of paranoia, and eventually, if not checked, dementia and permanent harmful effects on the brain.
In instances of each condition, people have been misdiagnosed, hospitalized for months and treated without success for psychosis.
To feel as if you are going crazy and to have people suggest you need an antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication can add to the already burgeoning stress of your medical mystery, which can further perpetuate the thyroid dysfunction cycle.
Seek treatment for your emotional symptoms, and be sure to mention to your doctor or therapist that you would like your thyroid tested as well.
Do not be embarrassed about sharing what you are feeling, no matter how irrational, hopeless, or impulsive.
So many people suffer from both thyroiditis and mental issues, an there is nothing shameful about either! You deserve to feel good, and you can, by providing empathy, compassion, and advocacy to yourself.
- This article is an excerpt from The Hashimoto's 4 Week Plan by Karen Frazier
The Impact of Hashimoto's on Relationships
Thyroid issues may also impact relationships, as some spouses and family members may have difficulty understanding chronic "invisible" illnesses.
Issues like loss of energy or lack of libido may take a toll and in some cases, render relationships more difficult and tense or without intervention, cause them to end.
Parenting may also be impacted by fatigue, mood changes, brain fog and/or irritability.
Therefore, therapeutic support can be vital in maintaining relationships and as part of regular self-care.
At Oceanside Family Therapy and Assessments, we communicate with your physician to assist you in whole person care for thyroid issues. We have assisted many clients in asking their physicians to test for thyroiditis where it had been previously overlooked or medically ignored.