Hypothyroidism and Anxiety

Thyroid hormone has important actions in the adult brain. Thyroid dysfunctions have been recognized to play significant role in mental health. They may lead to disturbances in emotions and cognition. Both increase and decrease in thyroid function can cause mood abnormalities and depression can also go hand in hand with thyroid dysfunctions. Before prescribing any antidepressant, thyroid function must be tested. Even mild cases of hypothyroidism can cause depression. Antidepressants may affect hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis functioning, thus causing disbalance of sugar in the blood—> sleep disturbance —>increasing mood swings etc.

T3 (active form of thyroid hormone) is our natural antidepressant and thus increasing of T3 level is the solution, if you suffer from anxiety and panic attacks (it is important to remember about HPA axis balance as well).

Anxiety can be one of the symptom of autoimmune thyroiditis.

But there are several recommendations that will help you overcome this condition:

Monitor your blood sugar. Significant changes of blood sugar levels throughout a day can cause emotional instability. Giving priority to protein and fats and excluding refined sugars will help you to keep sugar levels in a balance and you will see the results very soon! (intermittent fasting will not be a good strategy in this case.

Avoid caffeine. Some individuals have genetical polymorphism that cause caffeine to increase blood glucose levels (use as alternative – herb’s tea or hot water with lemon).

Magnesium (glycinate,citrate,threonate) we discussed the benefits of magnesium earlier, it is a great helper for reducing anxiety.

Selenium is able to reduce antibodies for thyroid,(increased levels of which usually causing anxiety)