Here's how hyperthyroidism affects mental wellbeing
Hyperthyroidism can have a range of effects on the body. So it’s no surprise that your mind & nervous system can suffer, leading to mental health concerns.
While we often think of feeling hot, sweaty, hungry and losing weight with hyperthyroidism, it can have also have a significant impact on your mental wellbeing. So if you’ve received a diagnosis of an overactive thyroid, you need to take steps to care for your mental health as well as your physical health.
Let’s look at the link between an overactive thyroid and mental health.
How hyperthyroidism influences your mental health
Your mood, your emotions, and even your thoughts can be influenced by your thyroid gland. This is because the thyroid hormones are truly master hormones – they affect all cells in the body, including those in your brain and nervous system.
Some of the ways that an overactive thyroid can directly impact your mental wellbeing include:
Physical symptoms contributing to mental – the symptoms that come with hyperthyroidism include things like palpitations, rapid heart rate and swearing. These can mimic anxiety and trigger an anxiety episode or increase your stress, making it a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Memory & cognition – the thyroid also supports general brain function. So when there is too much thyroid hormone going around, it can lead to poor concentration, brain fog, feeling mentally fatigued and memory issues.
Sleep disturbances – when it comes to mental health, both quality & quantity of sleep are key. But when your thyroid is overactive, getting enough sleep can be a real challenge. As a result, you may experience insomnia, struggle to fall asleep, wake frequently, and feel constantly fatigued throughout the daytime. This can all feed into poor mental health.
Reduced stress tolerance – the thyroid works closely with the adrenals and other hormones that influence your ability to cope with stress. So when thyroid levels are elevated, your stress hormones are affected, as is your tolerance level of stress. This means that things that would usually be easy to cope with feel far more overwhelming, contributing to poor mental health.
Emotional changes – Mood swings are common with hyperthyroidism. You may feel anxious, restless, irritable or even furious. These can come on quite suddenly, which makes it even more challenge to stay emotionally in control.
Let’s talk INDIRECT IMPACT
While there are direct effects of symptoms, that’s not all we need to consider. There is also the emotional and mental strain of having a chronic condition.
The indirect impacts on your mental wellbeing include:
Increased stress overall – having a chronic condition is a real challenge! We’re talking more medical visits, having to take medication, considering more invasive treatment options, changes to your diet and lifestyle, the stress of flare-ups… all of this means you’ll experience more baseline stress compared to before your diagnosis.
With hyperthyroidism, there’s also an added level of stress because your condition can become life-threatening. This means that you may become fearful or overly anxious when symptoms arise or you experience a flare.
Reduced self-confidence – an overactive thyroid can affect your physical appearance. For example, you may experience hair loss, increased sweating, unintentional weight loss or even changes to your skin. These can reduce your self-confidence and interfere with your mental health as a result.
Feeling isolated – people with chronic illness can often feel disconnected from friends and family who don’t have major health concerns. You might have to cancel plans, say no more often, and you may even have people in your life who simply don’t understand what it’s like to have a chronic condition. This contributes to feelings of loneliness, isolation and depression. It can also exacerbate feelings of anxiety and stress because you’re constantly thinking about what you can and can’t do.
Financial concerns – managing hyperthyroidism can be expensive, particularly in the early stages. You may need to see specialists, try different medication options, and even add in some diet, supplement & lifestyle changes.
And if you’re not responding to medication, you could be looking at radioactive iodine treatment or even surgery. This can also mean you need time off from work to recover, as well as time off for your symptoms while you wait for treatment. The additional expenses can mean you feel stress about your money situation, which adds to the overall stress burden.
THE POWER IS IN YOUR HANDS
When you receive a thyroid disease diagnosis, there’s a good chance you’ll feel overwhelmed and powerless. It could even be that you’re not clear on what’s driving it or where it came from!
But even if you’re still uncovering the cause, it doesn’t mean you need to suffer the symptoms forever! Your daily habits can make a massive difference – all you need to do is learn about your condition and empower yourself.