The Thyroid Gland and Anxiety

Can anxiety be caused by the thyroid gland? I will go further into detail about the cause, the symptoms and treatment for thyroid anxiety. Consequently, if you are suddenly experiencing anxiety when you never have before, it may be due to thyroid dysfunction. Conversely, if you’ve already been diagnosed with underactive or overactive thyroid function, don’t be surprised if you begin having bouts of anxiety.

While anxiety is widely known as a mental health disease, when it comes on suddenly without any history of anxiety, it may be caused by a physiological issue such as hypothyroidism. Chiefly, the thyroid gland acts as the control center for your body. Therefore, thyroid hormones produced in the thyroid gland communicate with your brain, heart and other organs, as well as your muscles, to use energy properly.

At length, any dysfunction of the thyroid gland can cause anxiety, but most often the culprit is hyperthyroidism. And although hypothyroidism commonly associates with depression, it can also cause anxiety.

“We will fail when we fail to try.”-Rosa Parks

Thyroid and Anxiety Symptoms

Hence, thyroid anxiety, like any anxiety, can cause a variety of symptoms such as feeling nervous, irritable, weak, and tired. Even more, a person with thyroid anxiety can have trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating, and an increased heart rate. They may feel a sense of impending danger or doom. Stomach problems and issues with sleeping can also occur.

Furthermore, many symptoms of psychological dysfunction have been described with hypothyroidism. Nevertheless, those symptoms most commonly related to thyroid deficiency include forgetfulness, fatigue, mental slowness, inattention, and emotional lability. Obviously, the predominant affective disorder experienced is depression. Perceptual changes may develop with alterations of taste, hearing, and vision. Therefore, delusions and hallucinations may also occur as the disease progresses. No correlation, however, appears to exist between the degree of thyroid dysfunction and psychiatric symptoms that subsequently develop.

“Attitude is the ‘little’ thing that makes a big difference.”-Winston Churchill

Anxiety From Hyperthyroidism

Subsequently, the thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland in the neck, just in front of the windpipe (trachea). Simultaneously, it produces hormones that affect things such as your heart rate and body temperature. In fact, if your thyroid gland is overactive, it produces too much thyroid hormone, which causes your metabolism to be excessively fast. Therefore, this is called anxiety from hyperthyroidism.

Unquestionably, an overactive thyroid can affect anyone, but it’s about 10 times more common in women than men, and typically happens between 20 and 40 years of age. An overactive thyroid is not always a problem. In the same fashion, there are those with hyperthyroidism that show no symptoms, or show symptoms so minor that they never realize they have a thyroid problem. But in some cases, an overactive thyroid gland can lead to severe anxiety, possibly with panic attacks.

“It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.”-Madeleine Albright

Hypothyroidism and Anxiety

In this situation, if you have an anxiety underactive thyroid, it doesn’t make enough thyroid hormone, resulting in a slower metabolism. This is called hypothyroidism. Not to mention, both types of thyroid dysfunction are more common in women than men. Of course, hypothyroidism tends to develop with age, although it can also be due to an autoimmune disease that can be present since birth.

To clarify, a research review found that people with hypothyroidism are more than twice as likely as people without the condition to develop anxiety disorders and that 29.8 percent of all anxiety disorders are associated with autoimmune thyroid disease.

“You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”-A.A. Milne

Anxiety and Thyroid Medication

Here are some thyroid medications:

 Levothyroxine and Anxiety

Then again, not getting proper treatment for hypothyroidism can contribute to anxiety, as well. To begin with, Levothyroxine (Synthroid) is a common treatment for hypothyroidism, but if your dose is too high, it can directly lead to anxiety and cause symptoms like rapid heartbeat and shakiness, which can make anxiety worse, says Dr. Rosenfeld, DO, the senior managing partner at North Jersey Endocrine Consultants in Parsippany, New Jersey, and an assistant professor of medicine at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury, New York.

To emphasize, a fast heart rate and fatigue are just two of the signs your thyroid medication dose is too high. This can happen when thyroid hormone replacement drugs like levothyroxine are used to treat hypothyroidism. What’s more, other symptoms of taking too much thyroid medication can include anxiety, diarrhea, weight loss, and trouble sleeping.

 Cytomel Anxiety

Accordingly, along with its needed effects, liothyronine (the active ingredient contained in Cytomel) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

All things considered, check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking liothyronine:

anxiety
arm, back, or jaw pain
blurred or double vision
chest pain or discomfort
chest tightness or heaviness
crying
decreased bone mineral density
decreased urine output
delusions of persecution, mistrust, suspiciousness, or combativeness
diarrhea
difficulty breathing
dilated neck vein

“I have learned not to allow rejection to move me.”-Cicely Tyson

Anxiety and Hashimoto’s Disease

Basically, the most common cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune condition in which the immune system makes antibodies that destroy thyroid cells and stop them from making the thyroid hormone.

But hypothyroidism can affect women — and men — for many reasons, according to the ATA. Above all, these can range from having autoimmune diseases, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, to taking certain medications like lithium to having too much or too little iodine in the body.

Hence, thyroid diseases, including Hashimoto’s disease, can affect your mood and mental health, often causing anxiety or depression. All in all, it is possible that the more severe your thyroid gland disease with anxiety, and the further it progresses, the more extreme the mood changes.

As a matter of fact, research has found that a person with hypothyroidism is over twice as likely to develop an anxiety disorder as healthy individuals.

Anxiety and Grave’s Disease

Above all, the most common form of hyperthyroidism is Graves’ disease, in which your body produces an antibody that overstimulates your thyroid gland.
Additionally, Graves disease is an autoimmune disorder. An autoimmune disorder is a condition that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. Asa result, many people with Graves disease have problems with their eyes:

The eyeballs may seem to be bulging out and may be painful.
Eyes can feel irritated, itchy, or tear more frequently.
Double vision may be present.
Decreased vision and damage to the cornea can also occur in severe cases.

Contrarily, older people may have these symptoms:

Rapid or irregular heartbeat
Chest pain
Memory loss or decreased concentration
Weakness and fatigue
Exams and Tests

“There is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.”–Amanda Gorman

Conclusion

Therefore, can thyroid problems cause anxiety and panic attacks. Studies have shown that if anxiety symptoms are caused by a thyroid problem, the symptoms usually go away once the thyroid disorder is properly treated. At this point, hypothyroidism can be responsible for anxiety and even panic attacks. You may get relief when you are treated for your thyroid disorder with a medication such as, Cytomel and Levothyroxine, to replace the thyroid hormone you are not making.

Therefore, now that you hopefully understand the relation between the thyroid gland and anxiety, you can see a doctor with the signs of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, if you have a hunch that you might have either one. Well, I’m quitting for the day. Equally, I hope you have a wonderful rest of the day. Until next time…

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