Is Life An Emotional Roller Coaster? WHY Thyroid Health Affects Mood

Written by lyndon@synergynutritionals.com.au in Mood

If you’re feeling grouchy, anxious, and just not your normal happy self there could be a reason. You may be surprised to learn your thyroid health affects your mood!

Hypothyroidism: YES, It Impacts Mood

How do you feel right now? Did you know that if you’ve been diagnosed with a hypothyroid disorder it could be seriously impacting your emotional well-being?

THYROID FACT: Mood changes, depression and anxiety can be symptoms of hypothyroidism but this important link is often missed.

The reason is simple. The thyroid hormones are highly active in the emotional areas of the brain. These hormones play a vital role in regulating production of the brain neurotransmitters that help regulate our mood, even the ability to think clearly.

So as you can imagine, life feels good and you have an optimistic outlook when your thyroid is running smoothly. The flip side of course is that thyroid dysfunction can give rise to emotional health issues.

Warning Signs You Need To Know About

Here are the warning signs you need to know about…do any of these sound familiar?

  • Feeling sad and hopeless about life.
  • Mood swings.
  • Pre-menstrual tension (PMT).
  • Nervousness.
  • Lack of interest in daily activities.
  • Anger, or irritability.
  • Reduced mental alertness.
  • Short-term memory lapses.
  • Confused thinking.
  • Excessive worry.
  • Changes in appetite, or weight.
  • Sleep difficulties.
  • Feeling physically drained.
  • Low self esteem.
  • Social isolation.
  • Addictions, and addictive behavior.

Get Your Thyroid Checked

The good news is, it doesn’t have to be this way. If you suspect a thyroid hormone imbalance is is taking a toll on your emotional health it’s vital you speak to a thyroid-literate doctor who understands thyroid problems.

Even though the impact is on your mood, you must address the underlying thyroid disorder to help improve your emotional state. I suggest you look more deeply at triggers such as the foods you eat, nutritional deficiencies, chronic infections, toxins, stress, and any genetic influences. You will see these topics are all covered regularly here on the ThyroSynergy® blog.

Need support?

Note: This information is for educational purposes to assist you in living well. It should therefore not be used as a substitute for the advice provided by your health practitioner. If you suspect you are experiencing depression, promptly seek professional advice. When taking prescribed medication for a mood disorder do not cease taking this medication without the consent of your prescribing doctor.

References

Basraon S, Costantine MM. Mood disorders in pregnant women with thyroid dysfunction. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2011 Sep;54(3):506-14.

Bauer M, London ED, Silverman DH, et al. Thyroid, brain and mood modulation in affective disorder: insights from molecular research and functional brain imaging. Pharmacopsychiatry. 2003 Nov;36 Suppl 3:S215-21.

Loh HH, Lim LL, Yee A, Loh HS. Association between subclinical hypothyroidism and depression: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Psychiatry. 2019;19(1):12. Published 2019 Jan 8.

Ritchie, M. Yeap, BB. Thyroid hormone: Influences on mood and cognition in adults. Maturitas. 2015 Jun;81(2):266-75.

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