So many Hypothyroid Mom readers write to me about anxiety and panic attacks, yet doctors have never considered taking a closer look at their thyroid, adrenal, and gut health. Shocking really. Thyroid Specialist and Holistic Health Expert, Jen Wittman, shares her personal experience along with 10 tips to relieve stress, anxiety, and panic.
(This is one of the most popular articles at Hypothyroid Mom. Looks like there are many of us dealing with this symptom.)
Written by Jen Wittman, CHHC, AADP
I remember lying on the bed wanting to crawl out of my skin. As I stared up at the ceiling, waves of panic overtook me…but I wasn’t sure why. Prior to becoming hypothyroid, I could handle any stress…every stress really. Whatever came my way, I was able to deflect, like Wonder Woman with her magic bracelets. Really, stress was no problem. I actually thrived on it. I piled it on, never really feeling it…or so I thought.
Then I had my baby. After that, everything changed. My moods were like a tsunami crashing the shore. At first you’re sitting on the beach, enjoying a peaceful sea and in the next moment a tidal wave of anger, sadness, panic would topple me destroying everything in its path. I thought this was just hormones and the intense sleep deprivation of new motherhood but eventually, I learned it was my thyroid – powerful and completely out-of-whack.
Why am I so much more anxious since becoming hypothyroid?
This question has a tricky answer. As we now know, the adrenals, thyroid and your gut are inextricably linked. The adrenal glands, part of the sympathetic nervous system, secrete hormones including cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine. These hormones are important as they regulate the stress response and our ability to handle stress. The problem is that the adrenal glands are the glands most negatively affected when we are stressed.
So it’s a chicken and egg scenario as to whether a malfunctioning thyroid affects your adrenals or if your adrenals are taxed and that affects your thyroid. What we know is that stress greatly affects the adrenal glands, and that is directly related to the health of your thyroid. When it comes to your thyroid, the ways in which our adrenal glands respond has far reaching consequences.
What affects the adrenal glands?
Well, it’s more than you think. Beyond the obvious daily stressors in our lives, the adrenal glands pump out more stress hormones when your blood sugar isn’t regulated, your gut is leaky, you have food sensitivities (such as gluten), toxins and infections are present, or you are inflamed and under an autoimmune attack. All of these factors can affect your adrenal glands which is why it is important to take a holistic approach to healing. You can’t look at one without the other and adrenal stress could possibly be the most important component.
Why this is important
Adrenal stress creates a host of symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, insomnia, mood swings, sugar and caffeine cravings, irritability and dizziness. It also affects how your hormones are used by your cells, reduces the conversion of T4 to T3, weakens immune barriers, causes hormonal imbalances, promotes the autoimmune response and disrupts the interactions between the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands. This affects how you react to stress or trauma, your temperature, digestion, immune system, mood, libido and energy.
How does this play into your anxiety and panic attacks?
Adrenal stress feeds into your sympathetic nervous system which mobilizes your fight-or-flight response. So, something simple like sitting in traffic, standing in line somewhere, getting the kids out the door, or completing a general task will suddenly put you in survival mode and manifest itself as an anxiety attack. What’s happening is that stress gets triggered and that stresses your adrenals which signals your sympathetic nervous system that it’s “high alert” time and that spirals into your personal freak out. Stress begets stress – this is why even when you’re trying to be a “normal” person, you may have trouble managing your emotions and reactions to situations. When your thyroid and adrenals are out-of-whack, it creates a recipe for panic soup – and that’s not tasty.
Tips for relieving stress, anxiety and panic when it rears its ugly head
1. Breathe
You knew this one would be first! But it’s true, you’ve got to stop yourself and start breathing. If you do one thing, it’s this…take a moment to breathe. Panic attacks can be accompanied by hyperventilation. Before I was diagnosed, I had what I now know was a panic attack. I started hyperventilating which I’d never done before and soon enough, I was seeing white light and yelling out to my husband to call an ambulance. I thought I was dying…for real. I’m not one for hospitals or ambulances but was begging for help not knowing if I was taking my last breaths. Experiencing something so unfamiliar was terrifying.
As I started to reverse my Hashimoto’s, I learned that the moment I felt anxiety or stress, I should become very present and focus on my breath. I love Dr. Weil’s Breathing Technique. I use it whenever I can remember to but if I don’t remember, I always go to my standby – taking a deep breath for 5 counts, holding for 3 counts and exhaling for as long as I can. Then I repeat. Deep breathing changes things on a physiological level.
If you can’t slow your breathing down, it’s time to get the ol’ paper bag out to slow your breathing. Hold it over your mouth and progressively start slowing your breath so you can begin deep breathing. You’ll want to do this for several minutes until you notice yourself calming down and coming back to earth.
2. Support your adrenals with food
There are many things you can do to support your adrenals through diet.
a. Stabilize your blood sugar:
i. eat starchy vegetables instead of grains and glutinous foods like pasta and breads
ii. eat a spoonful of coconut oil, coconut butter or a handful of nuts (that have been soaked) to keep blood sugar level
iii. minimize your sugar intake to fruits and starchy vegetables and eliminate sodas, processed snacks, high-fructose corn syrup, refined sugars and sugar substitutes
b. Avoid stimulants such as coffee and chocolate (I know, not fun but I promise it will help!)
c. Avoid alcohol (again, not a super fun suggestion but alcohol can actually put additional stress on the adrenals and affect your mood – not in the fun, party kind of way!)
d. Add eggs, soaked nuts, seeds, dark leafy greens and organ meats to your diet (if these foods are well tolerated). Note – dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, chard, and collards are ok but they have goitrogenic properties especially when eaten raw so take care not to eat them in large amounts. Cooking and steaming reduces the goitrogenic effect.
I was introduced to eating organ meats while I lived in Italy and honestly, they can be delicious! Chicken liver pâté is a great snack for you and supports your adrenals. You can spread this on homemade crackers, celery or when I do it, I bend my grain-free policy and eat it on a piece of Udi’s Gluten Free toast. If eating organ meats isn’t for you, there are grass-fed organ complexes available in supplement form as an alternative.
3. Flex your muscles
A wonderful technique for easing yourself during a high-stress time or panic attack is to use progressive muscle relaxation. This not only helps you concentrate so you can slow your breathing, it diverts your attention from the trigger and helps your muscles relax. What you do is go from head to toe, starting with the muscles in your face, then on to your arms, hands, stomach, yo’ booty, thighs, calves and feet. You’ll tense each muscle group for 10 seconds and then release.
4. Smile, laugh and have fun
If you’re at home when you start freaking out, I highly recommend throwing on your favorite funny movie. The act of cueing up the movie will require focus that will help you calm down. The laughter that comes from it will release happy hormones to help you get out of your head and back in your smile. If that doesn’t work, call your inappropriate friend or colleague and have them dish out something funny – you know they will.
5. Try Holy Basil
Holy Basil, I like this brand, is a plant used in Ayurvedic medicine as an adaptogen to modulate the stress response and support the adrenals. Holy Basil
is a potent herb so you’ll want to try a few drops in a small glass of water first to see how it goes and use up to the maximum amount suggested on the bottle if it is well tolerated. I use it for stress and as a sleep aid when necessary.
Rhodiola and Ashwagandha are great too.
6. Write it out!
One of the best things I ever did to help reverse this disease is to learn how to write. One of the best things suggested by my darling osteopath was to use journaling to get out of my head. I NEVER considered writing in a journal for anything really. I never liked to write and wasn’t particularly good at it. I gave him my best raised eyebrow and bewildered look and told him that I didn’t know where to start. That’s when he pointed me to Write To Be You. This course changed my life and is the reason I am even able to be writing you today.
When anxiety creeps in, start writing. You can grab any ol’ piece of paper, keep a “panic diary” or use your journal. Acknowledge your anxiety and write out how you are feeling, what you are afraid of, what you believe is triggering the stress. So grab your pen – you’re going to thank me for this.
7. Push the “panic button” on your stereo
Turn that bad boy on – it’s time to sing and dance out the crazy talk in your head! Now this can go two ways – you can put on your favorite relaxation play list or you can put on those songs that make you wanna belt it out and shake your booty. Either way, you’ll be doing yourself a great favor. Music has been shown time and time again to positively affect moods and reduce stress. You’ll know when the mood is ripe to choose this option to chill.
8. Use aromatherapy
Fragrances can have a physiological effect on our moods. Burning incense, lighting a candle or using calming essential oils like lavender or chamomile or grounding essential oils that are spicy and earthy can calm our bodies (slowing heart rate, lowering blood pressure and relaxing muscles). You can mix some lavender drops and water and spray on a handkerchief. Lie down and place the handkerchief over your eyes as you rest and focus on your breath. It’s a winning combination.
9. Calgon, take me away! (us old folks remember that)
This is my go-to get over it panic attack remedy. Pour 2 cups of Epsom Salts in a warm bath and get in. This will raise magnesium levels in your body and will have a calming effect on your mind by relaxing the nervous system, lowering cortisol levels and reducing the excitability of the brain. It works EVERY time! And hey, throw a little of that lavender oil in there for some extra relax in your remedy.
10. Take a virtual vacation.
Using guided imagery can be extremely effective in putting the kibosh on panic. Just think of a place or situation in which you feel completely at peace and relaxed. Close your eyes and imagine this place in detail. What does it look like? Who’s with you (if anyone?) What are the sights, sounds and scents surrounding you? Paint a vivid picture in your mind and focus on it. When you notice your breathing and your body relaxing, you can open your eyes.
I have used this technique to great success not only for panic but for anytime I may feel uncomfortable and need to relax. For instance, I had to get an MRI this year and I’m not good with tight spaces. Talk about panic! Anyway, I closed my eyes and pulled out my happy place as they began the MRI. …”I’m walking along the cobblestoned streets of Italy; having left my favorite breakfast bar where I just enjoyed a pastry and a coffee (hey, this is MY dream!) and I hear the man on the corner playing the accordion while I look at the striking Renaissance architecture surrounding me. The beautiful detail in the stone and wood. A smile creeps across my face as I head out on my day’s journey. The sun is shining and…” Oh wait, I drifted away for a second. Now, it’s your turn. Imagine your favorite memory or create a happy scene that you can keep in your back pocket for those challenging days.
Stressing about not stressing?
So now that you know why you’re being challenged by stress and anxiety and why it’s important to mitigate it, you may start to stress about not stressing. This used to happen to me! I was so committed to reversing my Hashimoto’s that I put a ban on stress in my life. Except that life doesn’t work like that. Stress comes and goes but the moment I would perceive it, I’d tried to get a handle on it and control it and then I’d start stressing that I felt stress and that created more stress. Ai ai ai… don’t do this! Don’t let your desire to reduce stress actually create more stress to you and your nervous system. The best thing you can do is to relax about it all. Be aware but be relaxed. You have your tools now. When stress arises, talk to it, give it a little wave and let it pass you by.
About Jen Wittman, CHHC, AADP
Jen Wittman is a Certified Holistic Health Expert, Chef, Author & Vitality Coach, who teaches people how to heal thyroid and autoimmune conditions naturally. thyroidlovingcare.com
READ NEXT: Hypothyroidism Symptoms
I have been on 50 mg of my thyroid medication feeling great on 50 mg had my blood work done my TSH is high My doctor wants to move me up to 75 mg I started taking it and started feeling awful so I went back to 50 mg to where I felt fine at the first time I felt fine in three years so I’m sticking with my 50 mg cause I know when I feel good and when I don’t
I and 1 59 female and have been on meds since 2018. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and Hypothyroidism. I am also taking meds for depression and have been for over 10 years. My dr at the time kept changing my meds upping the dosage, just going by the blood work numbers. in the meantime,I am feeling awful, tired, depressed, no energy to do anything. It was a chore to go to work everyday. I was taking 175mg of levothyroxine. This went on until June 2022 when I switched insurance. I hadn’t picked out a new PCP so i stopped taking the levothryroxine. It took me about a month to realize that i was feeling better. Energy level went up. starting doing things I had enjoyed again. Middle of Oct I found a new PCP as I had issued with kidney stones and at this time it was discovered I had Afib. Of course new dr had me to do blood work and found my numbers were bad(i wish I could remember what they were) and he decided I needed to go one thyroid meds. He put me back on levothryroxine 25 mg. took about 3 wks and I starting feeling bad again. didn’t want to go to work to a job I love, no energy to work on my crafts. dozing off at work, coming home going to sleep and still tired. Have to have blood work again in 3 wks and then see dr again. I started making plans for retirement but now I am worried if there is anyway I can do the things i want to do with the way I feel. I also had been doing Keto since May and losing weight steadily but now it has stopped. I am feeling so frustrated worried about my future.
Hi Linda, I’m sorry to hear you are struggling. I developed kidney stones which was actually the start of my hypothyroidism nightmare. It may be that you are reacting to the fillers in your thyroid medication. There is a chart in this article here: https://hypothyroidmom.com/what-you-must-know-about-your-thyroid-medicine-falsehoods-formulations-and-fillers/ Also, it is important to know that levothyroxine medications contain T4 thyroid hormone only. Our bodies must efficiently convert that inactive T4 to the active T3 needed by the cells of the body. For many of us our bodies don’t do that conversion well which is why alternative medications like T3 and natural desiccated thyroid can be life changers. Ask your doctor about them. It can be a challenge to find doctors open to anything other than levothyroxine. If you struggle to find a doctor, I offer virtual consults where I share a list of good thyroid doctors for the person’s region based on recommendations from my Hypothyroid Mom followers that I’ve been compiling for ten years. I have extensive doctor lists for every U.S. state as well as the UK, Ireland, Belgium, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Here’s where to book time on my calendar: https://ny786.infusionsoft.app/app/orderForms/Talk-with-Dana-Trentini-30min
If you have Hashimoto’s Make sure to take a vitamin d supplement, ideally with omega 3 pills or super omega pills. I have to take a vitamin d supplement everyday or I’ll experience fatigue. I also can’t drink caffeinated coffee because it causes anxiety and panic attacks.
My biggest issue is fatigue! I get up feeling as if I have never been to bed (have sleep studies done and it isn’t an issue), need a 2 hour nap in the afternoon to make it through the day and want to go to bed by 7. I feel as if I don’t have a life anymore! My doctor just dismisses my concerns!
Marilyn, Hypothyroidism fatigue can be crushing. When I was at my most severe state of hypothyroidism, I could barely keep my eyes open. That fatigue can’t be described to someone unless that person has lived it too. Please get a second medical opinion about your thyroid. Learn all you can too about thyroid disease so that you can be your own best advocate. I created this directory here to help people find the thyroid information you want to read about on the website more easily by topic since there are now hundreds of articles on the Hypothyroid Mom website: https://hypothyroidmom.com/thyroid-warning-signs-from-head-to-toe/
Hi. So I’ve been on armour thyroid now for about 7 years now. I still am very anxious it used to be good where I could go 4 months without bitting my nails. But lately I just can’t stop. I’m also very cold and can’t regulate my body temperature. I also loose a bunch of hair but you can’t really tell cause surprisingly I have a ton of it. When I tell my doctor about some of the things I’m feeling she would tell me that I was fine that my thyroid was normal. I feel tired all the time and its hard to get up in the morning. I have alot of good things in my life and I want to have fun but my energy level doesn’t want to work for me. I have mood swings from time to time and sometimes it just comes out.
Hi I also am a hypothyroidism sufferer… I am 28 years old. And was taking 88mcg of Levothyroxine.
On December 24th 2019 I saw an endocrinologist for the first time per the referral of my best friend because I was feeling fatigued and gaining weight so I thought that my medication maybe needed adjusting.
The endocrinologist prescribed me Liothyronine 5mcg and advised me to take it along with my 88mcg of Levothyroxine.
I started taking the Liothyronine along with my 88mcg of Levothyroxine on Friday December 27th.
I believe I may have even began experiencing side effects as early as Saturday December 28th. I was out shopping with a friend and had diarrhea after eating a meal that I passed off as just being the food.
Tuesday December 31st I went to work with my husband, (we work at the same company), and I had a severe migraine headache. I had a panic attack so severe to the point of hyperventilation that I had to be taken to the emergency room by ambulance. They just said I was hyperventilating and had a panic attack as well as a migraine, and gave me paperwork explaining each.
On January 1st New Years Day I didn’t work and was home with my husband. I had another migraine headache as well, however, I hadn’t experienced another panic attack that day.
Then again Tuesday January 2nd. I was home alone this time. My husband however was at work. And I was experiencing a panic attack that seemed to last the whole day!!! Fortunately my best friend was not working that day so I called her to help calm me down. It got so severe again that by the time my husband was home from work a had to be taken to the emergency room by ambulance for a second time.
[Before going to the emergency room January 2nd… I had a feeling (I bet it’s the new thyroid medication!), and had called and left a message for the endocrinologist that I saw. (This all before going to the ER again)…]
While at the emergency room in January 2nd the endocrinologist returned my call and advised me to stop taking the Liothyronine. So I did as she instructed.
However, I was still taking my 88mcg of Levothyroxine…. And guess what! The severe Panic Attacks Persisted!!! It was so bad to the point where my sleep was affected, my digestion was affected, and I was struggling to go to work.
Then again January 8th woke up hyperventilating and another severe attack. My husband took me to the emergency room that morning. They started it was a panic attack no knowledge that my thyroid was doing this to me… And prescribed me Ativan.
I felt fine the remainder of the day. My husband and I went to dinner that night.
However, later that evening he had a stomach ache so severe he woke me at 2:00am January 9th. I had to rush him to the emergency room (same one I had been going to because it’s close to home). He had to have surgery the same day because he had perforated diverticulitis…Later that day when I could see him after surgery I had another bad panic attack (I had also taken the Ativan too, which I feel exacerbated things). My sister in law had to walk me down to the emergency room.
I experienced another attack as well January 10th. This time I was prescribed Paxil. I took the Paxil January 11th and 12th. I went to work January 13th and had three panic attacks while at work. My husband was also discharged that day.
We stayed with my in-laws during his recovery. I called the endocrinologist that day. She lowered the dosage of my levothyroxine from 88mcg to 75mcg.. And told me to start taking it after two days of stopping the 88mcg. I asked though if I could wait until Saturday January 18th to take it because I didn’t want to risk having more panic attacks at work.
But! Friday January 17th while at work I became severely light headed at work to the point where I thought I might faint. This overwhelming feeling took over my head and I thought I could pass out.
I left work and called the endocrinologist. She told me to start the 75mcg of levothyroxine that day instead of waiting until Saturday January 18th..(At that time I hadn’t had thyroid medication since Monday January 13th, that’s 4 days)… So I took the 75mcg at 3:10pm. Called my pharmacist to see if it was ok to take it the 18th at the same time. She told me to not take it and to restart it Sunday morning. So I did.
[That weekend for the most part I had felt normal! A bit of dizziness and mild anxiety, but not to the point of sever panic attack. I went shopping with my mother, grandmother, and little sister the 17th. I even went to my aunts 25th birthday and watched her get her first tattoo; paws on her shoulder to represent her dog and cat. I was happy I thought I was better finally!!!!]
I had good “normal days at work on Monday January 20th and Tuesday January 21st. However Wednesday January 22nd I woke feeling sickly and just not well. I had body shakiness and light headedness, and minimal nausea. I had to leave work at 10am because it got worse. I went to my primary doctor immediately and had them do blood work on my thyroid. I felt so discouraged!!! How could I be fine for four days and then go back to feeling bad!!! I found a new endocrinologist the same day that fortunately was able to see me on Friday January 24th.
My levels were within normal range from the labs I had shown the new endocrinologist when I had my thyroid checked on Wednesday January 22nd by my primary doctor.
He says at this point it’s difficult to determine if my medication is the cause of my symptoms, or if it’s something else.
He says my calcium levels looked low so he wants to check if I’m deficient in that as well as vitamin D. He also wants to do an ultrasound on my thyroid as well.
I go back to see him on March 3rd. Which is discouraging because I feel it’s too long a wait when you have been feeling like I have been feeling. However, I’m hopeful due him wanting to try his best to help me.
He also says he’s slightly concerned I might have Hashimoto’s Thyroditis so he wants to also rule it out.
I’m praying for an end to my suffering and I am really trying my best to advocate for my health…
I was fine until Liothyronine did this too my body!!!
I keep ruminating in the thought though what if they still don’t find out what is wrong… Because my some of my family members do not understand and just say things like, “there’s a good chance that this is all you… that it’s all in your head.”
NO!!!! That first endocrinologist I had seen did this to me!!!! I was perfectly fine until she decided to prescribe me that medication…(yes I am aware I am partially responsible since I decided to go see her in the first place… but am I so guilty for just wanting to feel better. I went to her trusting that she’d help me to feel well)….
And now I feel like my body, mind, spirit are in shambles.
Hi Danielle do you have an update? I would be interested because I am experiencing the same things but not on medications.
My doctor told me to never take generic thyroid meds (which you are on) I was on Levoxil first. They took it off the market for awhile. I tried taking levothyroxine (from another doctor) and was having severe heart palpitations after starting it. I went on Synthroid and they stopped. One of my friends was on levothyroxine and was having severe panic attacks. I told her about the synthroid. She started taking it and her panic attacks stopped. Generic thyroid meds do not always have the same inert ingredients in them. They also have a greater room for error in the actual medication.
Cheryl, I agree with you and have only taking the brand Synthroid. My thyroid is and has been stable for over 20 years. All blood tests are normal. My physician office and the pharmacy keep trying to get me to change to the generic due to the higher cost but NO that won’t happen. I worked in medicine and we saw lots of thyroid patients. Those on Synthroid were stable but those on the Levothyroxine had more issues even though some patients swore by them. You never know what company is making the generic and it seems that the pharmacies buy the cheapest so the meds can change a little and your body might not adjust to the constant changes. Wishing you the best.
I am currently going through something very similar to you. I have a high sensitivity to medication, so that makes everything tough to start with. I tried synthroid and did well. Then after a few days I started having side effects. I was taken off and put on something new. The lower dose capsule then caused me to have a severe panic attack within 2 hours of taking it. Went to the er as well. I was taken off that medicine. And put on yet another new medication levothyroxine. A couple of days in depression hit hard. Then put on one more medication, of course that did not work. I was taken off all meds for a month, so my body could rid of all the medications and relax. Now I’m back on synthroid slowly, because I’m still having side effects with half of 12.5 mcg, but this is my second week, which I am supposed to bump it up to add a day, and now I’m having sleepless nights and tonight I have been having panic attacks that wake me up every hours. 3 years ago I was under so much stress my body just went haywire! I had my very first panic attack and had no idea what it was. After that for the next year I lived in hell with anxiety and panic attacks every day. I lost 20lbs in 3 days, couldn’t leave my house and when I did it was to the hospital and I was even admitted to the pysc department twice, because I thought I was losing my mind. I had my thyroid panel checked and everything was fine so was not treated, although prior to all of this happening is was experiencing terrible symptoms of hypothyroidism. A few months later I was reading about the thyroid and found an endocrinologist. He tested all panels, my t4 was now low. Not sure if is was bc of the over stress or I really had something going on. He said he would treat me bc it was low normal. What that meant I don’t know? So I found someone who would. I took synthroid two years ago for a month, but was also still having bad anxiety and panic attacks so I never realized it could have been the medication as well. Until now! I quit taking the medicine then, and stopped taking chlonopine ( like Ativan) because it is a very addictive drug. Was sick from that for a month and it took some time for my body to heal from that. But now that my t4 have been dropping more , I am now feeling the depression and lack of joy in life, so that’s why I went back on meds. But now as I write this, I am having a panic attack. Not sure if it’s still too much medicine too fast or what, but when the doctors say take it every other day, I feel awful the days I don’t take it, that is why I started taking everyday, and now I’m regretting it. The doctors do not realize now just one medication can cause a fire in the body. Maybe you just need to be off of it for a month and let your poor body rest and then slowly be reintroduced? I’m not doctor but I do know that since everything happened to me 3 years ago, I can no longer tolerate any medications or vitamins. My body is now ultra sensitive to everything, and it is awful. And a little goes a way long way now. Thank you for sharing your story, it truly makes me feel like I am not alone. I pray the best for you and this whole process is the worst.
Hey Danielle any updates? I have the same issue…
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism when I was in second grade. The doctor told me my thyroid wasn’t working at all. At the same time, I was also diagnosed with anxiety. I was on 50 of synthroid until I was 30 years old. I never had issues with my anxiety or depression really until I was 21. I started taking Zoloft and have had to increase it over the past 10 years to 150mg. All my doctors ever checked was my TSH. They would tell me in was in the “normal” range. I stopped taking my thyroid medicine when I was 30 bc I had run out of a prescription and For some stupid reason o never got it refilled. my TSH came back normal every time. I’m 32 now. My last check, my TSH was 1.8 (I was pregnant at the time but unfortunately had a miscarriage). I’ve also had my hormones checked before and my estrogen was a little low. I have been having really bad anxiety and depression lately but I don’t really understand why. I also am constantly tired and just in a poor mood most of the time. It also seems worse around my cycle starts. I also have dry skin, brain fog, trouble concentrating and have an extremely hard time keeping weight off. I try to stay active most days even though I could really stay in bed all day. Any thought? Similar situations? I’m just seeing a general practitioner.
I’ve had a thyroidectomy and was on levothyroxine 125mcg but it was constantly being changed. My digestion is super bad, bad panic attacks as well as several other symptoms. I just started tirosint 125mcg and I feel worse. I’m changing my bad habits but I don’t know if it takes time to know if its going to get better or should I go back to levothyroxine? I’m having to take ativan which helps but I can’t stand taking it. Help please
Hi my name is Chris (Male) and I am from England I am 34 years old and have suffered with hypothyroidism for the last 3 and a half years at times it as made my life hell and currently I am struggling, I have constant aches and pains , tired , very low libido and at times take medication for this as anyone would know that being 34 you should be fit but all my life I have been fit and healthy always running working out and full of energy yet now I struggle to run without being in pain I also get very tired , I have an amazing wife and great children but I do feel like a massive let down at times I don’t know if this is normal or not as I suffer with anxiety and depression. I am also on medication for these but with my thyroids I have checks every few months and I started on 25 mg but am now on 200 mg , I hope to get some advice as I feel I can only get the best advice from people who suffer with the same problem thank you
Hi Chris, I’m sorry to hear you are struggling. Thyroid disease can affect every part of your body. I hear from countless readers struggling with chronic pain and mental health symptoms. You need another medical opinion to ensure you are well treated.
Here are articles that you’ll find helpful:
https://hypothyroidmom.com/when-thyroid-disease-masquerades-as-psychiatric-disorder/
https://hypothyroidmom.com/when-hypothyroidism-is-painful-musculoskeletal-manifestations/
Thanks for the reply Dana yes at the moment it’s unbearable at times bad anxiety really bad aches and pains , it’s like I’m a 60 year old yet I am 34 it’s very fustrsting at times and yet I feel like a let down. What is the best way to get another opinion because my doctors are adamant that my levels are correct I am on 200mg levethyroxine tablets a day I also struggle with low libido which makes me angry especially still being young which makes me feel very paranoid and upset anymore advice
Hey Chris , I’m 60 and in great shape , I’m also on levothyroxine 175 as u cal it mg where its .175 mcg,, Sorry your struggling , Its just part of this disease , Have you been tested for Hashimotos or Graves , how’s your eyes look ? Are they puffy , swollen , sore or dry ? that can show if your still hypo , do u struggle with body temp?
I need some feedback!! I take armour thyroid but my levels have never been consistent. I see a holistic doctor who seems to have reached a stalemate in helping me. I have adrenal issues and take DHEA and a glandular for that as well. I had an edpidural steroid injection for back issue in January and have never been the same. I feel anxious almost all the time, can’t get out of my own head. My doctor rtold me to take a supplement called moducare to help lower the hashimotos antibodies which are sky high. I took it for two months, only to have my TSH go from 0.2, normal, to 5.52 which is high and means my body isn’t making enough hormone. I already take thyroid meds! If I increase my dosage I get heart palpitations so my doctor told me to stay at the same dose.To make it really sweet, I have cervical spine problems and low back issues. The pain makes everything
worse. I did an adrenal stress saliva test but test results aren’t back for two weeks. Should I find a new doctor? These issues are so complex its hard to find someone who canpull it all together. I’d love to hear from anyone as to how they’ve dealt with hashimotos.
Thank you
Hi Gretchen,
I had been on levothyroxine about 5 years when I was given a steroid injection (dexamethasone) in the ER for bronchitis. I also had the flu at the time. About a week after the injection, I was hit with horrible anxiety(never had axiety before), shaking, weakness, stomach problems, increased blood pressure and blood glucose and tingling in my hands and feet. It was a long acting steroid and there was nothing I could do to make it leave my system any faster. I read that the fact that I was hypothyroid would complicate things. It’s been almost 5 months and I am better, but not how I was before the injection. My doctor has only tested my TSH ( which has gone down both times it was tested since the injection and still in normal range), but I think my thyroid is off and my adrenals as well. In trying to heal myself from the steroid and its side effects, I have gone dairy free, gluten free, caffeine freeand drink a lot of water. I try to eat organic and follow a mostly paleo diet. I am considering getting additional thyroid tests run and trying to find an experienced naturopath. I just wanted you to know that the steroid injection you received has probably caused a lot of your problems. I hope the results from your saliva test shed some light on your adrenal issues and that you start to feel better soon.
In my experience I was told my thyroid (TSH) was fine by my family doctor. I went to a naturopathic doctor and she did a thyroid panel and my thyroid is not even functioning. It took years for my TSH to be so high to realize I had Hashimotos because that was the only test my MD ever did. You need to have the full panel done. T3 T4 freeT3or 4(?) and I believe there may be one more but that’s where all my numbers were terrible not my TSH. Look up thyroid diet. You will be amazed as to what you need to avoid and how to keep you blood sugar stabilized. I have suffered with a crippling panic disorder for 20 years and I just found this out and the whole time it could’ve been my thyroid. Now my daughter is going through the same!! Hopefully this is helpful and you could make some more changes and start to feel better now
Oh my word. This site is such a relief. After going back and forth to doctors for the last couple of months. Them telling me I have IBS, anxiety, depression even though things in my life are going great has been rollercoaster. I am on synthroid, have hashimotos and t3 levels are fine. Hair is falling out in chunks, stomach gurgles all the time, exhausted, and alternating between bowel movement types. Am I depressed and have anxiety, probably, but out of no where? Need some relief. This is not how I envisioned my health.
Hi Nicole, I am sorry to hear all you are going through. Many of your symptoms may be related to your Hashimoto’s. It took me over one year to stop my hair from falling out in chunks and I shared what worked for me in this article here that has quickly become one of the most popular on my site. Many of the things that I list to help your hair are also important in addressing the many factors of thyroid disease.
https://hypothyroidmom.com/10-things-that-stopped-my-thyroid-hair-loss/
Since Thursday I’ve been having major panic attacks. I’m the mother of 5 kids and have had hypothyroidism since I was around 14. I haven’t taken medicine since 2015 for my thyroid but I’m thinking it may be time. I’ve had this before when I was pregnant with now 8 year old and I wouldn’t even leave the house. I’m so terrified that it’s going to get like that again. I can’t even drive!!! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
At 76 yrs old (male) this hypothyroid makes my senior years missable. I was perfectly ok til I went to the doctor at that time I was about 64 and felt great,then the doctor smiles and says you have a slight thyroid problem and you have to take this sythroid for rest of your life and you will be fine. What a joke I still play active sports but I hid my feelings,but at home my wife sees that I have problems sleeping and getting stupid feelings like dying,being unhappy . Someone please respond and I appreciate your help and information on this problem. Thank you for reading my my story and God Bless
Bob you are not alone! I am 24 and used to be very athletic actually swam for team Illinois and placed! Slowly started getting panic attacks then not even a year ago the doctor diagnosed me with hypothyroidism, everything has changed, some for the better. Don’t hide your feelings from your wife, it gets easier when you tell how you feel- I see a therapist once a week just to complain about the pain and fears I have due to this condition messing me up along with the meds. It is hard to tell what is “real” vs anxiety due to different conditions. Just remember you are never alone in this. Bless you !
I have had hashimotos since my early 20’s and I can totally relate. Crazy thoughts, anxiety, exhaustion. I hear and feel you. I’m on 175 mg of Levo now and still now relief. I’ve been on armour, tirosint and nothing helps. It’s so disheartening bc no one understand how I feel inside.
Wow!! I love reading articles like this, they truly are reassuring and give you a sense I hope! I blacked out in my bathroom a few weeks ago and am suffering rom a concussion I have been experiencing extreme fatigue, very sore legs and was feeling slightly paranoid along with severe panic attacks at night which are still happening unfortunately… Has anyone ever become afraid of sleeping due to the fact that you know you’ll start dreaming and the dreadful worrying once your head hits the pillow?? I also have adrenal fatigue, low thyroid and a issue with my sex hormones! Once I hit My head my symptoms became worse. Once the evening sets in I have pure panic and don’t want to sleep.. I instantly feel doom and helpless!
Hypothyroidism and diabetes caused by 14 years of statin use. I’m a man so I was surprised to find so much of this applied. I’m being treated for both but in recent months the anxiety and stress response have been staggering. I can’t so much as take a short walk without my legs going to jello and my face contorted in agony and my fists clenching up so tight I literally cant unclench them. I get nausea easily, get hot , sweats, feeling like i want to punch through a brick wall but physically exhausted at the SAME TIME. Its unbearable. Nobody should have to live like this.
I totally agree. I’m exhausted 24/7. Never had anxiety till now. Have had hypothyroidism for 8 years. Mornings are horrible. Can’t stay asleep. Problems with gut. Feel like I’m never going to be normal again. Heart races, light headed everyday, headaches. Anyone finds an answer please help!
Thanks for the reassurance.Major panic attack at work and hadn’t considered my thyroid was not right.explains my downer with gin which I normally enjoy but sends e very low😥
Hello I just had my thyroid removed in Oct 26,2017 I was doing fine until January 5,2018 I feel like my life is over. I’m terrified and so are my children. I’m a strong women but I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. Before surgery I had panic and anxiety every blue moon now its mostly everyday all day. I’m trying to be positive but this is scary !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Carla, how are you doing? I too am struggling. I can’t live like this. I know that for sure. Its debilitating.
Wow, i sure hope you are okay! Try meditating, breathing and yoga. Are you able to take iodine or any type of supplement ??
Thank you for this post. I have be off of work due to anxiety, chronic fatigue, and depression ever since they adjusted my thyroid meds. I am beside myself as I can’t seem to feel better. All the doctors have been treating with ssris, etc, but I now have an endo that feels my TSH is now to high. I feel I have wasted so much time, emotional energy, and possibly the loss of my job. This is awful. I hope the new results and a possible adjustment in meds will help. I have never felt so bad in my life.
Ann (everyone!) please seek out natural thyroid meds like Armour or naturthroid… they are prescription only and most of us need T3 desperately as our thyroids are broken and do NOT convert T4 only meds(synthroid and thyroxine)! Docs want to ignore that T4 alone does NOT work and throw us on “happy pills” that make it worse! I finally found armour and a doc who will prescribe it! the natural prescription thyroid meds have T3, T4, T1, T2 and something else and I will NEVER go back to T4 alone EVER! I have hashimotos/autoimmune thyroid! The TSH is a pituitary test and it is WAY over relied upon to check thyroid function keeping us all sick! I also ditched gluten and it actually lowered my thyroid antibodies! Don;t give up! Check out stopthethyroidmadness.com and thyroid sexy(oxymoron) I know ha good luck everyone!
Hi Rachel,
I too am having what I think are hypothyroidism. I have a strange pressure feeling in the back of my head along with clicking sounds when I lay down. I have the hardest time getting out of bed in the morning and then when I finally drag my self out I am in a huge rush to get out the door. I had high morning cortisol and think this could be why. I seem to have a lot of anxiety in the am and then again in the pm. My holistic doctor thinks it’s linked to adrenal and gut issues. Trying to get to the root cause. Hope you get to yours!
This is my problem too! How are you doing now? What steps did you take to help it?
Mop i have the same issue going on. I will feel anxious, nervouse, i have these rare episodes where i wont know what i say or do; they last about a few seconds, however, i too sometimes wake up good in the morning and them feel bad in the afternoon. I dont have much of an appetite. My hair is thining out, loosing a lot of weight, insomnia, i feel a heavy load in my back, tired, no energy, foggy feeling and i start to feel my lega get really cold while my heart feels like its going to jump out. I have been checked by my doctor to see if its my thyroid, yet, they say i am fine. I am so desperate for help of a good doctor to fond the underlying cause of all of these symptoms. Please let me know if u have found a cure to your health because i am so overwheled that everytime i go to the doctor they tell me i have nothing going on; however, i dont feel right. Please let me know how they helped you because i dont know who to turn to for help
Hello
It sounds like your thyroid just because your blood work shows fine it doesn’t mean anything your doctor needs to treat your symptoms. It looks like you need to be on a thyroid medication. I had all those symptoms then I found me a new endocrinologist that prescribed me levothyroxine now I feel so much better.
IT TOOK ME FIVE YEARS TO FIND A DOCTOR WHO FOUND I HAD HYPOTHYROID. I had to go to another city to do so. Be proactive and keep questioning, and do not settle for what doctors say just because they are doctors. Perhaps you can find a good holistic doctor, but do not give up.
Thank you! This is super informative! After a minor fall on my stairs a year ago, I started to have anxiety and depression and then more and more Hypo symptoms crept in a little at a time. I’ve been to doctor after doctor, specialist after specialist, therapist after therapist, put on medications for anxiety and depression (which are a little better today, but NOT completely gone) but no one could tell me what’s wrong with me until I went to a Naturopath Doctor. I’m getting a second opinion and had blood drawn and tested (extensive test-like 20 different ones related to the thyroid) and will have my follow up this week. We’ll see if this explains why I’ve been feeling the way I have been for the past year. Most likely it is Hypothyroidism and my adrenals like my Naturopath said. One hard thing for me was to give up coffee. I have cravings almost daily. I can’t seem to find a good alternative. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Rachel N.
How are you feeling now? What did the naturalpathics say?