Can hypothyroidism cause depression and anxiety? Well, depression can often be a symptom of hypothyroidism. However, only a specialist can diagnose if your depression is caused due to hypothyroidism. Read on to learn more about hypothyroidism and its relation to depression.
What Is Hypothyroidism?
If the thyroid gland is not working to its optimal potential, it can be diagnosed as hypothyroidism. The thyroid gland in your body is responsible for producing certain hormones that help perform various body functions. Certain hormones are also responsible for mood swings- hence it can be difficult to distinguish if your hypothyroidism is causing your depression. The symptoms of both health issues are similar.
Hypothyroidism can also display other symptoms, which include
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Dry skin
- Constipation
- Swollen hands and feet
- Irregularities in menstrual cycles
Also read: How Are Thyroid and Gastrointestinal Problems Connected?
Do You Have Hypothyroidism?
Typically, women are more likely to have hypothyroidism compared to men. Also, people above 60 years of age are at a higher risk of experiencing hypothyroidism. You may also be at a higher risk of getting hypothyroidism if you have faced any kind of thyroid-related health issues in the past or have a family history of thyroid disease. Certain other chronic medical conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or even type 1 diabetes can cause hypothyroidism.
Can Hypothyroidism Cause Depression?
You might develop certain mental health issues if you have an underactive thyroid. The thyroid gland can often produce more or less than the normal amount of hormones; this can cause mood swings. It can also affect your ability to think clearly and make it difficult for you to learn new things in the long run.
In cases of severe hypothyroidism, some people may experience dementia or severe depression. Often, hormonal changes can interrupt brain functions. The hippocampus is the part of the brain affected by hypothyroidism, which can impact the brain’s memory and learning ability.
Related: Stress and The Thyroid: What’s The Real Connection
How Can Thyroid Disease Affect a Person’s Mood?
Thyroid disease can cause anxiety and depression. The more severe the disease, the more severe the mood swings can be. However, depression is a serious mental health issue, and it might not be the only evidence of thyroid as a disease. Thus, it’s always better to consult a specialist if you suffer from any kind of anxiety or severe mood changes.
With appropriate treatment and medication, it is possible to improve both the physical and emotional symptoms that are caused by thyroid disease.
If you are concerned about your thyroid health issues and are looking for an expert in thyroid treatment, you have come to the right place. Call us at 843-572-1600 or get in touch with us to schedule an appointment with our expert physicians today!
I am one of seven children. My family is a very close-knit bunch. I have a brother, Jeremy, who is in the Airforce. He has already served multiple tours in the Middle East over the past few years and in just a couple of weeks he will be leaving again to serve in Afghanistan. While my family and I pray for his physical safety while he is away, in my line of work I also tend to worry about the long-term effect on his mental health.
From what I have read regarding health concerns of returning military members, depression seems to be in every article along with anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, and other social disorders. I do not know exactly what my brother has experienced while serving in the military and I probably will never know how he truly feels. My wish for my brother is that if he begins to feel the onset of depression, he seeks help immediately. The most popular response from physicians would probably be to prescribe an anti-depressant. I would wish that my brother seek alternative treatments that are more natural and do not have the potential side effects prescription drugs have such as the treatments we pursue here at the Center.
I now have a second brother joining the military and he will be leaving on the 21st for basic training. I am very proud of both of my brothers and will support them and continue to pray for their well-being, physical and otherwise.
Do you have a family member currently serving in the military? How do they cope with their emotions and feelings when they return home? Is there really any amount of training that can prepare anyone for war?
Borage Oil is a nutritional supplement that is high in Essential Fatty Acids (efa’s). Whereas the various forms of DHA and fish oils that we offer are high in Omega 3 essential fatty acids, Borage Oil is the one essential fatty acid that we recommend. Normally we get too much efa’s in our American diet, but certain plant oils like Borage Oil are desirable for their unique Gamma Linolenic Acid or GLA content. GLA boosts beneficial prostaglandins that are anti-inflammatory and provide a sense of well-being.
If you observe nutritional practices, you’ll see that there’s always a “newly discovered” supplement on the market that attracts a lot of research and attention. Back in the early 1990’s Scientists became interested in that “new” supplement – Borage Oil; although it had been used by herbalists for centuries prior to help relieve symptoms of stress, colds, and bronchitis.
In 1993, clinical trials, reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine (1), using 1.4 grams of borage oil daily for 24 weeks, found it to be a well-tolerated and effective treatment for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Another 1993 study, in the British Journal of Dermatology (2), reported that 48 children with dry scales and crusts on their eyelids, scalp, face, armpit, and groin—in other words 48 miserably uncomfortable children—used borage oil topically for just 10 to 12 days, and all the children became totally free of lesions with no recurrence.
The famous doctor and author, Dr. Andrew Weil, uses Borage Oil to help relieve hair loss, dandruff, itchy scalp, and folliculitis. Even Northstar Nutritionals uses Borage Oil in the Restore FX hair loss product that we carry at COEM.
Borage Oil has also been used by alternative practitioners for its hormonal effects. It reportedly helps stabilize the adrenal glands and boosts production of adrenaline, and therefore helps relieve stress. Other practitioners have used it more specifically to relieve PMS symptoms in women.
Dr. Lieberman recommends a high GLA supplement such as Borage Oil (3) not only because of the above effects, but more specifically because of its ability to boost Prostaglandin E1 and help relieve depression. Individuals with British, Scottish, or Welsh ancestry especially have difficulty converting essential fatty acids into Prostaglandin E1, and GLA helps bridge that gap and relieve their lifelong tendency of mild to moderate depression. Those individuals may be prone to drink too much as well (even if just wine or beer) because alcohol temporarily boosts Prostaglandin E1, despite the fact that it also uses up the raw materials to make Prostaglandin E1, so the individual is driven to drink more to try to get the same lift. GLA provides the raw materials so that the individual ultimately gets the lift without drinking.
Dose: Take 1 capsule 2 to 3 times daily with meals.
Contraindications: Due to its hormonal effects which also include relaxation of uterine muscles, Borage Oil should not be taken during pregnancy. It also reduces platelet function so if an individual has a tendency to bleed easily or is on a blood thinner such as Coumadin, Borage Oil should not be taken.
Also the seeds, though not necessarily the oil, contain a toxic substance that can harm the liver, so very large doses of Borage Oil should not be taken for prolonged periods of time.
As with all nutritional supplements we recommend that you purchase only high quality, doctor researched and recommended supplements and use them as directed by a physician or nutritionist in order to get the most benefit and avoid any potential problems from their use.
1 Ann Intern Med. 1993 Nov 1;119(9):867-73.
Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with gammalinolenic acid.
Leventhal LJ, Boyce EG, Zurier RB.
2 British Journal of Dermatology, 129:95,1993
Borage Oil, an effective new treatment for infantile seborrheic dermatitis
Tollesson, A, Frithz, A
3 A proper balance of fatty acids is as important to good health as are vitamins and minerals. This supplement is desirable whenever Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) is needed to boost beneficial prostaglandins which help counteract inflammation and provide a sense of well-being. It has been used in eczema, chronic fatigue, and certain forms of chronic depression. Borage oils provides a higher ratio of GLA to linoleic acid than Evening Primrose Oil and similar plant oils. This product replaces our former Evening Primrose Oil. Each 1,000 mg softgel provides 1,000 mg of cold-pressed Borage Oil, supplying 200 mg of Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA) and 7 mg of Mixed Tocopherols (Vitamin E). 100 softgels.
Directions: Take 1 softgel two to three times daily with meals. Price:$30.00 Contact orders@coem.com for further information or to place an order
We all go through tough times now and then. Hopefully, we survive and become stronger because of the experience. But sometimes we do more than benefit personally from this adversity. Some really special people, and I work with several, use their personal experiences to help others. They share things which many people might consider embarrassing or shameful with others who are at a similar bad point in their existence. It is as if the person is in a deep well with no obvious way of getting out, and someone throws them a rope.
Recently, I overheard a conversation between a staff member and a patient who was so desperate for help that he was seriously considering suicide. This staff member shared intimate details of her own experience with desperation and how a friend threw her a rope. I suppose one might call this an example of “paying it forward.”
I’m not sure I could open my heart to another the way she did, but I hope that if I ever have the opportunity to throw someone a rope that I won’t hesitate.