Thyroid disorders can cause people to have mental or emotional symptoms in addition to all the physical signs. Such physical and mental symptoms are quite common for people suffering from hyperthyroidism (a hyperactive thyroid), hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid), or other thyroid-related illnesses. The condition can affect every part of the body, from metabolic rate to your body’s temperature and overall mood.
Hypothyroidism affects an estimated one out of 20 Americans over 12. Several thyroid problems affect your mental health, so it is vital to undergo thyroid profile testing regularly to detect and cure the health issue in its early stages. According to a study published in 2012 in the Journal of Thyroid Research, people who suffer from hyperthyroidism are more likely to be depressed, and those suffering from depression are generally diagnosed with thyroid anomalies.
So, what are some effective ways to lower thyroid-related stress? Besides everything else, one essential element is self-care. To start appreciating yourself, you can follow these suggestions:
Relax And Meditate To Get Scientifically Proven Stress Relief Benefits
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, meditation is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your mind. Healthcare experts recommend meditation to patients suffering from hypothyroidism.
Mindfulness is a way to focus your attention solely on the present moment. You can reduce stress and worries by using deep breathing and visual imagery in meditation. The National Institutes of Health report mindfulness techniques can help reduce symptoms of serious diseases and mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.
Start Working Out For Better Mental And Physical Health
Being active is good for your mind as well as your body. March 2018 in Frontiers in Psychiatry showed that exercise was better than medication and cognitive behavior therapy in treating major depressive disorder. Medical professionals recommend yoga to their patients with exercise to reduce stress for better mental and physical health. Research published in the International Journal of Yoga shows that yoga can reduce the stress hormone cortisol and increase the feel-good hormone serotonin levels. It is a part of treating anxiety and depression.
Lab Testing For Thyroid
Besides general thyroid testing, you can try accurate lab tests to know the exact cause of rising thyroid levels. It gives you peace of mind that no other anomalies are lurking. Thyroid testing is done to ensure that your thyroid levels are in check.
The thyroid blood test that your doctor requests are based on the genetic disposition, experienced symptoms, risk factors, and other thyroid damages. As thyroid problems affect your mental health along with physical health, it is better to get checked for thyroid by getting different blood tests like:
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) Blood Test
- Thyroglobulin Antibody Test
- Thyroxine Free T4 Serum Direct Blood Test
- TPO (Thyroxine Peroxidase) Antibodies test
- (T3 Free) Triiodothyronine Free Test
Telephone Support Sessions
With telephonic healthcare consultation, patients can get the services and advice they need without leaving their houses and visiting doctors, and then they wait for long. However, while telehealth rises, patients get quality telemedicine with full focus. The patient needs a computer, a smartphone, and an internet connection to start these sessions.
Patients can also order prescription thyroid medicines on the phone and get them delivered to the destination in a short time. Many services offer all-in-one solutions for problems like thyroid and other illnesses. With these services, you can get substantial savings on telephonic physician consultations, lab tests, and medicines. Thus, you need to consult the phone, and you’re good to go.
Get Enough Sleep To Keep Your Energy Levels Up
It is important to get enough sleep because thyroid problems can affect your mental health, and you can have fatigue and sluggishness. According to doctors, there are no different sleep recommendations for hypothyroidism. The National Sleep Foundation suggests many mental and physical health benefits of meeting the minimum sleep recommendations for adults, i.e., seven to nine hours per night. According to a review published in November 2015 in the journal sleep science, adequate sleep can help with weight loss and stress reduction.
Conclusion
You may also benefit from antidepressants if you have been diagnosed with depression. However, according to medical experts, most people experience improvements after receiving hypothyroid treatment. Patients must solve the problem without the need to take antidepressant medication. Self-care is a process that can have trial and error. You might find some practices more effective than others. It is important to persevere in your efforts and stick to a schedule, so you don’t forget to take care of yourself while you manage low thyroid.
