Depression and thyroid disease: those ugly kissing cousins! We might not immediately associate depression with our thyroid problems. We might initially think, “I feel depressed because I feel bad in other areas of my health.”
But research has shown that hypothyroid and depression are clinically linked. In fact, Gary S. Ross, M.D., author of Depression & Your Thyroid: What You Need to Know, believes that the link is so strong that every patient who comes in for depression should be evaluated for thyroid problems.
But how, exactly, are they linked?
It all starts in your gut.
Have you ever been “in the mood” for a particular food? Craved sugar, fat, or salt when you were feeling blue? Then you’d probably agree that our mood can affect the foods we choose to eat.
But the opposite is true, too. Some foods—like carbs, chocolate, and others—contain compounds that definitely affect our moods and our brain chemistry. Plus, there’s more and more scientific evidence that our gut flora and our brains are totally linked—that when you have a “gut feeling” it’s really those billions of bacteria talking to you. Wild, right? But scientifically supported.
Which means that, when we’re not taking care of our gut, we’re not taking care of our brains and moods. We’ve got to heal our leaky guts in order to truly heal from depression. Luckily, what’s good for your gut is also good for your thyroid.
Remedies for depression you can start today
I’m not opposed to antidepressants in any way, but when you’re dealing with thyroid issues, the last thing you need is yet another pill that can throw your hormone balance out of whack, so the more natural healing we can do, the better.
1. Heal the gut—I go into this in WAY more detail in this article. Suffice to say, we’ve got to heal our guts if we want to cure our depression or our thyroid problems.
2. Limit or eliminate sugar—We’ve all experienced a sugar crash; consuming too much sugar causes massive swings in blood sugar levels which can lead to fatigue, irritability, dizziness, insomnia, depression and crying spells. Beyond that initial high and low, however, sugar can also exacerbate depression by using up mood-enhancing B vitamins and chromium in the blood and cause inflammation, which is linked to higher rates of depression.
3. Use light therapy—Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a common symptom of thyroid dysfunction, but bright light therapy has been shown in small clinical trials to be just as effective as antidepressant medications for combating depression. Northern Light Technologies is a good company for light therapy.
4. Exercise—Moderate exercise can help alleviate depression by regulating brain chemicals norepinephrine and serotonin. You don’t even have to work hard enough to get a “runner’s high” to achieve the benefits.
5. Keep a mood diary—Keeping a mood diary is less about tracking when you’re feeling bad as it is about remembering that good days do happen. This could also be a form of a gratitude journal. Try writing down at least one good thing about every day, and look back over your entries when things seem hard.
6. Try supplements—Several natural supplements have been shown to have positive effects on mood. The most well known is probably St. John’s Wort, but others including SAMe, saffron, B complex vitamins, and fish oil have shown mood stabilizing benefits. Always talk to your doctor before adding supplements; St. John’s Wort in particular is known to interact with some medications.
7. Yoga and meditation—Mindful practices like yoga and meditation are both simple, low-risk tools for improving mood and, in particular, helping to prevent a relapse into depression.
Looking for more information on healing your thyroid disease and all its accompanying symptoms naturally? Check out my resources with more tips like these!
- Our totally free Thyroid Healing Type Assessment, Report and Coaching Sessions
- Right here on my blog, where I talk about what’s worked best for me and my clients, as well as the latest research and resources I come across. You can subscribe to get new blog posts delivered right to your email by signing up on the righthand side of the page.
- My book, Healing Hashimoto’s Naturally — part memoir, part instruction manual for how I personally healed my Hashimoto’s disease.
- My exclusive free 6 Thyroid Myths That Can Keep You From Healing workshop — with info on the comprehensive Thyroid Fix in 6 program, which walks you through, step-by-step, the exact actions you need to take to heal your thyroid and get your life back! We’ve seen hundreds of participants in the Thyroid Fix in 6 avoid, decrease, or even eliminate the need need for thyroid medications.
- The incredible Your Best Thyroid Life Video Bundle, in which I personally invited 27 of the world’s top health experts to share their best tips for living with and healing thyroid disease.
No matter what diagnosis or symptoms you’re facing, there are natural healing options out there– and you can start today.
Jen Wittman is a Certified Holistic Health Expert, Chef, Author & Vitality Coach, who teaches women how to reverse thyroid and autoimmune conditions naturally. She’s helped hundreds of women decrease (or even eliminate) their thyroid medications and has helped others stay off thyroid medication entirely.
Through her free Thyroid Healing Type Assessment, Jen teaches easy and simple steps to thyroid healing that can fit into your busy day. She also provides print outs to bring to your next doctor’s appointment so you can get the support and respect you deserve.