Hypothyroidism and Depression

Even though hypothyroidism and depression are two unique diseases, they are adjoined in many people's lives. In this article we will discuss the link between hypothyroidism and depression as well as some medication and natural treatment options that are available to you.

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Hypothyroidism is a condition that affects the thyroid gland, effectively inhibiting it from working as it was intended. The thyroid gland produces hormones into the body that control and maintain the metabolism and processing of foods. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland becomes under active, meaning that it produces insufficient hormones to effectively manage the bodily functions it's in charge of.

There are a number of significant symptoms of hypothyroidism and one of the most devastating is depression. There are clearly established links between hypothyroidism, depression and anxiety which have been confirmed by medical institutions and establishments.

Hypothyroidism and Depression - How does hypothyroidism cause depression?

The reason for the link between hypothyroidism and depression is simple; hypothyroidism affects the body’s production of two key chemicals that relate to mood. These chemicals are serotonin and dopamine. Serotonin and dopamine help to regulate moods and having a lack of these chemicals can send someone into a spiral of depression.

The good news is that depression brought about by hypothyroidism is more easily treated than depression brought about by other means. In this scenario depression is the symptom and hypothyroidism is the cause, so the key is to treat the hypothyroidism rather than the depression.

Of course it does not feel like good news to those suffering with this condition. Depression (whether caused by hypothyroidism or anything else) is incredibly hard situation to deal with, as it can often drain your ambition, motivation and overall quality of life.

Is there hypothyroidism and depression medication?

Standard medical treatment of hypothyroidism is to take a supplement of hormones in pill form. These synthetically created hormones work to raise the levels of hormones produced by your thyroid gland. Once the correct dosage is found, it is simply a case of monitoring hormone levels and adjusting dosages as required.

As the body’s hormone levels stabilise, the effects of the under active thyroid are negated and the body starts to heal from its ordeal. Synthetic hormone supplements therefore will allow the body to increase its production of dopamine and serotonin, therefore alleviating the depression from hypothyroidism.

Are there any hypothyroidism and depression natural treatment options?

There are several natural remedies for hypothyroidism for those that dislike the idea of taking synthetic hormones. There are steps that you can take to increase your body’s production of serotonin and dopamine; although these will not directly affect the hypothyroidism they will improve any state of depression. These steps include regular exercise and a healthy diet.

In addition to diet and exercise, there are also natural herbs for hypothyroidism that you can take. These include St. Johns Wart, which is known for its mood lifting properties. Scientifically, what this does is naturally try and boost your body’s serotonin and dopamine levels. By elevating your body’s levels of these chemicals, it is possible to improve your mood naturally without the need for prescribed medication.
 
In closing, when it comes to hypothyroidism and depression there is an opportunity to use natural remedies – exercise, healthy diet and herbal supplements to alleviate the symptoms. With that being said, you should always seek the advice of a medical professional if you are experiencing severe problems with either hypothyroidism or depression.