Got a question from a counselor recently, here is the gist of what she said, “I am not a physician and do not practice medicine, why do I need to know about thyroid disease? I’m interested in mindfulness meditation, hypnosis and guided imagery.”
Good question really. (In case you didn’t know, the topic of the first session in NICABM’s free summer teleseminar series is on A Holistic Approach to Thyroid Disease and that’s probably why she brought it up.) At first it might not be so obvious, but NICABM is recommending that it’s critical for the psychotherapist to know something about the thyroid (and topics like it).
But let me answer that question with a question: Have you ever treated someone with depression and you just didn’t make much progress? Maybe they weren’t resistant, maybe they had some underlying medical issues going on.
For instance, here is just one possibility – did you know that symptoms of thyroid problems can be very similar to symptoms psychotherapy patients complain of? Symptoms like:
- fatigue
- depression
- insomnia
- weight gain
- anxiety
- brain fog
Optimal functioning of the thyroid is essential for proper metabolism, a balanced hormonal system and optimal health.
And I have good news – there are many physicians who treat the thyroid holistically. Nutrition, for instance, can be a major tool in the treatment of thyroid disorders.
Have you ever treated a patient (or a couple maybe) struggling with infertility? that also could be related to a thyroid problem.
Have you ever treated a patient who was going through chemotherapy? Chemotherapy often disrupts thyroid function. But, there are steps that the properly trained practitioner can take to protect the patient’s thyroid from the damage this regimen might cause.
If you are a psychotherapist, you wouldn’t necessarily do that yourself, but you would still want to know about it so that you can make a proper referral.
It’s time for psychotherapists to think of themselves as a part of the medical team.
Learn expert tips and strategies for overcoming all sorts of obstacles by checking out our mind/body programs.
What’s most important to us is to get these ideas out. Choose the option that’s best for you.
I also suffer from panic attacks(but not when driving) If your panic attacks are situational,(driving,etc) and you know that driving will bring on the panic attack, I highly recommend you to not stop taking your medicine if you plan on driving.. There is no way around it…I have tried to make sure I don’t get myself into the situations for me that bring on a panic attack.. People don’t understand how absolutely frightening,and scary it is to have a panic attack and how horribly out of control it makes someone feel.. If you ever want to talk about it please feel free to email me( I don’t know too many people myself that I can talk to about this)
It’s appropriate time to make a few plans for the longer term and it’s time to be happy. I have read this submit and if I may I wish to counsel you few interesting issues or tips. Maybe you can write next articles regarding this article. I wish to learn more issues about it!
I have been on synthroid since 1987. My thyroid went “loopy” as a side effect of taking Lithium – which has stabilized my depressive tendencies for all these years. Just recently I went to my MD, complaining of fatigue, muscle aches, anxiety, etc. She ran 6 blood tests, including TSH – but everything came back within normal range. In order that the MD could feel like she was doing something, I agreed to B12 shots.
How frustrating! These physical and emotional symptoms are certainly affecting my outlook and my ability to work. I’m back to looking at these symptoms as psychological reaction to stress. But perhaps there IS something physically wrong and it’s not being pinpointed!!
Thanks for the information I think it is very useful and as practitioners we have to be mindful of underlying medical conditions that can be causing depression and anxiety. In fact I have had a medical problem myself for the last 5 years in the from of loss of sense of smell and taste that has had a direct impact on my well being. Now that I have had the correct diagnosis and the right treatment my mood has shifted considerably. However I also think that with thyroid in particular and I am not a medical doctor so I may not be qualified to say this but what comes first the depression or the thyroid condition? There seems to be a interdependence and they do seem to go hand in hand. I believe that a two pronged approach is best and that a medical and psychological intervention is needed rather than either or. The depression is real and it may also throw the endocrine system out since our mood does affect the body and the other way too.
We are in our 50s and began taking Atomidine in 2006 to reverse our symptoms of atherosclerosis, lupus, high blood pressure and diabetes. We added the nutrition of sprouting seeds, nuts, legumes, beans and grains the same year along with drinking a cup of pure water for every cup of other beverage we put into our bodies. My husband is off all reflux and blood pressure meds since that time and his current bp is stable at 140/70. We both have gone down 4-5 sizes and he says he has never felt better. I am here in the Midwest, also, and am interested to learn about the ‘thyroid belt’. I know that is true as I worked many years as a technician in the hospitals in our state and the majority of complaints patients present with are what is mentioned in your film. That is why I have been interested in holistic healing since the 70s and applaud everyone to try and reach the systems in charge. Thank you for this good interview.
Having taken many nutrition seminars I am very familiar with the syptoms mentioned in the video. Besides the thyroid affecting the heart it also affects the Pituitary gland. It is a very important gland being a master gland.
I am here in the Midwest and even in Chiropractic College it was pointed out that for some reason were are in what is called a thyroid belt. This means there is a deficiency of iodine which affects the all plants and animals grown in the area So nutrition and stress can affect both glands.
Thyroid and adrenals.
Absolutely first rate and cottor-beppomed, gentlemen!
Interesting thread, Ruth. Writers above offer sensible remarks. Thyroid function is one of many quite important aspects to helping individuals gain self-understanding and learn to deal with stress. Having personal experience with auto-immune issues has taught me about stress – good and bad stress! One might emphasize the importance of endocrine health on brain and behavior – cognating, sensing, using motor systems, and in waking and awareness states… As Carl Rogers probably said, “all data is good data”. In regard particularly to depression – which is an awfully messy concept even while having important clinical usefulness, this extends to knowing the whole self wherein words, narratives, thought-based judgments are only a part of the story.
P.S. Have not seen the film above since I am getting my weekly mail in a cafe while on “sommar semester på naturen”.
I look forward to the teleseminar series. I have a client who has a recognised thyroid disorder and lupus and side effects from imipramine, and has so many of these symptoms.
I wonder though whether the emotional stresses, are the cause of the physiological or the effect, or even just go hand in hand. So all is not lost or we’re not wasting our time when we come in from a mental/emotional point of view.
And how many people have the pre-physiological symptoms but nothing shows up in tests, eg TFT etc?
Is this the best time to do emotional work or could we be coming in from a material point of view and ‘treat’ as if they have the disorder with nutrition or energy therapies like homeopathy and acupunture?
I believe we should treat from all directions for the best possible outcome, ie holistically:)
It could also be some of the auto-immune disorders like Lupus, Fibromiala, or MS.
What’s emerged,Jimmy Choo Outlet by means of your ooiinpn from Birkenstock boston College as well as university sociologist Joe Wolfe, will be two unique groups of subgroups while during the enormous middle class, typically the two based on numerous choices, presumptions, plus also outlooks.