When Your Thyroid is Behind Mental Health Struggles By: @ericabassotherapy (Link in bio for full article) Your thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland at the front of the throat that produces and sends hormones into the bloodstream. These hormones regulate many important processes such as metabolism, body temperature, energy levels and other vital functions in the body. The presence of a thyroid disorder can affect your weight, body temperature and moods. In fact, the thyroid plays such an important role in mental health that many people tend to seek psychotherapy for their symptoms of depression or anxiety prior to realizing they have a thyroid condition. It’s not uncommon to have a client enter my practice with what we soon find out is a thyroid condition, which has been masquerading as anxiety or depression. As a mental health professional I prioritize ruling out any medical conditions before diagnosing an individual with a mental health diagnosis. In this article we will explore two of the most common thyroid conditions that result in unbalanced hormone levels: hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Both conditions have well-documented associations with anxiety and depression. Hyperthyroidism: Hyperthyroidism is when an overactive thyroid produces too many hormones. Symptoms include: - Anxiety or panic attacks - Tension in the body - Insomnia - Elevated heart rate / high blood pressure - Mood swings and irritability