Childhood trauma/chronic stress - root cause? - Thyroid UK

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Childhood trauma/chronic stress - root cause?

futureofthepanda profile image
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Stress in itself is a killer in every way possible, however I am pretty certain that the trauma I went through as a kid has caused the development of Hashimoto's. Even reading books like 'body keeps the score' they mention how people who experience extreme trauma as a child are more likely to develop mental health and autoimmune illnesses in the future. Your body is basically attacking itself as a possible coping mechanism to the trauma, how crazy is that?

Anyway, I've noticed when I do not deal with that childhood trauma in a healthy way, my health immediately declines, my thyroid starts to swell and I start feeling hypo again. BUT when I put my mental health as a number 1 priority, where I attend EMDR therapy and counsellors who specialise in trauma, the symptoms subside and my body is not as stressed thus my thyroid isn't struggling.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, if those autoimmune diets aren't working, or changing your medication is making you feel worse, then maybe it could be down to your past trauma that's been undealt with. I'm not saying this is the case for everybody, but I've spent the past year stressing over something that was right under my nose the whole time. Remember the mind and body connection, only have the healthcare system just recently recognised this connection.

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futureofthepanda
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SmallBlueThing profile image
SmallBlueThing

There's work on maternal stress/trauma causing a blunted cortisol response in offspring, but my cardiologist wasn't any help in discussing the implications.

My dad used to say, "Let the dead past bury itself." Best wishes for banishing your demons.

futureofthepanda profile image
futureofthepanda in reply to SmallBlueThing

Thank you, same to you too. it's sad to see how trauma is hardly mentioned at all. Yes it's important to minimise inflammation as much as possible with physical interventions, but what about managing your mind?

My two sisters and I had a very stressful time in early years. My eldest sister was had lots of mental problems was mistreated she became an alcoholic and has now died. My other sister was sent away as I was aged about two brought back sent away again we never knew what was happening.

I was later adopted. We all have thyroid problems my sister also has asthma. We have no mental health problems so far. I have never settled in my life always looking for something which is not there. My sister spends her whole life trying to please people.

futureofthepanda profile image
futureofthepanda in reply to

Oh wow, sorry to hear that. I am in the same boat as you regarding always looking for something better, I guess it's because I had to really work for literally everything to appear as 'normal' as possible in life, so I'm never settled. I wish you the best of luck on your end.

in reply to futureofthepanda

Thank you

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