Support groups

[SHEPHER]

Anyone know of 1 to 1 or online support groups in UK for anxiety

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Increased anxiety has been the worst symptom of having a thyroid condition for me and it is always worse if thyroid medication or key vitamins (ferritin, folate, vitamins B12 and D) are not optimal.

Do you have issues with your thyroid/ can you share any blood results with us?

My GP initially diagnosed me with ‘ health anxiety’, suggested I saw a psychotherapist & offered me anti depressants. Joining this forum helped me realise that my symptoms were related to being under medicated and I followed forum advice to improve this.

Re anxiety support, anxietyuk.org.uk/ may be a useful starting point, or contact your GP surgery for local options.

The Wren Project offers support to those with an auto immune disease

wrenproject.org/

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

Welcome aboard, sorry can't help with your request but as you've posted here I wonder if you have had a full thyroid panel done as anxiety is often an issue with low/high thyroid levels?

[zqb95v]

Unfortunately not, personally I used a local charitable Counselling Service who put me in touch with a local Counsellor for face to face talking therapy. It took almost 9 years before I was confident enough to terminate or weekly sessions. Retiring also helped as it had become my main source of anxiety.

[SlowDragon Ambassador]

Are you diagnosed with thyroid issues

Anxiety, sleep issues, depression and IBS all strongly linked to autoimmune hypothyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once to see if your hypothyroidism is autoimmune

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high TPO and/or high TG thyroid antibodies

[SHEPHER in reply to SlowDragon]

Went for some tests today thanks

[humanbean]

I used to be anxious and depressed. I eventually discovered that my iron and ferritin were far too low. I started testing and treating them myself and, over a long period of time (because my absorption was poor), I found my anxiety disappearing completely and my depression reducing.

Other people on the forum have found that the really important thing to them, in terms of reducing anxiety, has been optimising their B12 and/or folate.

Optimising all the things mentioned on this forum - nutrients, thyroid hormones, etc has really improved my mental health enormously.

[SHEPHER in reply to humanbean]

My Dr told me on Friday my iron is low and given me iron tablets but I think they are making me nauseas

[helvella Administrator in reply to SHEPHER]

Nausea and other issues are common with some iron supplements. However, whatever you have been prescribed, there are alternatives.

helvella - Iron Document

This is a summary of what I have read up and found out about iron supplements over the past few years. Includes some information bout tests and meaning of ferritin. I am not in any way medically trained. You are strongly encouraged to check every detail before making any decisions for yourself.

Last updated 28/01/2025

Link to blog:

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

[humanbean in reply to SHEPHER]

My Dr told me on Friday my iron is low and given me iron tablets but I think they are making me nauseas

Did he give you ferrous sulfate, by any chance? If not, what did he give you?

[SHEPHER]

Yes she gave me ferrous sulfate 200mg which I think is a low dosage. Yesterday I had nausea all day hoping this will settle

[helvella Administrator in reply to SHEPHER]

You have replied to yourself - humanbean will not be aware.

Ferrous sulphate is often poorly tolerated.