re depression and thyroid

[carolscott63]

Previous to being diagnosed hypothroid I was weepy, wanted to stay in bed, just not right. Was put on 50mcg Levothyroxine (2 and half months ago) now on 75mcg. Still feeling weepy etc. Will this go when the balance is sorted? or will I have to started taking anti-depressants as well. Thanks. (I have felt suicidal as well)

[Tracey76]

Hi Carol,

I understand the weepiness and feeling very low... you should start feeling better when it all balances out...

In the time being you could try going for some walks - a few minutes exercise burns off stress hormones and raises endorphin levels (the happiness hormone).

Do you have any friends / family that you can talk to when you feel suicidal?

Sometimes talking to someone removed from you can be easier... The Samaritans would be a good choice... here's the web link for you samaritans.org/

there are herbal remedies that could help calm things down... St Johns Wort. Also maybe try a bit of meditation to center yourself.

I do hope you start to feel better soon... please hang in there

Tracey

[RedApple Administrator]

If your depression is caused solely by thyroid hormone imbalance, you should start to feel like your normal self once you've found your appropriate dose.

How long have you been on the 75mcg dose and when does your GP want you to get your blood tested again? Do you know what your last TSH result was?

My own experience was that the mental health symptoms did eventually sort themselves out, but it took a long time. I resisted the anti-depressants that my GP kept urging me to take, because I didn't want to risk the potential side effects on top of all the other ghastly things I was dealing with. Getting the type and dose of thyroid medication right made daily life complicated enough for me. I suffered such a bewildering array of horrible symptoms without throwing an unknown medication into the pot. I did try St Johns Wort, but they had zero effect.

I agree with Tracey, walking is very helpful. It's always my first choice of therapy when things get me down. Even when I was so fatigued I could hardly move myself off the sofa, forcing myself to take a few steps outside in the fresh air gave me a perceptible lift, all be it very short lived.

The other thing I found of immense help was light therapy. If you can force yourself to be outside for a while even on a dull day, the extra light can help to lift your mood a little. The special light therapy lamps are very expensive, so that was out of the question, but replacing some of my ordinary lightbulbs at home with daylight bulbs was well worth the cost.

Some people do choose to take anti-depressants and find them helpful. It has to be a personal choice I think. If you decide to investigate that route, make sure you fully understand what's involved first. There is no 'one size fits all' solution. One doctor told me that I may have to try several different ones before I found the right one for me. The implication that the wrong anti-depressants could make me feel worse was a definite no-no for me.