anxiety and depression are terrifying. Anytime you cannot control the way your body reacts is so difficult. Sorry to hear you are struggling. Going on almost 13 years with it but only 3 years ago diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Know that life changes can trigger the symptoms of anxiety/depression but working through and learning techniques to help will make you stronger. Hope you are doing better. Good luck-

I get these every once in awhile and I try to make sure my Free Ts are in the right places, such as the mid ranges for me to feel my best at. I can tell when I'm off.

I understand about the crying thing. I had that happen to me right around my ovulation time last week. It's hard to tell all of my four boys why mom is like this. My older boys do have an idea.

{{{hugs}}}

brenna,

just getting back on here..been busy...wanted to tell you..even if we don't mentally process the stress as in thoughts, feelings,etc..feel all is okay when it really isn't (you sound like you got lots and lots and lots on your plate)...

our bodies take it on...ie what you are now feeling...the depression and anxiety and need to cry

hormones...brain chemicals...everything gets out of whack

yes it can affect your thyroid condition very much

i always get sicker in times of stress...even if i appear okay...it catches up with me every time

just slow down, take care of yourself, find something quiet you like to do...read, bubble bath, youtube funny videos, movies, whatever

just be sure to nurture your heart and soul in all of this

and call your sister daily :)

Please realize that out-of-whack thyroid hormone levels can bring on a large number of symptoms....the more "off" they are, often the larger number and severity of symptoms.

Docs often make the mistake of looking at in-range levels and telling us they are normal.

This does NOT apply to thyroid hormone levels.

Even though I am in remission from Graves' disease (autoimmune hyperthyroidism - too much thyroid hormone), I know all about hypothyroidism.

How? My docs overmedicated me.

And, that same type of doc that overmedicates for Graves' will undermedicate hypothyroidism.

It's a universal problem for thyroid patients.

Your docs should be running FreeT4 & FreeT3 tests to evaluate your situation - TSH is useful as a screening tool only.

Most people feel/function best with FT4/FT3 levels at mid-range, if not higher.

Here's a link to a thread I wrote explaining why you should try to achieve these levels

http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/graves-disease-general-info/discussions/messages/8391589

If you are having symptoms, you most likely need a dose increase.

Thanks for the response. I've been trying to convince my GP that it is my thyroid. My therapist thinks it is my thyroid. My lab tests are "normal" so my GP gave me meds for depression and sleeping pills yesterday. She just wanted me out of her office, is how it felt. I haven't taken them because I don't think I need them. She is ignoring my concerns about the thyroid. My FT4 levels are normal as well. I have Hashimoto's so it's autoimmune as well. I just started reading a book about it, which suggesting trying a gluten free diet. I've started that, it's hard but I've been gluten free for 5 days! YAY! So he suggests in the book that you try it for a couple weeks, then eat gluten again and see how you feel. So far I haven't noticed any changes, but I do know that going to my GP has made me feel worse not better, and going to the therapist has made me feel better not worse! So I'm just going to try to stick with what makes me feel better!

I strongly suggest you look for another doctor to treat your thyroid condition.....don't "date the wrong guy for too long" - I did that with endo #2 and suffered as a result.

There is light at the end of the tunnel - you just have to start walking down the tunnel.

You might want to read this:

http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Hypothyroidism/forum/9238291-do-you-want-feel