Thyroid

Can thyroid problems cause anxiety?

Medically reviewed by Neka Miller, PhD on February 11, 2021. To give you technically accurate, evidence-based information, content published on the Everlywell blog is reviewed by credentialed professionals with expertise in medical and bioscience fields.

Are you wondering if thyroid problems can cause anxiety? Here, we dig into the mental and emotional health symptoms related to thyroid disorders, so keep reading to find out more.

Have you been looking for a way to check on your thyroid hormone levels from the comfort of your home? Look no further—Everlywell offers a comprehensive at-home Thyroid Test that measures your levels for the 3 main thyroid hormones (TSH, T3, and T4). You simply collect your own sample, mail it to a certified laboratory for testing, and receive your easy-to-understand, physician-reviewed digital results in days.

Before we dive into the possible mental and emotional health symptoms of thyroid disorders, let’s first talk about the basics.

Here are a few important things you should know about thyroid function and disease:

Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland at the base of your neck. It produces a variety of hormones that help control important bodily functions, including your metabolism, heart rate, body temperature, and more.
Women are 5 to 8 times more likely to have thyroid issues than men.
Thyroid disease affects more than 20 million Americans and many people with a thyroid disorder don’t know they have it.
Two of the most common thyroid disorders are characterized by an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) or underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).

What are early warning signs of thyroid problems?

If you’ve been feeling off for the past few months without knowing why, you may be experiencing a hormone imbalance tied to thyroid issues. Below are some of the most common symptoms that could be linked to thyroid dysfunction.

Some of the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism may include:

Weight gain, even without changes in your diet or activity level
Fatigue
Mood changes, including depression or anxiety
Chronic hoarse voice
Dry skin
Constipation
Puffy face
Joint pain
Muscle aches or weakness
Thinning hair or hair loss
Heavy or irregular periods
Infertility
Goiter (enlarged thyroid gland)

Common symptoms of hyperthyroidism may include:

Unintentional weight loss, even without dietary changes
Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and a pounding heart (palpitations)
Increased appetite
Mood changes, including nervousness, anxiety, and irritability
Hand and finger tremors
Sweating
Changes in your menstrual cycle
New or worsened heat sensitivity
More frequent bowel movements
Goiter (enlarged thyroid gland)
Fatigue
Weak muscles
Problems with your sleep
Thinner skin, which is more susceptible to cuts and bruises
Fine hair which easily breaks

Have you been experiencing some of these symptoms and you suspect your thyroid hormones may be off-balance?

Take the Everlywell Thyroid Test to measure the levels of three main thyroid-specific hormones in your body: TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone), T3, and T4—plus thyroid antibodies (TPOab). Your test results could be the first step in helping you understand the hormonal influences behind some of the symptoms your body may be experiencing.

Thyroid disease and anxiety

As noted by the symptoms list above, in some cases thyroid disease may affect your mood. This includes anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. Generally, the more severe your thyroid disease, the more severe the mood changes may be.

If you have an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), you may experience:

Restlessness
Anxiety
Irritability

If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), you may experience:

Mild to severe fatigue
Depression
Anxiety

Have you been feeling anxious lately and think it could be related to thyroid problems? Find out more about your personal thyroid health with the at-home Everlywell Thyroid Test. You collect your sample from the comfort of home, send it to a CLIA-certified lab for testing, and receive your easy-to-understand, digital results in days.

Your test results could be the first step in helping you understand some of the symptoms you’re experiencing. From there, you can work with your healthcare provider to plan for next steps. (Note that if you’re experiencing anxiety or depression, speaking with a mental health professional about your symptoms is one of the best steps you can take.)