Living With an Underactive Thyroid
When I first started feeling constantly tired, anxious, and unlike myself, I had no idea it could be my thyroid. It wasn’t until my blood tests came back that I discovered I had an underactive thyroid, also called hypothyroidism — a condition where your thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough of the hormones your body needs to regulate metabolism and energy.
This small butterfly-shaped gland in your neck affects almost every system in your body. When it slows down, so does everything else — from your mood to your digestion, skin, sleep, and even how your heart beats.
Common Symptoms of an Underactive Thyroid
While symptoms vary from person to person, these are some of the most common signs:
- Constant tiredness or exhaustion, even after a full night’s rest
- Low mood, depression, or feeling emotionally drained
- Anxiety or irritability
- Difficulty concentrating or memory problems (“brain fog”)
- Sensitivity to cold temperatures
- Weight gain (sometimes even with a healthy diet)
- Dry skin and brittle hair or nails
- Hair thinning or hair loss
- Muscle weakness, aches, or joint pain
- Slower heart rate
- Constipation or sluggish digestion
- Puffiness in the face or swelling around the eyes
- Irregular or heavy menstrual periods
- Hoarse voice or swelling at the base of the neck
- Excessive sweating, especially when anxious or stressed
- Feeling overheated easily, even in cool conditions
- Struggling immensely with sleep — either sleeping too much or barely at all
- Waking up often during the night and feeling unrefreshed in the morning
Everyone’s experience is slightly different — some people only notice a few symptoms, while others feel them all.
How It’s Affected My Mental Health
Hypothyroidism doesn’t just affect your body — it can have a powerful impact on your mental health. For me, the fatigue and emotional changes have been overwhelming at times.
I often feel anxious, easily upset, and mentally foggy, like my mind and body are constantly out of sync. I can go from feeling restless and irritable to completely drained within hours. The lack of good sleep makes everything worse — some nights, I can’t fall asleep no matter how exhausted I am, and when I finally do, I wake up feeling like I haven’t slept at all.
Although many people associate an underactive thyroid with feeling cold, I’ve also noticed excessive sweating, especially when I’m anxious or moving around too much. It’s as though my body can’t regulate itself properly — I either feel freezing or overheated, never in between.
These physical symptoms have taken a toll on my mental health. The constant exhaustion and unpredictable body changes have made me more self-conscious and emotional. But learning to understand the connection between my thyroid and my mood has been a big step forward.
Living and Coping With Hypothyroidism
Treatment usually involves taking thyroxine (levothyroxine) — a medication that replaces the missing thyroid hormone and helps restore balance in the body. It can take some time for your dose to be right, so regular blood tests and patience are essential.
In the meantime, I’ve learned to be gentle with myself and accept that healing takes time. Here are a few things that have helped me manage day to day:
- Listening to my body instead of forcing energy that isn’t there
- Building a relaxing bedtime routine to help with sleep
- Setting small, manageable goals each day
- Talking openly about both physical and emotional symptoms
- Wearing breathable clothing when I sweat more than usual
- Eating regularly and staying hydrated
- Remembering that none of this is my fault — it’s a medical condition that needs care and patience
Final Thoughts
If you’re constantly tired, struggling to sleep, sweating excessively, or feeling low for no clear reason, please ask your GP for a thyroid function test. Something as small as a hormone imbalance can make a huge difference to how you think, feel, and function.
This condition can impact your confidence, energy, and emotional stability — but with treatment and understanding, it truly can get better.
You’re not alone in this journey. 💗 Be kind to yourself, and never ignore what your body is trying to tell you.
_LI.jpg)
_LI.jpg)
Comments
Post a Comment
Please be polite ~ Ventsharm blogs