Anxiety and Panic Attacks, a Common Occurrence in Hypothyroid Patients

This is the first instance I've seen of the correlation between hypothyroid and anxiety despite my research into this topic. I'm a 51 yo male and I've been suffering terribly from anxiety unrelated to thoughts or my life conditions. My breathing becomes tight, and I suffer from jitteriness, narrow throughted-ness. I've now gone to a naturopath, (after feeling I wasn't getting anywhere with my primary MD on this topic) started on Armour, and it's better - but still dialing in on the dosage. Thanks for this article, and coming from the health field (medical physiologist), none of the physicians I talked to knew of any correlation either.

would you please comment on this questionnaire, i am trying to do research in this field right now so therapy can become a permanent treatment option for hypo individuals.
I understand some of these questions can be very personal so if you feel you must go ahead and omit some information, if youd rather answer me personally you can email me at cannotrecall@gmail.com
1) When were you diagnosed?
2) Have you had adjustments made to the dosages and types of your medication due to the fluctuation of the hormones?
3) If yes, indicate approximately how often?
Weekly
Biweekly
Monthly
Bimonthly
6 Months
4) Before you were diagnosed did you experience bouts of depression?
If yes indicate how often:
Weekly
Biweekly
Monthly
Bimonthly
6 Months
5) Before you were diagnosed did you experience bouts of fatigue?
If yes indicate how often:
Weekly
Biweekly
Monthly
Bimonthly
6 Months
6) Before you were diagnosed did you experience bouts of anxiety?
If yes indicate how often:
Weekly
Biweekly
Monthly
Bimonthly
6 Months
7) Would you have wanted to seek help for your depression/anxiety or did you find it manageable on your own?
8) Did you seek help for your depression/anxiety?
9) After being diagnosed and before beginning the course of your medication did you experience: depression, fatigue, anxiety?
10) Do you experience depressive states even while taking your medication?
If yes indicate how often:
Weekly
Biweekly
Monthly
Bimonthly
6 Months
11) Do you experience fatigue even while taking your medication?
If yes indicate how often:
Weekly
Biweekly
Monthly
Bimonthly
6 Months
12) Do you experience anxiety even while taking your medication?
If yes indicate how often:
Weekly
Biweekly
Monthly
Bimonthly
6 Months
13) Do you experience a fluctuation in your emotional states (i.e. do you get depressed, anxious) and then find that you need a medication adjustment?
If yes indicate how often:
Weekly
Biweekly
Monthly
Bimonthly
6 Months
14) What are the most debilitating symptoms of your condition?
15) Have you ever been treated for anxiety? When were you treated? Before/after your hypothyroid diagnosis?
16) What course of treatment were you offered? Which did you find most helpful?

The author Jim Lowrance has several on this subject of anxiety and hypothyroidism and he always supports his articles with medical reports. In one of these he quotes from a report that found anxiety problems in people with only mild thyroid problems and subclinical hypothyroids. His article found here: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art31486....
Quotes from: "Assessment of Anxiety in Sub-clinical Thyroid Disorders", an article by the Endocrine Society of Japan.

I too have hypothyroidism. It went untreated for many many years. Many beleive that when that happens a related condition known as Adrenal Fatigue occurs as the Adrenals step in to make up for weakness in the thyroid. Furthermore, many people have found (reading pt. forums) that use of Armour can cause something called RT3 dominance.(RT3 is when your body isn't converting T4 to T3.) It's complicated, but many have found that a T3 med only WITH something to treat Adrenal fatigue is the only way to feel better. Otherwise it does seem possible to 'get the right dose on Armour'.(Try facebook STTM page to read some of these pt forums). Good luck.

DJW wrote:

This is the first instance I've seen of the correlation between hypothyroid and anxiety despite my research into this topic. I'm a 51 yo male and I've been suffering terribly from anxiety unrelated to thoughts or my life conditions. My breathing becomes tight, and I suffer from jitteriness, narrow throughted-ness. I've now gone to a naturopath,(after feeling I wasn't getting anywhere with my primary MD on this topic) started on Armour, and it's better - but still dialing in on the dosage. Thanks for this article, and coming from the health field (medical physiologist), none of the physicians I talked to knew of any correlation either.

uh yea..i can attest from 10 years experience..thyroid certainly does cause depression,,anxiety...etc...ha d it all...especially if you leave it untreated or just stop taking your meds

20 years for me Ugg!

Have you ever tried ZANAPRIN I suffered so many yrs. with panic attacks and anxiety..but I have now tried Zanaprin(I no longer feel captive its in no way like St.John Warts I have been panic free and anxiety free for about 6 months now..I feel I am in control of my life and feelings without being over medicated,and Zanaprin is NON addictive cant say enough about it...its non prescription and can take all the hopeless feelings away,elimate Xanax,Valium here is a link to read about it

http://www.noprescription-rx.com/ZANAPRIN.HTM...

That is expensive.How about kava kava,valerian?

Its a bit pricey but the valerian root is just all natural and if you read all the product ingredients you can see the information is right out there for you. What I did was order a months supply I would do that with any new product out there..especially in these economic times. My results were remarkable after the 2nd week, and to be anxiety free to me personally the price is worth my sanity.

Fast
Safe
Effective
No prescription needed
All the benefits of prescription medications without dangerous side effects
Not addictive

Active Ingredients
Proprietary Formulation Consisting of:
Beta-phenyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid
Gamma-ethylamino-L-glutamic acid
4-Nicotinoylaminobutyric acid
2-Aminoethanesulfonic acid

A copy and paste from the website.