9 Sneaky Thyroid Toxins Hiding in Your Home Dr Izabella Wentz, PharmD

9 Sneaky Thyroid Toxins Hiding in Your Home Dr Izabella Wentz, PharmD

However, recent research has uncovered a fascinating link between these two phenomena, shedding light on the intricate relationship between our endocrine system and mental health. In this article, we’ll explore the surprising connection between thyroid dysfunction and the occurrence of intrusive thoughts, delving into the science behind this association and its implications for diagnosis and treatment. Buried in the labyrinth of your mind, an unexpected puppet master may be pulling the strings of your obsessive thoughts—your thyroid gland. This small, butterfly-shaped organ nestled in your neck could be wielding an outsized influence on your mental health, particularly when it comes to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The intricate dance between OCD and thyroid function is a complex interplay of hormones, neurotransmitters, and brain circuitry that researchers are only beginning to unravel.

Similar articles

Dr. Wentz has dedicated her career to addressing the root causes of autoimmune thyroid disease, after being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis in 2009. As a patient advocate, researcher, clinician and educator, she is committed to raising awareness on how to overcome autoimmune thyroid disease. For more guidance on supporting your adrenals and your body’s stress response, I recommend checking out my newest book, Adrenal Transformation Protocol. The book provides a four-week program that has proven to be transformative for anxiety, with 86 percent of participants reporting reduced anxiety. My approach to anxiety is to address the underlying root causes, as well as use targeted approaches that are safe and effective, to rebalance the brain and body patterns.

Which medication is right for you?

• She is a Fellow of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists and holds certifications in Medication Therapy Management and Advanced Diabetes Care.
• Millions and millions of people are impacted by this problem, even the military!
• The mechanism of how each thyroid autoantibody has a specific effect on the braincould be the subject of further research.
• In OCD,  anxiety-provoking thoughts lead to very specific symptoms of that anxiety, namely repeated activities, and rituals that are seeking relief.
• Thyroid hormones have an essential role in brain maturation and neuronal functioning.

I thought I might have had a new-onset anxiety disorder, so I saw a doctor who prescribed anxiety medications for me. I didn’t take them on a regular basis because they have the potential to become addictive, but I kept them in my purse at all times when I left the house, because there were times when I felt like I couldn’t deal with anything without them. Men, too, experience age-related hormonal changes that may impact OCD symptoms. The gradual decline in testosterone levels with age, known as andropause, could potentially influence the course of OCD in older men, although more research is needed in this area. I’m giving you information, like other health bloggers so you can go to your physician or psychiatrist and pose some important questions about your personal health regimen based upon research. Do due diligence and research lithium orotate, thyroid vitamins and supplements as well as Fish Oils.

• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis was diagnosed in 85 (58.6%) patients and Graves’ disease was diagnosed in 60 (41.4%) patients.
• In conclusion, the intricate connection between OCD and hormones represents a fascinating frontier in mental health research.
• By the time it takes you to read the next paragraph below, someone else will have taken their own life.
• Radioactive iodine reuptake and thyroid aspiration cytology were rarely used.

Radioactive iodine reuptake and thyroid aspiration cytology were rarely used. Patients with chronic uncontrolled medical illness were excluded from the study. OCD and Hashimoto’s have many triggers in common, and these triggers have the potential to exacerbate both conditions. They include stress, high levels of estrogen, blood sugar, nutrient deficiencies (in particular those dealing with neurotransmitters), amino acid imbalances, and infections, to name a few. Balancing my blood sugar made a big difference for me, helping with my anxiety levels and reducing my thyroid antibodies.

For even more clean product swaps, check out my article on toxins in beauty products and my resources page. Most common non-stick pots and pans contain phthalates and BPA, which are known endocrine disruptors. As mentioned above, these chemicals may increase TSH and perpetuate the autoimmune attack on the thyroid. 12 Also, aluminum is found in many cooking pans, and scratched non-stick pans are a common source of aluminum toxicity.

The citrate version is best if you tend to be constipated (magnesium citrate has stool softening effects), and I recommend the glycinate version if you tend to have normal bowel movements or diarrhea. Keep in mind that, for some people, magnesium glycinate can worsen anxiety symptoms. If you notice that your anxiety increases after taking magnesium glycinate, try switching to magnesium citrate. If you have obsessive thoughts, you will want to stay away from probiotics that contain Streptococcus probiotic strains, as they can theoretically increase obsessive-compulsive symptoms. In my clinical experience, the most common food reactions responsible for anxiety symptoms are due to gluten, dairy, soy, grains (especially corn), sugar, caffeine (as discussed above), and surprisingly to some, nuts. Doing targeted food sensitivity testing, or simply a trial of eliminating the suspect foods for a period of time (with an elimination diet), can help you uncover your food triggers.

The OCD and Hashimoto’s Connection

• The socio-demographic data and OCS of the participants were evaluated with Dimensional OCS (DOCS).
• The implications of this connection are significant for both diagnosis and treatment.
• As research in this field progresses, it holds the promise of bringing new hope and improved quality of life to millions of individuals affected by OCD worldwide.
• You should speak with your doctor if a hormone imbalance coincides with more frequent or distressing intrusive thoughts.
• During ERP, you’ll be gradually exposed to situations, objects, or thoughts that trigger your distressing intrusive thoughts or fears.
• Only one study with a limited number of participants showed a positive association between anti-TPO levels and OCD subscales in the Symptom Check List-90 scale (SCL-90) 13.

Over a million people die every single year because they choose to, and the thought of dying seems better than living with their anguish. I make that distinction about completion because, for every one person who dies, 11 more people attempt to kill themselves (though unsuccessfully), and wind up at the Emergency Room for the treatment of self-inflicted harm. The T4 has to be converted to T3 to get inside your cells and actually do the work of burning off your weight, making you thin, happy, energetic, and strong.

Conventional medicine does not look at underlying nutrient deficiencies (again, there are many that affect neurotransmitter synthesis as well as gut health), nor lifestyle interventions that may address potential root causes for OCD. A component of CBT that is sometimes used is exposure and response prevention (ERP), where an individual is gradually exposed to a feared obsession and learns to resist the urge to perform their compulsion ritual. I’ll talk more about the connection between OCD, thyroid antibodies, and Hashimoto’s in a moment. Yet another study revealed that synthroid immunosuppression patients younger than 18 years old who had moderate or high frequencies of Streptococcus-related clinic visits, had much higher risks of developing a neuropsychiatric disorder later in life. Before I met my husband, I had lost a loved one to a sudden, unexpected death.

In this article, we’ll explore how thyroid hormones, especially low levels, may influence the development of OCD. In conclusion, there is a clear relationship between thyroid autoimmunity and OCS. Symptom severity could be affected by different thyroid autoantibody profiles and certain antithyroid antibodies serve a protective role against OCS severity according to gender. The mechanism of how each thyroid autoantibody has a specific effect on the braincould be the subject of further research.

While subthreshold OCD might not be disabling, it may limit people in terms of their happiness and anxiety levels. It may also signal some underlying biological vulnerability (perhaps the root cause for future neurological distress or inflammatory states). When I had them tested with a full thyroid panel, most had thyroid antibodies. I felt there was something going on in my body that was seriously affecting my health. In this dream, I was taken back to a doctor’s visit back in 2006, when I first graduated from pharmacy school, and when I first began to have overt thyroid symptoms.