How can I tell if I have a thyroid problem and not a Anxiety Disorder?
Thursday, November 26th, 2009 at
2:48 pm
The reason i ask (I plan on seeing a doctor, this week), that I share alot of the same symptoms. Primarily Anxiety in a majority of social situations, depression the last few months, I am always cold, loss of apetite. I have held off seeing doctors cause I figure it would pass but it keeps getting worse. I plan on seeing both a general physician and and psychiatrist this week. But would i’ve been freaking out, and would just kinda like some sort of answer.
Filed under: Anxiety Attacks
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First off you may have multiple factors going on here so don’t jump the gun. In other words, it is common that symptoms overlap in both medical and psychiatric aspects. I commend you for making the appointments for both a medical and psychiatric evaluation! Most people don’t even get that far. Second, I must recommend that you stay away from self diagnosis. The internet gives us the ability to put in a symptom and get a list of illnesses. STAY AWAY from that!!! Your mind is already racing why make it worse. In regards, to the thyroid get the test and see what happens. The mental health portion well, once again you need to see a professional it is complicated. Many people get anxious in social situations and many people get depressed it doesn’t mean they have a disorder. I am sure many will post symptoms of various disorders but, to be honest just like you observed with medical and psychiatric illnesses there is quite an overlap. To actually be able to break down your psychiatric symptoms is alot more complicated than looking at a checklist for symptoms. You gave 4 symptoms that are common on all realms that isn’t enough. You need to meet with a professional face to face and then you will have the valid and concrete answers your looking for. I know it is hard but, be patient. Keep us updated. And after you meet with the psychiatrist if you have any questions let me know.
Ask for a thyroid panel to be run at your doctors and keep a copy of the labs, some of them are outdated in medical books, make sure they do a thorough test on your T4 levels also. Same on my end!
Major depressive disorder and social anxiety, they’re two of the mental conditions you could have. They can be treated with an SSRI, along with cognitive behavioral therapy from a clinical psychologist. If you do have an endocrine disorder, then thyroxine could be all you need, as being cold all the time is a major symptom of hypothyroidism. Anyway, good luck.
Yes, yes! Anxiety can be a thyroid problem symptom. Here’s a list of hypothyroid symptoms: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/long-and-pathetic You’re going to recognize a lot of those in you.
But….you need to know that doctors tend to do the wrong tests to diagnose a thyroid problem! Because of that, a patient-to-patient website was created to help patients like you and I. Here’s the page on the labwork you have to insist on: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/recommended-labwork
And here’s a page on everything patients have learned about far better treatment: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/things-we-have-learned
Good luck! You will need to be informed at the doctor’s visit.
Blood work will be able to tell if you have a thyroid problem. Just make sure its run in the am for better results as the TSH test changes throughout the day. Get a TSH, Free T4, Free T3, and an antibody test.
Symptoms of an underactive thyroid can include, weight gain, fatigue, depression, moos changes, constipation, low body temp, cold feet and/or hands, dry skin, headaches, sensitivity to light, muscle and joint aches, ridged fingernails with no moons, thinning hair, low blood pressure,