Hashimoto’s and Anxiety: 5 Strategies That Can Help
Do you struggle with Hashimotos anxiety?
You’re not alone.
Anxiety is a common symptom of Hashimotos and thyroid imbalances. However, many people are told that medication alone is the only solution to solving their anxiety.
What most people have been taught is that anxiety is just “in their head” when the reality is that it’s the body’s way of communicating that it’s physically and emotionally inflamed.
As someone who has personally struggled with Hashimotos anxiety and was told that I just had “generalized anxiety disorder,” I knew there had to be another way. I knew this was just another label that wasn’t getting to root of the issue.
Here is what is often at the root of Hashimotos anxiety:
Inflammatory foods & blood sugar imbalances
Nutrient and mineral deficiencies
Over-exercising
Mold toxicity
Heavy metals
Gut infections, bacteria, and viruses
Parasites
Birth control & other pharmaceuticals
Trauma, stress, and Nervous system dysregulation
The good news is that there are tons of strategies you can use to help calm Hashimtos anxiety.
Here are a few tips to help you calm Hashimotos and thyroid anxiety (and have helped me too!):
1. Stabilize Blood Sugar
Most women are under-eating and not getting enough protein in their diet — especially when it comes to breakfast. Prioritizing 20-30 grams of whole food animal protein at each meal can do wonders for stabilizing your blood sugar. In turn, this helps keep your energy and your anxiety at bay when your body is getting the nutrients it needs.
Get gluten-free- dairy-free, and refined sugar free high protein recipes inside The Hashimoto’s Inflammation Bundle.
2. Address Nutrient Deficiencies
Environmental toxins, stress, and certain medications like birth control can deplete essential vitamins and minerals needed to help your nervous system feel safe. As a result, this can often deplete B vitamins and essential minerals like magnesium.
The most common deficiencies that I often see correlated with anxiety are methylated B vitamins and magnesium.
Other deficiencies can include zinc, copper, selenium, and iron. These are all optimal for thyroid health. I like using a bioavailable form of these nutrients in this Desiccated Grass-Fed Beef Liver Capsules (code: Hashimotos10).
3. Address Toxins & Infections
Toxins like mold, heavy metals, viruses, bacteria, and parasites can cause mental and emotional symptoms. This is because your digestive tract is connected to your brain and nervous system through the gut-brain axis. We carry serotonin and dopamine in our digestive tract and when these toxins overwhelm our digestive tract, our brain and nervous system go into overdrive often leading to anxiety and panic.
I recommend working with a practitioner who can test you for these and support your body in the proper order of operations to avoid unwanted detox reactions.
4. Phototherapy Patches
Phototherapy patches have a patented technology that uses your own body’s infrared light to lower inflammation, lower cortisol (your stress hormone), help you to better manage stress.
I wear my aeon phototherapy patch 2 inches below my belly button every night for 12 hours and take it off in the morning. I also make sure to make sure I’m properly hydrated while wearing this with minerals and electrolytes.
I noticed after just 30 days of wearing the aeon phototherapy patch, I sleep deeper, I’ve lost 5lbs of inflammation, feel less puffy, and less anxious. The other nice part about these patches is they do not interfere with any medication or supplements and they are so easy to add to your health routine.
5. Regulate Your Nervous System
Trauma from childhood, toxic relationships, and toxic workplaces can all contribute to Hashimotos anxiety. In my personal experience and working with thousands of women with Hashimotos, the nervous system has to feel safe in order to fully heal.
Talk therapy often doesn’t create change with those with Hashimotos because anxiety is created by subconscious belief systems stored in the nervous system and the body. Most women carry beliefs such as: “My needs don’t matter” or “I have to be perfect” which keeps them stuck in unhealthy relationship dynamics perpetuating chronic stress and anxiety patterns.
I love somatic exercises (link takes 10% off) and EMDR therapy for getting yourself out of fight or flight stress/anxiety cycles. These modalities can help you release stress and trauma that is stored inside your body.
Need additional support with reversing your Hashimotos symptoms?
Struggling with fatigue, brain fog, stubborn weight, or gut issues that are not fully resolving?
Apply to work with me 1:1 here.
Sending you so much love, healing, and HOPE.
Allison
Disclaimer: This is for educational and informational purposes only and is not to be used as medical advice. Always consult with your practitioner to see if these could be right for you.
