Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disease. The thyroid gland becomes overactive (hyperthyroidism) and makes too much thyroid hormone. Extra thyroid hormone leads to symptoms like weight loss, trouble sleeping, and a fast heart rate.
Having too much thyroid hormone can also affect your mental health. Anxiety, irritability, and other mental health symptoms are common in people with Graves’ disease.
Learning how to identify emotional changes can help you connect with a doctor to manage mental health symptoms.
Hormones, Graves’ disease, and mental health
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck. Its main job is to release two hormones:
- thyroxine (T4)
- triiodothyronine (T3)
These hormones regulate growth, metabolism, and other bodily functions. T3 controls the level and activity of the hormones serotonin and noradrenaline, which play roles in your mental health.
In Graves’ disease, the immune system makes proteins called antibodies that attack the thyroid gland. These antibodies rev up the production of thyroid hormones.
Increases in T3 disrupt serotonin and noradrenaline, which contribute to the mood symptoms of Graves’ disease.
Other causes of mood changes
Medications used to treat Graves’ disease can also affect mental health. For example, beta-blockers used to slow heart rate and reduce anxiety might cause depression symptoms in some people.
Another possible cause of mood changes is physical symptoms from the disease, such as weight loss, sweating, or bulging eyes. People with thyroid eye disease are three times more likely to die by suicide than people without this eye condition.
Living with a chronic disease also causes a lot of anxiety and stress. The concern of developing Graves’ disease complications like heart failure and osteoporosis may increase stress even more.
Symptoms of Graves’ disease mood changes
An overactive thyroid gland from Graves’ disease can cause mood changes like:
- anxiety
- depression
- irritability
- nervousness
People with an overactive thyroid gland are also more likely to receive a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and bipolar disorder.
Talking with a primary care doctor or a thyroid specialist about any mental health symptoms you have can help you get the right treatment to manage them.
To diagnose mental health conditions related to Graves’ disease, a doctor starts with identifying your symptoms. You can take note of any nervousness, irritability, sadness, or trouble sleeping and report them to a doctor.
A doctor can order blood tests to check your thyroid hormone levels. If your thyroid gland is not causing the problem, the doctor may refer you to a mental health professional or another specialist to discover what’s behind your symptoms.
Treatments for Graves’ disease
Managing mental health symptoms starts by managing Graves’ disease. Treatments for Graves’ disease include:
- Anti-thyroid medication: The thyroid gland needs iodine to make T3 and T4. Anti-thyroid drugs lower thyroid hormone levels by blocking the gland from using iodine to make its hormones.
- Radioactive iodine: This treatment kills overactive hormone-making cells in the thyroid gland.
- Surgery: Removing part or all of the thyroid gland slows or stops hormone production. After this surgery, you take thyroid hormone.
Once you can effectively manage your Graves’ disease, mental health symptoms typically improve. However, sometimes it can take time for these symptoms to resolve.
Graves’ disease treatments aren’t always enough. Symptoms that don’t improve once thyroid hormone levels have gone back to normal may be from another medical condition or mental health issue.
In that case, antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), may be helpful. Talk therapy can also help.
Taking care of yourself is important for managing mental health symptoms from Graves’ disease. You can consider implementing the following:
- Eat a balanced diet that prioritizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Limit sugar, caffeine, and alcohol.
- Aim to get physical activity most days of the week. Programs that emphasize deep breathing and mental focus, such as yoga and tai chi, may be especially helpful for mental health.
- Get quality sleep as often as possible. Set a consistent bedtime each night. Keep the bedroom cool, quiet, and dark to help you get a good night’s sleep.
- Try relaxation techniques, such as meditation and deep breathing.
Social support is also important. Consider talking with a mental health professional like a psychologist, therapist, or counselor. You can also turn to family members, close friends, or a Graves’ disease support group.
When you have Graves’ disease, your thyroid gland makes too much hormone. Excess thyroid hormone can cause symptoms like anxiety and irritability. Living with a chronic condition and physical symptoms can add to the emotional stress.
Medications or surgery to lower thyroid hormone production can relieve mental health symptoms, but it can take time to see an improvement.
If you’ve been on treatment for a few months and don’t feel like symptoms are improving, talk with a doctor for next steps.