Your thyroid makes hormones that affect almost every aspect of your physical and mental health.
Hypothyroidism is what happens when your body doesn’t produce enough hormones. This can lead to problems with energy, sleep, and mood.
Seeing a doctor about your hypothyroidism may help improve your mental health. A therapist or psychiatric provider can also help you manage your symptoms.
The thyroid is a small gland in the front of the neck. It makes hormones that control how the body uses energy. But sometimes, the thyroid can slow down and not produce enough of those hormones. This is called hypothyroidism, or having an underactive thyroid.
Your body relies on your thyroid to maintain its functioning. So when the thyroid is sluggish, it can lead to health problems. For example, hypothyroidism can cause your metabolism to slow down. This can cause chronic fatigue, unwanted weight gain, and other concerns. Hypothyroidism can also impact your emotional well-being and cognitive health. Specifically, there’s a strong association between hypothyroidism and depression.
Learning more about the connection between your thyroid and mental health can help you get the support you need.
How hypothyroidism can impact mental health
When your thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormones, you might be more likely to experience mental health concerns. These may include:
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Depression
Hypothyroidism can suppress the production of “happiness” hormones like serotonin.This can result in low mood, fatigue, lack of motivation, and other symptoms of depression.
Anxiety
Anxiety disorders are characterized by persistent worry, irritability, and restlessness. Many of these symptoms mimic those of hypothyroidism. They can arise due to imbalanced hormones or the stress of living with a thyroid disorder.
Sleep problems
When your thyroid slows down, it can lead to sleep disturbance. You might feel tired all the time or have trouble falling or staying asleep. Living with chronic fatigue can take a toll on your mental health.
Cognitive impairment
Just like your car can’t get down the road without gas, your brain needs hormones to function. When they aren't balanced, it can lead to problems with memory, focus, and confusion. This is sometimes called “brain fog,” and it’s a common symptom of hypothyroidism.
Dementia
We aren’t entirely sure what causes the overlap between dementia and thyroid issues. But it appears that a sluggish thyroid can cause the mind to slow down, just like the body. One study found that people older than 65 with hypothyroidism had an 81% increased risk of getting dementia.
Psychosis
Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there) and delusions (objectively false beliefs) are forms of psychosis. If a person has severe hypothyroidism and their brain is starved of critical hormones, it can cause psychosis. However, this is quite rare.
How your thyroid and mental health are related
Thyroid issues (both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism) and mental health concerns often go hand-in-hand. Researchers are still working to understand why. But some factors that may help explain the overlap include:
Biology: Hormones are essential for emotional regulation, stress management, cognitive functioning, and more. But when a person has hypothyroidism, their thyroid doesn’t make enough hormones to allow their brain to maintain these functions.
Stress: Without treatment, living with a condition like hypothyroidism can be stressful. You might not understand what’s causing your symptoms or what’s happening to your mind and body. In addition, stress can increase some thyroid hormone levels while decreasing others. This can worsen existing imbalances.
Medication: Some medications used to treat hypothyroidism can affect your mental health. For example, if you’re taking too large a dose, you might begin experiencing symptoms of an overactive thyroid (i.e. restlessness, irritability, or sleep problems). If this happens to you, talk to your provider right away.
Managing hypothyroidism and mental health together
If you have a mental health concern and co-occurring hypothyroidism, know that there’s hope. While it might take some time to find the support that works for you, many people find that getting their hypothyroidism under control positively affects their mental health.
Your care team may consist of a primary care doctor and other specialists who can monitor your thyroid, order blood work, prescribe medication, and monitor its effectiveness. But you may also benefit from:
Therapy: Whether you’re dealing with fatigue, depression, mood swings, or other symptoms, therapy can provide a safe space to express yourself and learn valuable coping skills.
Psychiatric care: Psychiatric providers can prescribe medication to help you manage your mental health. Many of these medications can be safely used alongside thyroid medications.
Stress management: Practices like yoga, mindfulness, and deep breathing can help reduce cortisol. This can help your mind and body relax and help you feel more balanced.
Self-care: You can strengthen your mental well-being by taking good care of your body. This includes eating nutritious meals, getting enough sleep, and making time for movement you enjoy.
Compensating for specific thyroid-related issues can increase fatigue and isolation, which could increase mental health symptoms.
Halee Fullerton, PMHNP-BC
Clinical reviewer
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There’s a strong correlation between hypothyroidism and mental health concerns like depression. A sluggish thyroid can cause fatigue, mood swings, sleep problems, and other depressive symptoms. Fortunately, many people find that by treating their thyroid problem, their mental health improves. This usually means practicing self-care and working with a care team of doctors, thyroid specialists, and mental health professionals, if needed.
At Rula, we’re committed to delivering a comprehensive behavioral health experience that helps people feel seen and understood so they can get back to feeling their best.
Rula makes it easier to find a licensed therapist or psychiatric provider who accepts your insurance so you don’t have to choose between affordable care and excellent care. With a diverse network of more than 15,000 providers, 24/7 crisis support, and appointments available as soon as tomorrow, we're here to help you make progress — wherever you are on your mental health journey.
Liz Talago
Liz Talago, M.ed. is a mental health professional turned content writer and strategist based in the Detroit metro area. As an independent consultant for mental health organizations, Liz creates meaningful connections between brands and their audiences through strategic storytelling. Liz is known for championing diverse perspectives within the mental health industry and translating bold ideas into inspiring, affirming digital experiences.
In her free time, you can find her hiking with her two German Shepherds, puttering around her dahlia garden, or spending time with her family.
Halee Fullerton, PMHNP-BC
Halee is a psychiatric nurse practitioner with experience treating children, adolescents, and adults. She has worked in outpatient community health with children/adolescents as well as inpatient substance use disorder treatment. She currently sees patients via outpatient telehealth. Before becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner, she worked in emergency rooms, medical-surgical units, long-term care facilities (including Alzheimer/dementia units) and the intensive care unit.
She chose a career in mental health because she wanted to help people and to contribute to breaking down stigma around mental health. She is especially passionate about working with people who are navigating substance use disorders, depressive disorders, and anxiety/trauma-related disorders. She has three labradoodles that she adores.
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