The thyroid is responsible for the production of hormones in the body, and can have a great impact on your overall mental health. In this article, we are going to tackle the subject of thyroid and depression. We will discuss how the thyroid can impact your mental health and how it can be best treated.

How the Thyroid Impacts Your Mental Health

As we’ve discussed before, the thyroid glands are located in the neck and responsible for the production of certain hormones that regulate bodily functions like metabolism. Various factors can cause your thyroid to malfunction and either over produce or under produce these hormones. This can result in all kinds of negative symptoms like weight gain/loss, chronic fatigue, and feelings of depression. Statistically, women are more prone to developing depression from a malfunctioning thyroid, though men are also vulnerable.

Treating Depression Caused by a Malfunctioning Thyroid

The first step in treating depression is figuring out what’s causing it. If your doctor suspect that your thyroid may be the culprit, they will likely order a blood test to see if your thyroid hormone levels are off. These test results will help your physician develop a treatment strategy that targets the root cause of your depression.

If you are experiencing signs of depression, your thyroid may be the underlying cause. The best move you can make is setting up an appointment with a thyroid specialist who can determine whether your depression stems from a malfunctioning thyroid.  The first course of action is typically various prescription drugs that help regulate thyroid hormone production. In extreme cases, it may be necessary to surgically remove the thyroid glands. A skilled Minnesota thyroid doctor will be able to walk you through all of this and answer any questions you may have.