Some of you may have read some of my posts and newsletters about autoimmune disease and my journey with thyroid issues.
What is the thyroid?
The thyroid gland is a small organ that’s located in the front of the neck, wrapped around the windpipe (trachea). It’s shaped like a butterfly, smaller in the middle with two wide wings that extend around the side of your throat. The thyroid is a gland and it makes hormones that control vital functions of your body.
When your thyroid doesn’t work properly, it can impact your entire body. If your body makes too much thyroid hormone, you can develop a condition called hyperthyroidism. If your body makes too little thyroid hormone, it’s called hypothyroidism. Both conditions are serious.
Facts and Figures
The NHS estimates that one in 50 women live with an overactive thyroid gland or hyperthyroidism. Women are also six times more likely to have an overactive thyroid gland than men.
The prevalence of an underactive thyroid is 2% in the UK. An underactive thyroid is also ten times more common in women, but it can affect both genders. Children and babies can also have an underactive thyroid, with some babies born with the condition.
The Connection Between Stress and Thyroid
Your thyroid and adrenal gland work together to respond to your body’s ever-changing status to relay information to the body and the brain. The thyroid acts as the primary producer of hormones.
One hormone in specific that the thyroid produces is cortisol. Cortisol is released by the adrenal glands and helps deal with whatever is causing stress. In addition to the cortisol release, a number of other actions also take place in the body when responding to stress. The brain recognizes the situation and releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH).
This hormone directs the pituitary gland, located at the base of the brain, to inform the adrenal glands it needs to produce cortisol. Both CRH and cortisol can reduce the levels of the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which is a critically important hormone in the production of T4 and T3.
In a study conducted by Holtorf Medical Group, it was shown that chronic stress resulted in a decrease in D1 activity and an increase in D3 activity; both of which are enzymes responsible for the activation and deactivation of the thyroid hormones. This leads to an increase of T4 conversion into reverse T3. Reverse T3 inhibits cell processes, putting it in direct opposition to T3, which promotes healthy cell growth and maintenance.
Ultimately, stress can reduce the levels of TSH production. Low levels of T3 can result in:
Weight gain
Fatigue
Hair loss
Poor concentration
Cold intolerance
Depression
Infertility
Energy of the Thyroid
The thyroid influences the chemical of the entire body and acts like a regulating dial. It maintains balance and order and it is constantly adjusting to keep your body balanced.
It is connected to the throat chakra and is the point where thoughts and feelings connect to your voice and expression. It is also connected to your inner voice and how you speak to yourself.
The inner self talk could sound like:
I shouldn’t have said that.
I should be better at this by now
Self-blame, shame and guilt can cause contraction of your energy. Slowing the thyroid down. Hypothyroidism.
Or
At the other end is the ‘fight’ response. Hyperthyroidism:
I should work harder.
I have to keep busy.
Leading to patterns overactivity. Never sitting down to compensate for a deep need to be seen, heard and acknowledged.
Think about the saying "got stuck in my throat" meaning being unable to say the words you want to say, usually because of a strong emotion. Often we have been taught to hold in our voice or we may feel that even when we speak we are never heard.
In my own experience with hyperthyroidism, beginning to connect to my voice was the start of some deep healing. Using Reiki, singing mantra, using breath practices and connecting fully to those internal voices and understanding where they came from. My internal critic was strong and it took some time to understand her but it needed to be done.
Journal Prompts
How is my inner critic speaking to me?
How do I feel about my self-expression?
What area of my life could I express myself more truthfully?
What area of my life can I express myself more effectively?
How can I improve the health of my self-expression?
Please feel free to reach out if you have any issues related to the throat chakra, thyroid or stress. It could be the first step to wellness.
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