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Being diagnosed with a thyroid disorder means that stress will now play a much different – albeit larger – role in your life. Whether physical or emotional stress, your thyroid will respond by sending your body into fight mode. And once this happens, you could exacerbate the symptoms of your thyroid condition. This can be a slippery slope and requires you to take action. Routine self-care can help you keep stress under control.
When your body starts to feel stressed it will release a hormone named cortisol. Too much of this particular hormone, cortisol, can interfere with the production of the thyroid hormone. And when this happens your thyroid is stimulated, making it feel it needs to work harder in order to produce enough thyroid hormone. This can lead to hypothyroid symptoms. In other words, your stress will begin to physically show itself.
Self-care is so important to your overall physical and mental health. Taking care of yourself needs to be your top priority. Some simple self-care ideas can range from getting an appropriate amount of sleep, a warm bath, or time spent reading a good book. Adopt a routine that works for you – so that you can stick to it with ease.
Once you begin to incorporate self-care into your life regularly, you will begin to notice the positive impact it has in various ways.
Relaxation gives your body and mind time to relax. This can reduce stress and refocus your day. Not to mention that reducing stress overall plays an important role for a healthier thyroid. Taking time to relax is something that can be achieved in a 5-minute span, 30 minute or even an entire day (if you're lucky enough).
It’s a simple as quietly sitting outside by yourself, alone with your thoughts, breathing in and out and just being still. This gives the body time to decompress. Or it can be taking a hot bath and locking yourself in the bathroom for some soaking meditation alone time, away from the rest of the world (this includes kids and animals). Some people find it easy to relax by pulling out the coloring books and crayons. What healthy activity helps you relax?
Having a thyroid disorder can make sleeping a little challenging. So, implementing a sleep schedule/routine will get you on the right path for a well-deserved night's sleep.
Set up a sleep schedule, with a start time to wind down every evening. Put away any distractions, such as cell phones and tablets. Remember, your goal is to get enough sleep throughout the night. If you limit your distractions all you have left to do is lay in bed and focus on relaxing and going to sleep. This wind down process allows your adrenal glands to lower your stress response so that you can rest for the night.
These ideas may not remove all the stress from your life, but it will make your day a little relaxing and more manageable. The more regularly you engage in self-care, the healthier you will feel – and the happier your thyroid will be.
To learn more about stress concerning your thyroid, the importance of self-care for your thyroid, and the benefits of healing naturally with Dr. Randy Hansbrough and his team, call the office at (772) 287-7701 to schedule an appointment. Or sign up for a free, 30-minute consultation.
