7 strategies on how to deal with  your negative emotions (and Graves’ Disease mental symptoms)

Graves’ disease (or any thyroid disorder for that matter), as we all know, come with a nice set of mental symptoms like irritability, emotional liability, nervousness, restlessness, depression, anxiety and worrying, to name a few…

It’s a well-known psychological fact that emotions feed your thoughts and thoughts feed your emotions. If you feel angry, sad, frustrated etc. and keep thinking about the person or situation that caused you feel that way, you will “fuel” these emotions even more. That’s a never-ending circle but you can choose different emotions or different thoughts to break that vicious circle. How this happens in practice?

The emotional container of every person can hold up only certain quantity of emotions, it’s not expandable. It can hold up, let’s say, up to 2 gallons of emotions, not more. And you can fill out this container, so speaking, with whatever you want. Do you prefer joy, or sadness, or something else? It’s up to you!

There are also a few strategies that I used, and I still use to keep my negative emotions under control:

1. Exaggerating worry strategy and designating a special day of the week for your negative emotions.  Let’s say you choose Fridays to worry, be sad, self-pity yourself or be angry..This is your special day but only on this day you’re allowed to have your negative emotions. Postpone if they happen another day of the week. You’ll be surprised that this psychological trick really works!
2. I am challenging you on this particular day to take a short break and start worrying about everything that comes to your mind: your job, your money, your mortgage, your husband, your kids, your parents, about global warming and politics, about deadlines and health. Start worrying and continue this way to the point where you become one big walking “Worry” and nothing else.
3. Now, let’s turn this upside down  or, as I like to say, flush this emotional toilet. Replace these very “unproductive” thoughts and turn your worries into: What if only good things happen to me… What if…. I find a better job, my kids do well at school, they are healthy, kind and understanding, my parents are in good health, my husband /wife wants to cook me a dinner or take me out, I have enough money, I finish my projects on time and so forth. What you gonna do with all that goodness that come on your way? You get my point. When these types of thoughts fill up your emotional toilet there will be no space left for the negative ones. We can worry about positive things as well, if we choose to do so.  It’s that simple.
4. Cultivate gratitude. Every night before going to bed grab a notebook and list just 3 things that you are grateful or blessed for (only for that particular day).  These could be things like: food on your table, roof over your head, the beautiful day outside, the rain, the nice sales person, the time you had to rest, a promotion at work, nice conversation with a friend, good news about something. I am sure you can come up with something worth writing down.

5. 

   Meditate or take some time off for yourself, even 30 min. and do nothing. Or put this 30 min on your to do list and do whatever you want.  I promise, this simple strategy will recharge your energy and make you feel better. I’ve dedicated a whole article about meditation to convince you how good this is for you.

6.  Know that to climb more you should generally carry less. To hear more, talk less. To succeed more, assume less. To gain more, resist less. To excel more, compete less. You’ve heard that from me before. So speaking, simplify your life and focus on just a few priorities (multitasking is not a fashion any more). That simple method will relieve your stress tremendously and make you feel much, much better. 

7. Make passion part of your life. This picture came to me through Facebook, (don’t forget to LIKE us:) and I decided to share that with you as a strategy of coping with negative emotions, because there is nothing that can charge us more than incorporating passion in our lives. Passion is also connected with creativity and as we know, the throat chakra is responsible for creativity. So speaking express yourself with passion! What’s your passion? Planting flowers, writing, sports, hobbies of any kind. Find out what you’re passionate about and do more of that. Doing or creating something with passion will fill up your emotional container with positive emotions (so, there will be no place for negative emotions).

I have to admit that these strategies, regardless how simple and mundane they look, require patience, discipline and consistency. You’ll be creating new habits, but healthy ones, but it’s worth trying.

Happy flushing your emotional toilet!

If you have your own strategies and experience you want to share, please do so on my blog…You can’t even imagine how many people you can help. 

Svetla’s blog on Graves’ Disease and Hyperthyroidism

More on the subject of emotions:

Graves’ Disease Mental Health

Living with Graves Disease: 4 Quick Life Style Changes for Better Health and Better Life

Health and Wellness Coaching for Graves’ Disease patients

Do I have more strategies for helping your mental symptoms and negative emotions? Of course I do and they are included in my book “Mental, Emotional and psychological aspects of thyroid disorders” ($24.95).

I’ve been a “thyroid traveler” in the “thyroid world” for more than 13 years. During my long “thyroid journey”, I came to realize how many factors play a significant role not only in our thyroid sickness but also in our thyroid healing.  

I’ve found that our environment (social, family and work) has a tremendous role for the onset of thyroid disorders. Not only that: stress (chronic or single traumatic event) often acts as a trigger. Certainly, everyone has stress in their lives of all kind but how we handle it is another question. 

The reason why some people handle it and others cannot be explained with special personality traits and personal characteristics (so-called the Five Big Personality traits). “Thyroid people” possess a unique combination of these personality traits, allowing them to accumulate stress and stay in highly stressful and harmful situations until they become literally physically or mentally ill. 

In addition to that, their basic needs are not met on a constant basis (so speaking: belongingness, validation, nourishment, sensory and sexual need), all this generally due to the lack of sufficient self-esteem. I know from personal experience that a person with adequate self-esteem (not self- confidence!) will protect his boundaries, will know what is good or bad for him or his body, will not exhaust his mind and body for the sake of others, will not overwork himself to the point of exhaustion, will be able to say “no” when necessary. Because see, 13 years ago I couldn’t any of this. The list is not exhaustive or complete. But let’s see how all this relates to your thyroid disorder?

Sickness has its cycle, it has a beginning and it has an ending. Sickness starts because something went really wrong and can only end when things are done right. It is all possible, sickness is reversible, I know that from personal experience. 

To examine the self-esteem specific domain (which I believe is one of the most important when talking about treating thyroid disorders) please read and check below which of these you proudly possess (Be brave, I am not watching).

1. Overworking yourself to the point of exhaustion.
2. Not taking good care of yourself.
3. Suffering and going above and beyond your limitations, physical or mental, so that others can feel good and happy.
4. Not able to say “no” when you feel you need to do so.
5. Tolerating and accepting assaulting behavior, unnecessary criticism and people causing you harm.
6. Blaming yourself for all the things that went wrong.
7. Trying to be responsible for everybody, for their actions and behavior.
8. Doing things for people whom you don’t like.
9. Being very critical toward yourself and others.
10. Difficulty knowing who to trust and when to trust.
11. Thinking that other people are focused on and critical about what you say or do.
12. Tendency to let fear and anxiety control many of your decisions.
13. Avoiding making changes in your life because you are fearful of making a mistake or failing.
14. Being very fearful of criticism, disapproval, or rejection.
15. Feeling guilty because you have your own needs and desires.
16. Staying in and keeping relationships that are abusive, insulting, or offensive.
17. Fulfilling unreasonable demands, because you are hungry for the approval of others (you can admit it to yourself, I am not judging you).
18. Feeling like a victim of people and circumstances and as a result, becoming emotionally stuck and immobilized.
19. Being unable to affirm or reinforce yourself positively even though, let’s face it, you are an overachiever.
20. Being unable to make an honest assessment of your strengths, qualities, and good points, thus, you find it difficult to accept compliments or recognition from others.
21. Making decisions based on what would please others, rather than on what you want or without even considering what you want.
22. Feeling others are mistreating you, or are taking advantage of you.
23. Being unable to speak up for yourself.

If you checked many of the above items, you, my friend, are in big trouble. Bluntly put, this might be the biggest cause of your sickness. And you have to change your mind, right now, first.

Because low self-esteem, besides the “action” side (things that we do as a result of this low self-esteem), also has an “emotional” side, unfortunately. As a result of all of the above “wrong doings”, people with low self-esteem are very likely to accumulate a bouquet of negative emotions like (check again): anxiety, sadness, irritation, frustration, annoyance, emotional sensitivity and liability, hostility, shame, aggression, resentment, embarrassment, loneliness, lack of spontaneity, constant self-doubt, and insecurity. This is just unavoidable. At some point all this will result in inability to handle stress and everyday life challenges in general.

Do you see now how it is all related? Then the disease (thyroid or not depending on your character traits) is just a step away because your whole system will simply collapse.

Working on your self-esteem is one of the most important factors in your healing process, believe it or not. I am not saying that it is an overnight cure, but it is an important starting point (along with your diet, supplements, and physical exercises). Then everything will start to fall into place and your healing will begin!

How do you work on your self-esteem and is it possible to change it for good? Yes, it is possible. Details on how to do that are included in my newest book “Mental, Emotional and Psychological Aspects of Thyroid Disorders” (ebook), now available on Amazon, (paper book) Kindle and Nook for Barnes& Noble (click on the corresponding links or directly below to purchase). 

To further prove my point that your mind can, indeed, help the healing of your thyroid, I am also providing coaching consultations. You’ll also need the Skype program installed on your computer (it’s free) and a camera so we can see each other. Details about the sessions you can find here:

Coaching sessions for thyroid patients

I am specifically interested  in working with people with their thyroid still intact (if possible), those who are highly motivated to reverse their disease or desperate people who think that “nothing else helps” their condition. Because there is always a way out, no matter what.

I’ll look forward to helping you!

Svetla

Your Thyroid and Emotional Health

by Svetla Bankova

(P.S. For the purposes of this writing, I would define unhappiness in a few different ways, including, but not limited to: strong dislike of your job, marriage or relationship, constantly worrying about money, living in resentment, lack of enjoyable hobbies, anxious and “wandering” mind, loneliness, tolerating chronic stress, low self-esteem and last but not least, disapproval and dissatisfaction of your own self).

I’ve always believed in the hypothesis that the mind and body are connected and most of our diseases are psychosomatic, meaning that there is a relation between the mental/emotional states and the physical symptoms. I have a good reason to believe this because for most of my life I’ve worked as a body psychotherapist and studied people’s physical and mental diseases for a living. I have studied the applied extensively the works of Wilhelm Reich and Alexander Lowen, as well as some other psychosomaticists,  and have found good support of their findings on a very practical level.

I know for sure that unhappy people do get sick with physical disorders more often than happy people do and that specifically pertains to autoimmune disorders. I know for sure that the thyroid and emotional health are closely connected. When the emotional state of my clients improved, so did their thyroid disorder.

Scientifically speaking, there are few scientific pieces of research on the connection between overall life satisfaction, happiness, and autoimmune disorders. This correlation is important to be acknowledged and investigated in sense of prevention and successful treatment of autoimmune disorders, and not only Graves’ Disease, but other autoimmune diseases like Diabetes type 1, Rheumatoid arthritis or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Vitiligo and in rare cases Lupus syndrome. In many cases, I’ve seen people suffering from more than one autoimmune disorder and some of you can definitely relate to this.

But why is that so, I thought?

I am not the first one asking myself this question. Many research studies in the past covered the connection between general well-being and other diseases, including but not limited to spinal cord injury, snoring, obesity, osteoporosis, Turner’s syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and migraine, however not enough studies have explored their connection with the autoimmune disorders. Here is some scientific support in that aspect as well:

1. According to Barak Y., (2006) from the Psychogeriatric Department, Abarbanel Mental Health Center in Israel, humans possess the ability to experience positive and negative emotions and these emotions have a tremendous effect on the physiological and immune processes. The study he conducted discusses the connection between affection, psychological well-being, and the immune system. 

The results of his study showed that pleasant emotions, regardless of the origin, increased the secretory immunoglobulin A (an important antibody agent) and decreased the salivary cortisol, which is responsible for the stress levels in individuals. Shall we go for the aromatherapy?

2. A similar study, involving pleasant stimuli, was conducted by Watanuki S, Kim YK. (2005) from the Department of Human Living Design, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. The results of their study revealed that the pleasant odor (used as pleasant stimuli in the study), increased the activity of the left frontal brain region, while beautiful emotional pictures increased the vasomotor activity of the sympathetic nervous system.

Enjoying and reading good books seemed to increase the secretory immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) and reduced the salivary cortisol (s-cortisol).  The study undoubtedly proves the correlation between different pleasant experiences and the immune system and accordingly, presumes that the well-being and happiness of the individual are connected with the performance of his immune system even on a pure chemical level. 

3. Stress and anxiety are other factors influencing the general feeling of happiness as recorded by General Psychological Well-Being Index (PGWBI), and therefore affecting the immune system. As proven in a study conducted my O’Leary, Ann (1990) regarding connection between stress, emotions and immune system, acute stressors in the form of single events may produce different reactions on the immune system, while chronic stress factors like unemployment, unhappy marriage and being under stress for a prolonged period of time definitely leads to suppression of the immune system, which may or may not recover with the time.

4. How happiness is good for people’s health and if this has anything to do with longevity is discussed in a research paper of 30 different studies regarding happiness and longevity by Veenhoven, R. (2008). He studied the effect of long-lasting unhappiness, triggering the flight or fight reaction, which has negative effects on health in a prolonged period of time and lowers the immune system response.  However, he found, happiness helps people not to get sick somehow, benefits preventing illness and has a great effect on longevity.

5. These findings followed a study, conducted in 1973 by Dr. Grossarth-Maticek, who used a special test to measure the level of pleasure and satisfaction of a thousand old residents of Heidelberg, Germany.  He conducted another test 21 years later and discovered that 300 people out of the tested reported high satisfaction of life and are thirty times more likely to survive and still feel well.  It appears that satisfaction of life can make you not only healthier but also can promote long life.

6. The influence of emotions on people with thyrotoxicosis, which is an autoimmune disease as well, were also discussed in a study by Mandelbrote B., MD, Wittkower  E.,  M.D, (1955). They studied, together with an endocrinologist, surgeon, a radioactive-iodine expert, two psychiatrists, and a psychologist, 25 cases with thyrotoxicosis. Among some of the other important results, it was found that the patients with thyrotoxicosis demonstrated increased anxiety and depression compared to the control group.

Speaking of all of the above, I would suggest that you try to raise your “happiness levels as soon as possible if you want some permanent cure of any disease for that matter. And don’t forget that the three grand essentials of happiness are: something you enjoy doing, something to love unconditionally, and something to hope for.

More tools to be happy:

101 Self-Loving Acts

101 Ways to Deal with Stress

References

Barak Y., The immune system and happiness. Autoimmun Rev. 2006 Oct;5(8):523-7.

Blakeslee, T. R., & Grossarth-Maticek, R. (2000). Feelings of pleasure and well-being as  predictors of health status 21 years later. http://www.attitudefactor.com

Mandelbrote B., MD, Wittkower  E.,  M.D, Emotional Factors in Graves’ Disease. Psychosomatic Medicine 17:109-123 (1955)

O’Leary, A. (1990). Stress, emotion, and human immune function. Psychological Bulletin, 108(3), 363-382. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.108.3.363

Olivier Chassany MD PhD, Elof Dimenäs PhD, Astra Zeneca, Dominique Dubois MD FFPM, Albert Wu MD PhD MPH, The Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI) User Manual, MAPI Research Institute 2004

Veenhoven, R. (2008). Healthy happiness: Effects of happiness on physical health and the consequences for preventive health care. Journal of Happiness Studies, 9(3), 449-469. doi:10.1007/s10902-006-9042-1

 Watanuki S, Kim YK., Physiological responses induced by pleasant stimuli. J Physiol Anthropol Appl Human Sci. 2005 Jan;24(1):135-8.

How are you treated from Graves’ Disease and Hyperthyroidism? Mental disorders versus physical disorders treatment and what’s the difference?

Any mental disorder is considered “abnormal” functioning of cognition, mood, emotions or behavior. “Abnormal” means out of the norm established by the majority of people. Abnormal is characterized by the 4 D’s- deviation, distress, dysfunction and danger. Any physical disorder, regardless if it is physical or autoimmune disorder is also abnormal- it deviant from the “health” norm, it causes distress and dysfunction and it could be dangerous, I mean, yes, you can die.

 Why I am bringing up mental versus physical disorders treatment? Because, regardless of their origin, they should be treated with similar understanding and similar approaches. How’s that?

All mental disorders are discussed by scientists in the frame of different models, to be more specific there are about 400 therapy approaches, including biological, all aiming to treat mental disorders. So why the physical disorders should be approached and treated only in accordance with the biological model- i.e medication, RAI or surgery for Graves’ Disease for example?

Many mental disorders are discussed as a result of biological and chemical dysfunctions: low activity of the neurotransmitter gamma- globulin acid (GABA) may lead to anxiety disorders, schizophrenia is explained with dopamine overactivity and depression is linked to low serotonin and norepinephrine levels. Hormones are the other factor, found to influence some mood disorders, especially the cortisol, the stress hormone. And this hormone affects people with Graves’ disease as well! Accordingly, the supporters of bilogical model apply drug therapies, electroconvulsive therapy or even brain surgeries in attempt to correct these abnormalities. Very similar to the conventional treatment options for Graves’ disease, as you see: your hormones are not right and we will fix that with drugs (or RAI or surgery). These are the only approved by the conventional medicine methods of treatment, not only in the USA, but worldwide.

However, mental disorders, luckily, are not treated only in accordance with this biological- medication method. As I already mentioned, 400 different psychotherapies are used worldwide as well. So, then why an autoimmune disease like Graves’ cannot be treated equally, with other available options? Let’s make a parallel between different models and treatments:

Psychodynamic model: The three forces that define abnormal behavior, according the father of this theory Sigmund Freud are the instincts (ID), rational thinking (or Ego) and moral standards (Super Ego). The Id functions on the pleasure principle and includes instinct needs, sexual impulses and desires. The ego is connected with the experience acquired through the years and it acts on the reality principle, and provides information regarding whether or not it is safe to express impulses generated by the Id. Superego represents the moral authority and individual’s values and ideals. Those three forces are adjusting and developing through the years and if these adjustments are successful, that leads the individual to normal psychological development. If the process fails, the person gets fixated in certain stage of development and that leads to abnormal behavior and abnormal functioning. How about we consider as well Graves’ disease or hyperthyroidism as a result of this conflict between ID, Ego and Superego, but it manifests itself not on a mental, but physical level?

Behavioral model supports the theory that all actions are result of certain experiences in life and how the individual responds to the surrounding environment. Accordingly, the behavior can change in response to the environment. Behavioral theory distinguishes a few forms of conditioning that can shape human behavior: operant conditioning, related to receiving rewards for certain behaviors, classical conditioning, based on the associations made by the individual when two events occur simultaneously and modeling, which pertains to the observation of certain behavior in others. Behavioral approach seeks what particular behaviors are causing the abnormality and tries to replace these behaviors by applying the principles of modeling, operant conditioning and classical conditioning. How about we consider Graves ’ disease as a result of the environment and your behavior is causing that physical “abnormality” called Graves’ disease?

Cognitive model explains abnormality as a result of inaccurate assumptions, thoughts, attitudes and conclusions that may lead to abnormal behavior of the individual. Another reason found by cognitive model that may result in abnormal functioning is the illogical thinking and overgeneralization. People often follow illogical ways of thinking and draw self- harming conclusions, which sometimes result from one single, small negative event. How we consider Graves’ Disease as a result of these inaccurate assumptions and actions and according to them people get  sick with Graves’ disease, instead of depression?

Humanistic- existential model suggests that when children are not raised in positive environment they create inaccurate view of themselves and their life experiences, which may generate psychological problems later on in their lives as adults. Abnormality is viewed by existentialist as lack of responsibility regarding life and clients are encouraged to take responsibility of their lives, chose a different course, different actions and greater meaning. How about redesigning your life and taking different course and action, different from the one that caused Grave’s disease on a very first place?

These are just few examples of different approaches regarding mental disorders, but why not the same models be applied to physical disorders like Graves’ disease? If you consider just the biological approach and interpretation, I believe that you are grossly reducing your chances of recovery. Because the body is not a machine, which parts, when not functioning properly, should be changed, repaired or worst of all, removed or destroyed to fix the problem.  Why people cannot realize that they are way more complex than machines and the brain and mind play an equal role for the onset of Graves’ disease? So, let’s look at the ‘whole person”, not just part of it that needs to be repaired. Then I believe the healing will begin!

Graves’ Disease and how to stay in remission

by Svetla Bankova

By the time you are reading this article, I hope very much that you don’t have Graves’ Disease or Hyperthyroidism anymore. I really hope that you achieved a Graves’ Disease remission, forever. This is my dearest wish. 

So how you manage to stay in remission and keep it away? Because we all know that it is just waiting around the corner to sneak back in our lives.

I personally constantly keep an eye on what’s going on with my body, even 10 years later. It’s just like a mark to remind me, that if I am not conscious enough, it may come again.

It’s not a battle, that you’ll forget about, may be until the rest of your life. It’s a constantly going war with the surrounding world about who will win first- and your health is the pledge. That’s what I have learned in the past 11 years. So, I want to share a few thoughts here:

• Never, ever think that it’s over. Because it’s not. Unless you killed your thyroid with RAI, or surgery. Then it’s not over again, but due to other reasons. 
• Keep the stress down, no matter what’s the price for that.
• Want less, to have more. To climb more, carry less.
• Instead of dealing with the consequences, invest in prevention. So said- eat healthy, exercise regularly and laugh a lot.
• Get enough sleep, since your body recovers from the stresses of the day while you are sleeping.
• Burn the candle at one end. Lack of sleep, poor diet and no exercise wreaks havoc on our body and mind. Kind of obvious, but worth mentioning as it’s often ignored, when we are caught in the every day life. Listen to your mother and don’t burn the candle at both ends!
• Know that you are cared for, loved, esteemed, and valued, even though you may not be told so every day by someone. If you don’t believe in the above, you are in a big trouble- take care of that.
• They say there’s more than one way to skin a cat. The same goes when you start tearing your hair out with all the frustration, grief, anxiety, and yes, stress. It’s a state of mental conditioning that is like taking that bitter pill down your throat, causing you to lose your sense of self, and worse your sanity. Just thinking about it can drive anyone off the edge. And they say that the proactive ones are already living off the edge, so be careful.
• Know your trigger points and hot spots. Presentations, interviews, meetings, giving difficult feedback, tight deadlines, unmanageable kids…. My heart rate is cranking up just writing these down! Figure and work them out, because it’s not worth your health, in a long term run.
•  Be thankful for what you have and who you are. Every day.

To learn more about Life Style and how to stay in remission, click here:

Life Style- with or without Graves’ Disease

 P.S. Visit my blog about Graves’ disease to share your opinion or experience, any time.

 http://gravesdiseasecure.wordpress.com

How to heal Graves Disease naturally?

7 Tips and Methods

I perfectly know how you feel, because as you know I have been there and I have experienced all the things you are experiencing right now. I feel your pain, and sorrow, and desperation. Even though I don’t know your names or any 

other information about you  I want to tell you that I understand! 

I also know that you want a simple plan how you can win this battle with Graves’ Disease and feel as you felt before, or even better. 

So, based on you emails, 

88.2% want to know  about  Natural cures (by this I mean natural methods not only herbs)

78.4% want to know alternative ways to treat Graves’ Disease (which is almost the same)

54.9% want to know more about Recent Researches on Graves’ Disease

43.1% want to know more about test results

The fact is that if you really want to get rid of this disease, you have to make it a PRIORITY. Your life in the next few months has to revolve around your HEALTH and nothing else! Because if you are not healthy, if your eyes hurt and you have Thyroid Eye Disease, if you can not sleep, you can not get pregnant, and you want to, if you have palpitations etc.- what in the world matters more than your Health?

The question is: What are you ready to change, what you are ready to give up and sacrifice so you can heal your Graves’ Disease or Hyperthyroidism?

And yes, we are talking about your HEALTH,  we are not talking about a new fancy dress, a new fishing rod, dinner in the new restaurant around the corner, Halloween costume, family movie visit..

You can’t heal your Graves’ Disease if you keep doing the same things that you did before, no way. You have to fight Graves’ Disease on a few levels, not only one or as I call them “axes”. I found that there are 7 axes of Graves’ Disease Healing:

1. Psychological level- understanding the cause of the disease

2. Healthy Diet (what to eat and not to eat, drink and not to drink)

3. Appropriate physical exercises/ workout programs (actually no workout!)

4. Herbs that can help you and how to use them

5. Vitamins and Supplements to strengthen your immune system

6. Other alternative methods that can improve your health 

7. Mental and Emotional Aspects of Graves’ Disease

You will probably have to:

–    change your mind

–    change your life style

–    change what you eat and what you drink

–    change your relationships

–    change your exercise/ workout program

–    change what do you do every day

–    change your job, if you have to

–    change the way you view yourself and the others

–    change your vitamins and supplements

–    change your doctor, if necessary

And this is not just a makeover… This disease is here to change everything in your life.

The question is: Are you ready for a CHANGE?

To learn how to cope with Graves’ Disease, as I did, get your copy of “Life Manual for Graves’ Disease and Hyperthyroidism” today:

Graves’ Disease Books

     
 Health Coaching for Thyroid Patients- 7 Signs that You Need a Health Coach

How many times you’ve said to yourself: I can’t do it, it’s too much, it’s overwhelming, I don’t know where to start, I need a plan and I can’t make one, and if I do, I can’t stick with it.   If you heard yourself saying that, I would suggest hiring a Health coach. These are your particular reasons:

1. You feel like you’re chasing your tale. No matter what decision you make to change your life, your diet, your habits or anything that needs to be changed, you end up doing NOTHING. You need a Health coach, to create an action plan and walk you through the process.
2. No matter how well you know you have to tell your husband to pick up his dirty dishes, to hire a baby sitter, or to spend less than 70 something hours in the office, or get rid of your constantly wining friend, ask for a raise, or just get a decent massage, or a manicure for that matter- and you are not doing it… You need a Health coach as a sounding board, a non-judgmental friend, a partner to whom you can voice your concerns and fears, and even practice “how to say difficult things to loved and not so loved ones”.
3. You continue to swear that this will be your last junk food, and you’ll eat healthy, nutritional foods only, and you’ll take your vitamins and supplements and drink 8 oz of water with every meal- but you’re still not doing it. Well, you need a health coach, to create a diet plan for you, and help you stick with that plan, for your own sake.
4. You promised yourself, and it’s also included in your New Year’s resolutions, that you’ll go to the gym at least 3 times a week, or run, or bike, or do meditation or yoga, but you’re so tired to even get out of the bed or think about it. You need a Health Coach so you can find out what’s the best option for you, that will suite your health needs and goals.  The Health coach will hold your hand while you’re doing the small steps.
   
5. You don’t know where to start, it all seems so overwhelming, and difficult, and challenging, and so you just drop off everything. You need a Health coach to keep you accountable and prioritize with you, and make plans with you and for you, until you can do that on your own.
6. You want to be stress-free. You want to be healthy. You want to be better. You want to change your life style, once and forever. You need a Health Coach.
7. Last but not least- you have a chronic disease, like Graves’ Disease and Hyperthyroidism, and it’s not getting any better for the past few months, you definitely need a Health coach, to guide you through saving your own health. Health Coaching can help you change the destructive life style that led to the manifestation of this disease.

 
For sure, have in mind that Health coach is not any of the following:

·        A personal trainer

·        A gym teacher

·        A yoga instructor

·        Someone barking orders at you

None of the above! And the coaching process is very simple, it will respond to all of these questions for you:

1. What do you want to accomplish?
2. How your life will be different?
3. What are you doing already in that direction?
4. What’s on your way now?

5. What small step you can make today, tomorrow, this week, this month that will move you toward your goal?

1. What help and support you need today, from me, or anybody else?

If you want to learn more and schedule  your coaching session now, and move on, click here:

Special  Health Coaching Sessions for Thyroid Patients       

Hyperthyroidism & Emotions

Graves’ Disease- A Missed Call for Love?

Despite recent advances in diagnostic procedures and the development of new techniques for removing or damping down the function of the thyroid gland, the enigma of Graves’ disease remains unsolved. Why the thyroid starts functioning abnormally, why antithyroid medication can succeed in damping down the function of the thyroid gland in some people and not in others, cannot be explained.

A relationship between severe emotional shock and the onset of hyperthyroidism had been noted by clinicians since the first descriptions of the disease entity. Cases in which the illness starts immediately after a severe shock continue to be seen.

However, the presence of emotional shock is not the only imperative for the appearance of Graves’ Disease or Hyperthyroidism. By emotional shock, I mean traumatic life events or living under continuous stress (family or work related). A sudden event then may trigger Graves’ Disease, depending on the persons pre-disposal to autoimmune disorders. You can check possible traumatic events here: Graves’ Disease Causes.

It appears that the presence of extended emotional disturbance or stress, even in cases where is not so evident, is a good enough reason for the onset of these diseases.

My personal observations as a former patient with Graves’ Disease, as well as my investigation as a psychologist, show that the stability of Graves’ Disease/ Hyperthyroid patients rests upon the ability to gain affection and protection by doing for others, or taking care of the others. They appear to be friendly, out-going, and likable persons, perhaps because they have unconsciously cultivated ways of being liked, usually giving much and asking little. They concentrate their efforts on gaining the affection of a parent, a child, friends, and a group of people or a spouse by self-sacrifice.

Unless they can give of themselves they feel unwanted and rejected. Even though they are unable to “assert” their own needs openly, they nevertheless expect unswerving fidelity in return for their over solicitude. That’s the way they are able to control the people around them and that’s how so-called “neurosis of power” is created.

As a result, the patient is left helpless, betrayed and enraged. It appears that the basic need of these patients is for more love than they can get at that particular moment and for a prolonged period of time. At a certain point, the disease starts to manifest on different levels.

For me, this is one of the basic psychological reasons for the onset of Graves’ Disease and Hyperthyroidism- the inability of the patient to communicate their need for love, as well as to receive love.

The structure of this psychological phenomenon lies in the following scheme:

 Basic needs (love, food, acceptance, sense of belonging, sexual needs etc.)—–>  not satisfied due to different reasons (rejection, inability to ask for etc.) —–>Aggressive Response Anxiety —–>Defense Against Anxiety ——> Reaction Formation (ostentatious display of independence or/and affection)——>Break Down —–>> Ineffectual Defense Structure with overwhelming Anxiety is apt to produce thyrotoxicosis.

Final Thoughts For Your Consideration:

1. Determine your basic needs- here and now. What do you need: love, food, tenderness, attention, validation, what exactly?

2. Can you use different methods of communication to ask for what you need?

3. Make a list of activities that will endorse your sense of self-love. What do you for yourself? How do you love yourself? 

4. Make decisions based on your real needs and therefore create a lifestyle based on these needs. If your job is not giving you what you want, look for another one, if your spouse is not what you want- speak up or leave, etc. (easily said than done, I know). But there is always a way out of any situation. 

5. Clear relationships and communications. Speak up how you feel. Don’t attack verbally the other people. Aggression is not the way. But you still can say what you think at least. 

6.  Love your disease, this is the way how your body and your soul want to remind you that they still exist. Honor them. 

Love, Chemistry and Graves’ Disease- the Chemical Connection

How do we can explain the chemical connection between Graves’ disease and Love? Is there such connection at all? Yes, it seems there is- Abdulrahman Alkhowaiter, a Doctor of Natural Medicine and one of my clients seemed to find this connection or us. He was also so kind to allow me to publish
his findings on my website, so everyone can read them. So here we go:

“Svetla, I wanted to elaborate on your discussion of Thyroid disease and the link to mental stress or emotional shock:

During heavy stress situations, the Adrenal glands in both humans and animals respond automatically. Since the animal and human body is blind to the actual situation, it considers that the shock is a physical one (even when it is a purely emotional issue such as death of spouse or divorce), and the Adrenal gland is commanded to excrete high levels of several Adrenal hormones by the master gland, or Hypothalamus gland located near the brain.

These hormones include Adrenaline, Cortisol, and other catabolic hormones secreted into the bloodstream, in anticipation of a major physical injury which will require immediate rebuilding and repair of tissue. In addition, DHEA, an Anabolic (good) hormone produced by the Adrenals is sharply reduced in output. Therefore the catabolic hormones are the most dangerous in the short and long term, because these begin a physical breakdown (Catabolism) of human tissues to release isolated amino acids such as L-Glutamine, and other agents such as minerals (copper, zinc, sulfur, Iron ) to be used to rebuild the “damaged” tissues when the physical injury occurs.

It is the internally generated chemicals when produced in high quantities that are directly responsible for the destruction of tissues such as the Thyroid gland. Those people undergoing emotional shock, and who have a robust thyroid gland and robust organs can resist this attack and can recover with no long-term effects. Many others do not because they have unhealthy organs, to begin with, which are borderline functioning, and the result of this chemical attack then becomes permanent damage. Can it be repaired? Yes, but it requires highly scientific nutrition based upon a deep biological understanding.

You yourself are one example of someone who has done just that. And what does love have to do with it? External Love and deep internal satisfaction cause the Hypothalamus gland to command other glands to release large amounts of Anabolic hormones such as HGH, DHEA, Testosterone, IGF-1, and others, which have the opposite effect as compared to the Catabolic hormones. Also, Cortisol, Adrenaline, and other Catabolic hormone levels sharply drop in response to commands from the Hypothalamus during this time.

The end result is the ability to rebuild damaged tissues that were adversely affected during the emotional stress period.

 Wish you well,

Abdulrahman Alkhowaiter

Doctor of Natural Medicine

So, as you see- Chemistry is everywhere- even when we talk about Love and Graves’ Disease.

Stay well,

Svetla Bankova

Graves’ Disease Mental Health. Emotional Aspects of Hyperthyroidism.

The relationship between psychiatry and thyroid dysfunction has attracted a good deal of attention for the following reasons:

1. Thyroid disorders, such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, can be accompanied by prominent mental abnormalities.
2. Thyroid hormones have been used in the treatment of certain psychiatric conditions.
3. Some drugs used for the treatment of mental illness can affect the thyroid gland.

As you already know, a frequent complaint of Graves’ Disease patients and their friends and family is the emotional lability, frequent mood changes, and hysterical symptoms with no apparent reasons. Periods of depression may alternate with manic-like symptoms. Some of the patients can experience panic-attack likely symptoms. The situation is even worsened by the fact that these patients get little or no sleep and have repeated palpitations throughout the day which additionally may contribute to their emotional condition. Sleep deprivation is found to be one of the most debilitating symptoms as it may change your perception of the world completely and may worsen your other symptoms. 

People with an overactive thyroid may exhibit marked anxiety and tension, emotional lability, impatience and irritability, distractible overactivity, exaggerated sensitivity to noise, fluctuating depression with sadness, and problems with sleep and appetite.

All disorders related to, or as a result of Hyperthyroidism or Graves’ Disease can be classified as Mental Disorders due to a General Medical Condition.   

According to the previous edition of DSM IV (the American Psychiatric Association Classification Book), a mental disorder Due to a General Medical Condition is characterized by the presence of mental symptoms that are judged to be the direct psychological consequence of general medical condition – in that case, Graves’ Disease or Hyperthyroidism.

There are a few disorders often associated with Graves’ disease:

1. So-called Mood Disorders and more specifically Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar Disorder consists of two Main Episodes:

A) Depressed Episode (depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, feeling of sadness and emptiness, irritable mood, markedly diminished interest or pleasure in almost all activities, significant weight loss when not dieting, (or weight gain for no apparent reason), insomnia nearly every day etc. 

B) Manic episode: A distinct period of abnormality and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, lasting at least one week.  During the period of mood disturbance, three or more of the following symptoms have persisted: inflated self- esteem or grandiosity, decreased need for sleep, more talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking etc. 

2. Anxiety Disorders are the other group of disorders often associated with Graves’ Disease. Panic Attack is often mistaken with the palpitations, accelerated heart rate, shortness of breath etc. Panic Attack is not a codable disorder, but in order to be classified as a Panic Attack, there should be an intense fear or discomfort.

3. Histrionic Personality Disorder. This personality disorder could be described as a pervasive pattern of excessive emotionally and attention seeking, indicated by the following: is uncomfortable  in situations in which he or she is not the center of attention, inappropriate sexually seductive or provocative behavior, rapidly shifting expression of emotions, or uses physical appearance to draw attention to self.

Most of the above-mentioned symptoms could be present when someone is diagnosed with Graves’ Disease. In fact, most of the times the mental symptoms proceed the disease itself can be developed together with the disease, or exist separately without no evident connection.

More serious mental disturbances which used to accompany “thyroid crisis”, such as acute psychotic episodes, delirium, and fever are rarely seen these days as a result of the improved detection of the illness and availability of effective treatment.

When it comes to Graves’ disease mental health, I believe that all the organs and systems in our body are connected. Accordingly, when treating one disease any medical doctor should have in mind possible mental symptoms as well. In all cases, if any of those symptoms are present due to whatever reason, I suggest you consult a psychotherapist or psychologist so you can work on your psychological symptoms as well. If they are a result of your medical condition and the disease has been treated accordingly, these symptoms are more likely to disappear as well.

To learn more about how to deal with mental, emotional and psychological aspects of Graves’ Disease and Hyperthyroidism you can my newest ebook “Mental, Emotional and Psychological Aspects of Thyroid Disorders”. In this book, I explain all mental, emotional and psychological aspects of thyroid disorders, as well as different approaches for their treatment.  The book is also available on Amazon if you prefer the paper version. 

And if you need a convenient, affordable online counseling, please check Betterhelp.com. 

Svetla Bankova

Myth #1: If you don’t do anything, Graves’ Disease will go away. How about I just pray?

Wrong: If you don’t do anything you may face a thyroid storm, which is a very dangerous, life threatening condition. Symptoms include, but are not limited to:  high fever, severe palpitations, vomiting, delirium etc. – all of them are very serious complications that can lead even to a heart failure. Do not play with the fire!

Myth #2: There is a miracle pill, which I can take and I can get cured overnight from Graves’ disease/hyperthyroidism.

Wrong: There isn’t such a thing as a magical pill that can cure any disease overnight, not only Graves’ Disease and Hyperthyroidism. That especially pertains to chronic or autoimmune disorders. Usually, it takes the same amount of time for healing as for the physical manifestation of the disease. You disease didn’t show up overnight, it can’t go way overnight! So, be patient!

Myth #3: RAI (Radioactive Iodine Treatment) is a safe and fast way to resolve my hyperthyroidism problems.

Wrong: Sorry to disappoint you, but if you believe that swallowing radioactive iodine is that safe, what’s the big fuss about the earthquake in Japan a few years ago? What about Chernobil a few decades ago? People wouldn’t be going around with masks and moving to different parts of the world, wouldn’t they if it was so safe? Hyperthyroid cats treated with that same radioactive pill wouldn’t be locked in metal containers for 2 weeks straight, right? But who believes that it is safe for people?

Myth #4: Proper diet for Graves’ Disease and Hyperthyroidism is the only therapy that can fix my health problems.

Wrong: No matter what you eat, no matter how much broccoli and cabbage you consume overnight that alone will not cure you from Graves’ Disease. Shoudl I eat junk food then? Definitely not! Keeping up with a good (goitrogenic or gluten free) diet will help tremendously but it’s’ not the only pre-requisite remedial factor for Graves’ Disease.

Myth #5: I have to trust my endocrinologist 100% on treating my Graves’ Disease and to do whatever they say I should do. Yes, of course you should trust your doctor, but….. 

Wrong: Doctors, at least most of them, do their best to treat properly their patients, to the best they have been taught. However, all humans are different and sometimes same medications and treatment options may have a completely dissimilar impact on different people. Do your own judgment, watch carefully how you feel and what reactions you have to medications for example and finally, trust your intuition. In order to get cured you have to actively participate in the healing process and if your doctor is preventing you from doing so- don’t be afraid to fire him and get another one.