thyroid and anxiety

[mulberrie]

I have had a thyroid condition for a year, first the levels were very low, then high. Now the test is normal but i am still suffering from anxiety very badly.  Have trouble getting in to see a doctor.  Am taking carbimmazole 5mg a day.  I cannot seem to function at all well.

[redheadaussie]

I presume you have Grave's disease? Or are they just treating you as hyperthyroid because your levels were too high?
Have you got any blood test results we can see? Normal doesn't mean normal to a thyroid patient!  
How long have you been taking the carbimazole?
Anxiety is common when levels are still high. Especially the Free T4, have you had that tested?
I see you are in UK and I know getting tested for Free T3 is going to be next to impossible, but have you had that tested too? What is your TSH at present and what was it before?
Cheers

[danie17075rm]

I can sympathize!  I am having the exact same problem!  About 6 months ago my thyroid fluctuated from hypo to hyper and ever since I have had horrible anxiety and panic attacks.  The first few months of being hyper were some of the worst few in my whole life.  I couldn't get out of bed, and even laying there my heart just raced and I had this constant nervous adrenaline feeling surging through my body.  If I stood up I would get dizzy and my heart would race and I couldn't breathe.  I went on atenolol (beta blocker) which does help block that feeling.  That part got a little better, but I still have anxiety and panic attacks.  Mine were so severe that neither xanax or Ativan helped at all.  What has helped is the following.  I control my breathing.  Hold your breath if you are breathing fast just to slow you breathing down.  Take on long deep breath in through your nose, and a slow breath out of your mouth.  There is also an energy technique of tapping.  Tap your chest under your neck.  This REALLY does help.  I do this through out the day.  As far as supplements go lemonbalm tea worked wonderfully, but its supposedly controversial for the thyroid, so I only use it in an emergency.  Peter gillhams calm powder works PRETTY good.  It's a magnesium powder that is easily digested.  It definitely lowered my anxiety.  They also make something called inositol powder which has been used to treat panic disorder.  I use this every day as well, and it too helps that daily anxiety feeling.  Valerian tea helps for calming, but you can't take it with carbimmazole so I won't recommend that.  Other than that, there are some homeopathy products that help a bit.  Bach's flowers have a rescue spray and rescue pastilles.  You can buy them at meijers now if you have one near you or any health store.  These DO help, but they can't be used everyday or they lose effectiveness.  I save them for when I panic in a store or out in public.  Mainly though, calming teas and the powders I mentioned have been a life saver for me.  They have not cured my thyroid, which is like yours and moving up and down.  I think it's something to do with the high antibodies that cause the anxiety.  Really I think we just have to hang in there until we can get things under control.  I am really hoping mine gets better, and yours does as well.  Good luck.