IS YOUR “NORMAL” THYROID TEST HIDING THE SOURCE OF YOUR DEPRESSION?

Copyright © 2018 – Kelly Brogan MD 1

Is Your “Normal” Thyroid Test Hiding the Source of Your Depression?Do you have one or more of the following symptoms?

✦ Unexplained weight gain or loss

✦ Swelling, puffiness

✦ Low energy, depressed mood

✦ Racing heart, anxiety

✦ Lethargy, sleeplessness

✦ Digestive disturbances, constipation or loose stools

✦ Brain fog, forgetfulness

✦ Aching muscles, cramps

✦ Hair loss, thinning

✦ Dry skin, brittle nails

If so, you could be among the nearly 200 million people worldwide (the

majority of whom are women) who have some type of thyroid problem. If you also suffer from symptoms of depression, did you know that a normal

thyroid test can be masking a critical link between these two conditions?

The Quiet RegulatorMost of us never think about our thyroids. Yet this butterfly-shaped, master

gland regulates some of the most critical functions of the human body. From the production of hormones to regulating metabolism, the thyroid helps

maintain healthy weight, overall immunity, and even regulates mood and memory functions. When one or more of these systems is disturbed, we

must explore a possible connection to thyroid to avoid treating the

symptoms while neglecting the root cause.

Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland produces too much

thyroid hormone. Characterized by feelings of anxiety, a racing heart, bouts

IS YOUR “NORMAL” THYROID TEST HIDING THE SOURCE OF YOUR DEPRESSION?

Copyright © 2018 – Kelly Brogan MD 2

of insomnia, diarrhea, and weight loss, this is more rare than underactive

thyroid, and has the potential to trigger heart and bone problems.

An underperforming thyroid, or

hypothyroidism, is a condition in which the

thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone. Despite being incredibly

common, hypothyroidism is one of the most under-diagnosed conditions in

America. At least 20 percent of all women have an under responsive thyroid – yet only half of those women get diagnosed.

And the other half? For reasons I will explain, too many of these patients are given a clean

bill of physical health, and a prescription for

an antidepressant.

Are You Really a Mental Patient?As a holistic psychiatrist, I often refer to psychiatric pretenders: physiological conditions that masquerade as symptoms of mental illness. In my

experience, a vast majority of psychiatric symptoms are actually driven by thyroid dysfunction.

I’m not alone in these observations. Scientists like Dr. Mark S. Gold, a world-

renowned addiction expert, have long known about the relationship between a dysfunctional thyroid and symptoms of depression.  Through ongoing

research, this correlation continues to be validated. So why the staggering number of missed diagnoses?

At least 20 percent of all women have

an under responsive

thyroid – yet only half of

those women get diagnosed.

IS YOUR “NORMAL” THYROID TEST HIDING THE SOURCE OF YOUR DEPRESSION?

Copyright © 2018 – Kelly Brogan MD 3

Missing the Diagnostic MarkSymptoms of thyroid dysfunction can vary broadly, and unfortunately, are not easily pinpointed in the standard diagnostic exam. Complaints of low

energy, flat mood, poor sleep, and appetite disturbance, are too easily hung on the nail of “depression”, for which an easy fix is applied – a prescription

for antidepressant medication.

The standard medical test for thyroid, called TSH, measures thyroid stimulating hormone levels. Even when doctors perform this test, their

interpretation of the clinical picture is limited by their biases. I speak from experience when I say that most physicians are simply not trained to

diagnose thyroid imbalance properly.

Where It Goes WrongTSH measures only one hormone in the blood, rather than the entire range

of thyroid-produced hormones (of which there are five identified). And doctors rarely look at free hormone levels – levels of thyroid hormones in the

blood that aren’t bound to proteins.

They also miss screening for thyroid antibodies, which would demonstrate an autoimmune component to the imbalance, distinguishing it from nutrient-

deficiency thyroid dysfunction, for example. They apply a one-size-fits-all “fix” in the form of a synthetic hormone called Synthroid. The “gold-standard”

thyroid treatment, Synthroid is the most prescribed drug on the market today.

Thanks to growing awareness among sufferers, what constitutes a normal thyroid test result has come under scrutiny. Results may fall within normal

range even when thyroid autoantibodies are grossly elevated and data suggests that this is relevant to those suffering from mood, anxiety, and

cognitive complaints.

IS YOUR “NORMAL” THYROID TEST HIDING THE SOURCE OF YOUR DEPRESSION?

Copyright © 2018 – Kelly Brogan MD 4

Current standards allow for a normal result within the range of 0.5 to 5.0.

However, variations in laboratory testing as well as deviations by age, pregnancy, and other health factors, have allowed many patients at the

fringes (and well beyond) to go undiagnosed.

Thyroid’s Relationship with AdrenalsAny effort to resurrect thyroid function cannot afford to ignore the adrenal

glands. Adrenals are small glands that sit over our kidneys. Through the production of hormones and neurochemicals, adrenals help us respond to

life’s everyday demands.

When signalled by the brain, adrenals produce the stress hormone cortisol,

which is intrinsically tied to thyroid functionality. This is key to why stress has

a direct impact on thyroid and mood. Whether through overactive cortisol production (a state of chronic fight or flight), or the brain essentially shutting

down cortisol secretion, patients who suspect thyroid dysfunction must test cortisol output throughout the day to see the big picture. When properly

tested, thyroid patients often show abnormal adrenal output. The next

question to ask is “Why?”

IS YOUR “NORMAL” THYROID TEST HIDING THE SOURCE OF YOUR DEPRESSION?

Copyright © 2018 – Kelly Brogan MD 5

Adrenal Stress FactorsWhen we consider the potential stressors affecting adrenals, the following offenders stand out:

✦ Birth control pills – Even

with normal test readings, these synthetic hormones

lower available thyroid

hormone in the body by elevating thyroid-binding

globulin. This protein binds to thyroid hormone in the

bloodstream. When thyroid-

binding globulin goes up, your thyroid levels go down.

✦ Gluten – The thyroid contains proteins that resemble those

found in gluten, confusing the

immune system, which pounces on the thyroid like a

foreign invader. Studies show people with celiac disease have

three times the risk of thyroid

dysfunction, as well as a strong association between untreated

celiac disease and depression.

✦ Fluoride – Once used to

suppress overactive thyroid, fluoride interferes with

multiple aspects of the

thyroid’s tissues, disrupts normal hormone physiology,

displaces iodine and depletes selenium, two critically

essential elements for thyroid

function. Recent research shows that fluoride in water

increases risk of thyroid illness by 30 percent.

✦ Endocrine disruptors –

Industrial and agricultural chemicals such as

phthalates, flame retardants, and PCBs interfere with the

thyroid’s biology. The

resultant disruption can present as immune system

hyperactivity, as well as disturbances in mood.

IS YOUR “NORMAL” THYROID TEST HIDING THE SOURCE OF YOUR DEPRESSION?

Copyright © 2018 – Kelly Brogan MD 6

The Canary in the CoalmineConnecting the dots between these physiological functions and mental health may seem convoluted and difficult at first, but not after you come to appreciate

the direct, intimate relationship shared between these networks in the body.

The thyroid is a canary in the coalmine. In our fast-paced, nutrient-depleted

world that’s filled with toxic substances, your thyroid gland may be the first

to come under siege.  While you may not feel the attack in your thyroid per se, you’ll feel it in your mood and cognition.

How to Test EffectivelyIf you suspect thyroid may be at the root of your depressed mood and

physical symptoms, it’s important to be empowered by facts. The idea of

your physiology working in tandem with your mental health isn’t something most doctors agree on, so be prepared to guide the process –

or find a new doctor.

For starters, insist on testing (or order your own) beyond the standard TSH.

The following breaks down my own testing protocol:

✦ Measure the full range of thyroid hormones in the blood, including thyroid antibodies. Test for TSH, T4, free T3 (FT3), reverse T3 (RT3).

✦ Screen for the autoimmune disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, by ordering thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) and thyroglobulin

antibodies (TgAb).

✦ For optimal thyroid functioning, the pattern of cortisol output must be optimized. You may choose to test your salivary cortisol although

this is why I don’t typically do this test with my own patients.

IS YOUR “NORMAL” THYROID TEST HIDING THE SOURCE OF YOUR DEPRESSION?

Copyright © 2018 – Kelly Brogan MD 7

For help interpreting the results of these tests, I recommend connecting

with an experienced functional medicine doctor or naturopath who has experience working with thyroid patients.

Safeguard Your Glands to Improve Your Mood!I share the protocol that I have used to support hundreds of patients through

their mental/health challenges in my book, A Mind of Your Own. This

protocol includes the comprehensive testing I have outlined here, which goes far beyond the standard employed by traditional doctors. But these tests are

just the beginning. The next steps are a series of diet and lifestyle adaptations that will begin to bring these critical systems back into balance.

Supporting a healthy thyroid is an exercise in holistic medicine. It starts with

supporting the immune system so it doesn’t attack the body’s own tissues and manifest as symptoms of depression – and autoimmune disease.  The

healing journey continues with the awareness of what’s really going on in your body, and deepens as you become empowered by choices that support

your vitality – mind, body and soul.

To learn more, check out A Mind of Your Own. For hands-on support with these lifestyle changes, explore the Vital Mind Reset.

IS YOUR “NORMAL” THYROID TEST HIDING THE SOURCE OF YOUR DEPRESSION?

Copyright © 2018 – Kelly Brogan MD 8