Psychosomatics of thyroid diseases in children and adults

Both adults and children can suffer from thyroid disorders, and effective treatment depends on an understanding of the psychosomatic aspects of these conditions. The thyroid gland is a major regulator of growth, energy production, and metabolism. There are occasions when problems with this gland are related to psychological and emotional aspects.

Thyroid issues in children can show up as attention issues, mood swings, or developmental delays. Because these symptoms are frequently disregarded or mistaken for other conditions, it’s critical for caregivers to understand the possible link between thyroid health and emotional well-being.

Thyroid disorders can have a more noticeable effect on adults, exhibiting symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and fatigue. Effective management of thyroid conditions may require addressing these emotional aspects. Examining the psychosomatic relationships can help parents and medical professionals support those with these issues more effectively.

What doctors think?

All vertebrates have the thyroid gland, which is an endocrine gland. It creates hormones (iodothyronines) containing iodine and serves as a storage facility for substances like iodine. These hormones, which the general public, who are not in the medical or scientific fields, know very little about, are involved in metabolic processes and also guarantee the growth of all body cells. Without the tiny but helpful thyroid gland in the body, the growth hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine would not exist.

Apart from facilitating our growth, the gland plays a crucial role in numerous nervous processes and its hormones are essential for the proper operation of the cerebral cortex.

In front of the trachea, beneath the larynx, is where the thyroid gland is situated. It actually resembles a shield or a butterfly with its wings spread, which is why the organ is named thyroid.

The three primary disorders are thyrotoxicosis (high function), hyperthyroidism, and hypothyroidism (low function of the gland). In extreme circumstances, cretinism and goiter may also appear.

Psychosomatics, the study of how stress, unresolved emotions, and mental strain affect physical health, can have an impact on thyroid diseases in both adults and children. By addressing both mental health and physical care, an understanding of how these emotional triggers affect the thyroid can aid in the management and prevention of such conditions.

Psychosomatic causes of hyperfunction

The medical specialty of psychosomatics examines a wide range of psychological and mental health issues and how they affect a person’s physical well-being. The thyroid gland is the shield that it resembles in shape, according to psychosomatic medicine. This is security, shielding, tranquility.

Thyroid conditions are always a clear indication that a person is suffering from anxiety and a sense of helplessness. He no longer has faith in the future or trust. Hyperthyroidism, or excessive function, is when the gland uses all of its defense mechanisms to keep the body safe. This leads to the overproduction of hormones, which has an instant impact on the condition.

People who experience extreme insecurity, lack of protection, and lack of a sense of reliability from their loved ones are frequently the ones who develop hyperthyroidism. These people suffer from constant doubts and lack faith in their loved ones.

Sometimes the level of anxiety is so high that panic attacks start. Here, the subconscious detects a threat to security and triggers the thyroid gland, acting as a "shield."

These people tend to be more anxious in their daily lives. They start to mentally prepare a table of actions for the "impending apocalypse" out of their fear of being left defenseless. They also start to shoulder a great deal of responsibility and genuinely believe in the adage, "If you want to do something well, do it yourself." They are not accustomed to depending on others or assigning portions of their duties to others, and even when they do, they have an intense desire to oversee every aspect of the process.

Individuals with hyperthyroidism are accustomed to taking care of themselves and hardly ever ask for assistance. They are struggling and exhausted, but they are waiting on someone else to solve their problems and take action because they are unable to express their exhaustion.

It’s clear from looking around and reading medical statistics that women make up the majority of hyperthyroidism patients. It will become evident very quickly if you speak with each of them that they do not trust their parents, partners, husbands, or adult children.

Women who are accustomed to competing within their own families—to outperform their husbands, to make more money, to solve home problems more quickly, and so forth—are also at risk from hyperthyroidism. When a woman stops feeling feminine and puts herself on the same level as a man, that is when things get dangerous. If she needs to work like a galley slave in order to make at least as much money as her husband, what kind of start is this?

As a result, health and fertility issues are common in women with thyroid pathologies. The official term for the cause of infertility is elevated thyroid hormone levels.

A woman is likely to develop autoimmune thyroiditis if there is a marasmic boiling point in the competition between spouses or partners. It’s a scream, a cry for help, a call to recognize that she needs protection and care immediately.

As a result, the condition known as "thyroid gland hyperfunction" is one that the patient and others in his close circle of acquaintances can cause. When a patient loses trust, others who once gave him that trust "heat up" the situation by refusing to listen to him or make any changes. Yes, it is very convenient when someone else takes on most of the responsibility and responsibilities instead of you!

Whether or not one of the parties chooses to have an open and honest confrontation will determine whether the disease spreads. The other party must acknowledge and accept the patient’s sincere need for assistance, and they must also adjust how they divide up the responsibilities.

How to treat hyperthyroidism?

In order to treat hyperthyroidism, you must first comprehend why it occurred. You must also, without a doubt, relinquish any unquestionably excessive amount of freely assumed authority and responsibility, as well as control your need to take care of and belittle people who can easily take care of themselves.

In actuality, eliminating the anxious state is the most difficult task; without it, it is impossible to consider restoring thyroid gland function.

Practices like meditation, relaxation, and realizing that the future we imagine is nothing more than our own made-up story won’t hurt. Worrying about the future is, at best, pointless, and at worst, a crime against your own well-being.

In order to tell his loved ones that he "went overboard" by taking on responsibilities that are beyond his capabilities and that he is tired, the patient will have to swallow his own "song about responsibility and strength of character." Instead of asking for assistance, simply give your loved ones a fait accompli: they must assist.

The most contentious issue is partner insecurity, particularly among female patients. They typically have no idea about their husbands, who are unemployed, don’t support the family, and make no decisions at all.

Here, there’s only going to be two options—give him the benefit of the doubt, sit back, and let him do whatever he pleases; search for a job in an emergency mode and find a way to support the family; or end the relationship and find another, more responsible and trustworthy partner.

It’s true that there is a third option: you can feel sorry for the poor, abandoned man, "help" him, go back to work, and wait for him to eventually realize his mistake, but in this instance, there won’t be any recovery. even when taking medication and being closely monitored by a renowned endocrinologist. It won’t, end of story.

Women who are unable to end such an agonizing relationship frequently experience thyroid gland node development. Nodes are now a specific indicator that the issue ought to have been resolved long ago rather than a warning.

Don’t treat your "thyroid gland" excessively if it is acting excessively. Frequently, because they don’t trust their loved ones, these patients turn to religion for the "truth" and become members of sects. There, they receive assurances that higher powers will undoubtedly look out for their future, that the cyst and tumor will vanish, and that life will get better, all of which serve to somewhat lower their anxiety levels.

It really can get better for a while. But you will realize very soon that you were duped, and the illness will resurface with full force. Furthermore, sects vary, and you might be left without a car, an apartment, or a means of subsistence in some.

A psychosomatic doctor"s view on "thyroid gland" insufficiency

Hypothyroidism, in which the gland does not produce as many hormones as are necessary for the body to function normally, is the second common disease. Those who have experienced hyperfunction frequently experience this. At times, the body suppresses thyroid function and activates defenses against excess hormones. A person eventually runs out of energy and just decides they don’t care. It’s not just exhaustion either.

If nothing changes at all, the overactive "defender" gland may eventually develop cancer, and your body does not want malignant tumors. Unconsciously, mechanisms are set in motion that ought to stop this from happening.

You should look for the source in excessive gullibility if there was no hyperfunction previously and the doctor startled you with the news of functional insufficiency right away. Some people have a pathological desire to be trusted; they are constantly "led," try to fit in with the group, and "disguise" themselves so that neither their voices nor their opinions are heard or seen. Their decisions and actions should be taken by others. These people frequently lack self-advocacy and are rather immature. Men and women make up nearly equal proportions of those with insufficient thyroid function.

The incidence of hypothyroidism is always statistically higher in populations and groups with high levels of infantilism and excessive gullibility. Iodine prophylaxis must be implemented at the state level. Recall that the USSR experienced this. The number of cases of hypothyroidism started to decline, and iodine prophylaxis was discontinued nationwide when people stopped leaving their apartments unlocked and the keys under the doormat in the entrance.

Comprehending the psychosomatic facets of thyroid disorders can provide significant perspectives on prevention and management. Acknowledging the connection between emotional stress and thyroid function facilitates treating the underlying issues instead of just the symptoms. This methodology not only enhances the well-being of the impacted population but also facilitates enhanced disease management.

A holistic approach that takes emotional well-being into account can improve conventional therapies and promote general health in both adults and children. Treatment plans that include psychological support and stress management strategies can help us develop a more all-encompassing strategy for treating thyroid diseases.

In the end, people with thyroid problems may experience better results and a more balanced life if they place equal emphasis on their physical and mental well-being. Stressing this two-pronged approach promotes a more integrated, health-conscious approach to treating thyroid disorders.

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