Psychosomatics of hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is a condition where the thyroid makes too many hormones: the heart races, you feel hot, your hands shake, you sleep badly, lose weight and get irritable. It is an illness, not a character trait, and an endocrinologist treats it. The Ladder method adds questions about constant rush and responsibility and does not replace a doctor.
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When to see a doctor
An endocrinologist or GP makes the diagnosis by blood tests for hormones, sometimes a thyroid ultrasound. The NHS advises seeing a doctor if you have signs of an overactive thyroid. Do not take iodine supplements on your own: with hyperthyroidism they can do harm.
In the Ladder method
In the Ladder method hyperthyroidism is not explained as "you drove yourself into it" or "you just need to relax". You are not to blame for the illness. Hormones change mood and sleep, and that is not weakness. Treatment with an endocrinologist comes first, and questions to yourself belong alongside it.
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In the method the thyroid fits the image of pace and responsibility: how fast you live and how much you carry. It is an image, not the cause, and it does not replace treatment.
On the ladder this shows up as the steps "it all rests on me" and "I am not allowed to stop". You can work through them at your own pace once your tests are back to normal.
These are questions for reflection, not an explanation of what causes the condition and not a treatment.
More: signs, medicine, sources, questions
How it shows up
Book a doctor’s appointment if you notice:
- The heart races or beats unevenly
- Anxiety and irritability
- Shaking hands
- Weight loss with a normal appetite
- Feeling hot, sweating
- Poor sleep and weakness
- A swollen neck
What medicine knows
Hyperthyroidism happens when the thyroid makes more hormones than normal. The NHS says the most common cause is Graves' disease, an autoimmune reaction (about 4 cases in 5). Less often the cause is lumps in the gland or certain medicines.
Women get it more often than men. Thyroid hormones speed up metabolism, so the body seems to "run at high revs".
Signs according to the NHS: nervousness, irritability, mood swings, poor sleep, constant tiredness and weakness, sensitivity to heat, a fast or irregular heartbeat, tremor, weight loss, a swollen neck (goitre).
What the doctor does and what helps: a blood test for hormones, then treatment: tablets that lower hormone production, radioactive iodine or surgery. The endocrinologist chooses the method together with you (NHS). Without treatment there can be problems with the heart and bones, so it is not worth waiting.
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Frequently asked questions
Can an overactive thyroid be from nerves?
No. The most common cause is Graves' disease, an autoimmune reaction, and sometimes lumps in the gland or medicines (NHS). Stress is not proven to be the cause, though anxiety is one of the signs of the illness itself.
What does hyperthyroidism mean in psychosomatics?
There is no proven "meaning". In the Ladder method it becomes a reason to ask yourself where you are always rushing and what you carry alone. It is a question to yourself, not a diagnosis.
Is hyperthyroidism treatable?
Yes. Tablets, radioactive iodine or surgery can be used, and an endocrinologist chooses together with you (NHS). Most people feel much better with treatment.
Related topics
Psychosomatics does not replace tests and treatment. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.