18/03/2022
quick read. a fabulous friend and a very important lady in my life have educated me with this... ever heard of it? 's it's big! oddly when i got tested at my DO's i had a specialist. it's not something i have to deal with but first step is blood work -ladies read this please!
Molecules of Emotion: Neurotransmitters and Hashimoto's
In today's post, we'll look at how hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s can lead to deficiencies in important neurotransmitters.
Molecules of Emotion
These are the “molecules of emotion,” as researcher and scientist Candace Pert, discoverer of the op**te receptor in the brain, called them in her book of the same name, Molecules of Emotion.
Deficiencies in any of these neurotransmitters can affect emotions and behaviors.
If you have these deficiencies, then your odds of improving your thinking or your behavior are greatly reduced.
What Is a Neurotransmitter?
Neurotransmitters are signaling chemicals that make it possible for us to have feelings, emotions, passions, and instincts. And with hypothyroidism, we can easily become deficient in them.
This can make your emotions go all over the map. As you may know, depression and anxiety are very common with Hashimoto’s patients.
One reason many people have these emotions is because of this connection between thyroid hormone and neurotransmitters.
Serotonin
Too little serotonin can lead to feelings of sadness, rage, and joylessness, or you may just feel like giving up. It makes you less resilient.
Serotonin is also used as a messenger to release TSH, and it modulates the production of T3 inside cells using an enzyme called 5 alpha-deodinase. It actually may influence the rate of T3 conversion.
And it works the other way, too. Thyroid hormone has a direct effect on the amount of serotonin is your body, and if you have too little thyroid hormone, this slows the synthesis of serotonin.
This is one reason that some people with hypothyroidism and functional hypothyroidism get depressed.
Dopamine
Too little dopamine can make lead to self-destructive thoughts and feelings of isolation, anger, and irritability. It’s the reward and pleasure molecule.
Being a dopamine fiend is the same as having a drug addiction.
Too little dopamine makes you feel like Why bother? There’s no reward. With serotonin deficiency, you can’t find joy. With dopamine deficiency, you can find joy, but you just feel like What’s the point?
Thyroid hormones play an important role in the release of dopamine. And studies have shown that reduced dopamine can actually raise TSH. This is yet another reason why testing TSH is sometimes not reliable for determining how well your thyroid is functioning.
Acetylcholine
Acetylcholine is a really important neurotransmitter for brain activity. It is responsible for nerve firing. Too little acetylcholine can cause memory issues, slow recall, difficulty calculating and problems with focus. Having trouble paying attention right now?
Could be that you are deficient in acetylcholine. When you are hypothyroid, your brain may use acetylcholine to make up for insufficient amounts of thyroid hormone. It’s like borrowing from Peter to pay Paul.
T3 has been found to directly stimulate acetylcholine. This is one of those neurotransmitters that I take supplements for on a regular basis. It’s great for ADD and ADHD.
GABA
GABA stands for gamma-aminobutyric acid. Too little GABA can make you feel anxious, panicked, and restless. It’s a calming agent. Therefore, too little of it makes you uptight and not in a good way.
It also affects the way TSH is released from the pituitary. It affects how much TSH is released. It also affects thyroid hormones that are stimulated by TSH., like T4.
And thyroid hormones keep GABA in your system after it is released and make more of it get released. Again, this whole process goes both ways.
You’re Not Crazy!
You’re not losing your mind; it’s the impact of hypothyroidism on your brain and these neurotransmitters.
If you have too little serotonin, that may impact your ability to bounce back and determine whether or not you get enjoyment and pleasure out of things.
Too little dopamine may impact your outlook and motivation.
Too little acetylcholine may impair your focus or concentration or your ability to finish tasks.
Too little GABA may make you unable to handle stressors. You may freak out on a regular basis over tribal things. This can also lead to anxiety and worry.
We have to look at these things. We can’t ignore it or pretend it isn’t happening like most doctors do. It’s happening all the time.
All of these neurotransmitters can be nourished. You can take the raw materials for them to help your body produce more of them when you’re deficient.
Have a great day! Unless your neurotransmitters have other plans.
pay or get off :)
