Comments on: My friend has an underactive thyroid gland and is really depressed, what advice can i give her?

By: lollipop

lollipop — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:06:38 +0000

She is depressed because her thyroid is under active. The doctor will give her a pill to take everyday, and it may take up to 3 months for her thyroid to balance, then she will feel great. Meanwhile, be her friend. This is a hard time for her. Some days she is so down she just doesn’t want to get out of bed. Gaining weight is not unusual. Loosing hair and fingernails splitting are also possible. Taking antidepressants does NOT work for an under active thyroid. Just be her friend.

By: JoelleVH

JoelleVH — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:06:38 +0000

I have struggled with this myself. Is she taking medication for her thyroid? An Antidepressant will help her as well.
Just be there for her, and don’t give up on her if she doesn’t feel like going out with you. Even if you both just sit there in silence do it for her.
If things get really bad, suggest she gets help..

By: what...huh?

what...huh? — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:06:38 +0000

i have the same problem….the medicine they will give her will make her feel better. hopefully give her more energy, and help her loose weight

By: Lee

Lee — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:06:38 +0000

i have an underactive thyroid also, i am on oroxine sodium.. about a yr ago when i was 17 i got really depressed and stopped taking my meds which made me put on weight which made me turn to an all time low, My boyfriend didnt know what to do, i ended up going back on my medication and had to also start taking anti depressants. after a while i did lose the weight i had gained, i became much more happy and after 8 months i was off anti-depressants, life is amazing and just because i have a little problem with the way my body works im not going to let it get me down…My best advice is she just needs to get her mind off everything.. so you need to take her out places.. meet people and have fun.. so she realises there is nothing stopping her from doing anything…

having an underactive thyroid controlls the metabolism of the body, also can cause hormone problems and growth problems if laid undetected..

just be there for your friend, she will know your truelly there for her and she will love you for it…

goodluck sweetie xxx

By: Dr. Stat

Dr. Stat — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:06:38 +0000

If your friend has an under active thyroid (hypothyroidism) that has been diagnosed by a physician, she should have been placed on a medication called levothyroxine (it has a number of brand names including Synthroid and Levoxyl–among numerous others). Her blood serum thyroid levels will be monitored periodically by her doctor so if any dosage adjustments need to be made they can be initiated promptly. While depression can accompany untreated or inadequately controlled hypothyroidism, there may very well be other causes not related to her thyroid. Her physician should assess all possibilities and may prescribe an appropriate anti depressant medication for her.

I hope this provides you some help so that you may help her.