Last Updated on September 24, 2023 by Anna Baumann

Graves Disease and Depression

There was a time just before I was diagnosed with Graves Disease, that I was in a very dark place emotionally. It could be a coincidence, but it came after a series of stressful events. (If you’re curious about my stressful events, you can learn more about them here: Graves Disease and Stress.) Stress is a known trigger for Graves. And I personally believe there is also a true correlation between Graves Disease and depression. 

Did stress cause my depression? Did it cause Graves? Is depression just another symptom of Graves? I believe it’s all connected.

My Story of Graves Disease and Depression 

It was around the same time that my husband returned to work after healing from injuries from a car accident.

I had trouble sleeping and low energy. When it was time to get up, I didn’t want to get out of bed. I just wanted to lay there with the covers over me. It took all I had to pull them off and get ready for work.

Work was another issue. I dreaded it and didn’t want to talk to anyone or even be around people. My concentration was way off. I made stupid mistakes. Sometimes I forgot what I was doing or didn’t finish. If someone pointed out an error, I’d either yell at them or hide in the bathroom and cry. There was no middle ground between rage and isolation. I felt irritable and agitated on the inside and was unreliable and anti-social on the outside. I didn’t even know myself anymore.

During lunch, I left the office. I didn’t want to talk to anyone, so I drove to a busy grocery store parking lot. Sometimes I prayed. Sometimes I cried. One of my “friends” at work told me the staff hated me. They said I was arrogant and stuck-up because I didn’t spend time chatting with them during lunch. Even my boss said I was unapproachable.

How I handled Graves Disease and Depression

1. I hid it from my husband and family. Everyone always comments on how happy and upbeat I am. I didn’t want them to worry, or be disappointed in me. Isn’t that sad? I was ashamed of feelings I had absolutely no control over. To this day I haven’t told them what I dealt with, and I have no idea if they even noticed.
2. I quit my job. The job I had at the time was an odd situation to begin with. There was a period of time during my husband’s recuperation when I worked for a temp agency. I needed the flexibility to take care of him, and take him to doctor and physical therapy appointments. The office was a temp job that sort of morphed into full-time. Once I left, I didn’t want to work again. I wasn’t sure I could even go on an interview.  
3. I looked for something part-time. A full-time job was too big a commitment. When I told my husband that I accepted something part-time, he didn’t understand, and I didn’t care. It was a small office and wasn’t very busy. I only had one coworker and worked independently most of the time. I still didn’t want to be there, but it was manageable and could have been a lot worse.
4. I found my own version of self-care. On my days off, I walked without a destination in mind. Noise bothered me but if I turned on the TV, it was old sitcom reruns so there were no surprises. I also made and drank lots of herbal tea, and slept a lot.

Tips for Dealing with Graves Disease and Depression

God saw me through it. At the time, I didn’t realize I was dealing with depression. But looking back, I know for certain that I was. And there’s no doubt in my mind that it was Graves related; every system in my body was on overload.

Things shifted for me emotionally about the same time that my physical symptoms of Graves became more prominent. Lots of sweating, stomach issues, heart palpitations, weight gain, etc. I was eventually diagnosed with Graves Disease and placed on anti-thyroid medication.

This story only moderately describes what I felt. I didn’t want to completely relive that time in my life because it still scares me. If you feel anything similar to what I’ve described here:

1. Talk to a loved one. It’s ironic that I tell you to talk about it when I already know it’s the last thing you want to do. Do it anyway. Don’t try to fix this on your own.
2. See your medical doctor. Maybe a medical problem is at the heart of this. Share your symptoms and get a full examination with bloodwork. 
3. Spend time with a pet. Don’t underestimate the impact they make. Their unconditional love is a healing balm.
4. Write it down. Journaling is an amazing tool for self-reflection. I wish I’d started it before my Graves diagnosis because I might have identified my symptoms much sooner.
5. Exercise. Something light and easy, or just walk. It clears your mind.
6. Rest. Your mind and your body.

Do whatever you need to take care of yourself. Do not lose hope because you will feel better.  

” Hope is being able to see that there is light, despite all of the darkness.” ~ Desmond Tutu

This post is based on my own personal experience. It is not intended as medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or medical condition.