Hypothyroidism

Lesson 7: Learning to Live Well With Hypothyroidism

Get and Maintain a Positive Attitude

Most of the illnesses we deal with throughout our lives are temporary. Colds go away. So does the flu, chicken pox, infections and many other diseases we’ve dealt with. There’s a definite beginning and ending. One day we don’t feel well. We may go to the doctor or take some over-the-counter medication. Usually, we feel like our old selves again in no time. We go back to our lives and forget what it feels like to be sick.

However, with hypothyroidism it isn’t that way. Hypothyroidism is a chronic illness. A chronic illness usually comes on silently with indeterminable causes and can last for a lifetime. Hypothyroidism isn’t cured; it’s managed. If you are hypothyroid, you will have to deal with this condition for the rest of your life. Your symptoms may wane and your medication might work; however, you will always be hypothyroid.

I am not suggesting that you define yourself by your illness. I only want to make you aware of the fact that hypothyroidism isn’t magically cured. It doesn’t go away like the flu or a bronchial infection. Chances are, you will live a long and healthy life despite being hypothyroid. You just have to watch your symptoms and your diet. You’ll also have to attend regular checkups to monitor your thyroid levels. You’ll need to exercise. You will also be more prone to heart disease, diabetes and other life-threatening conditions so getting and staying healthy should become a high priority for you.

You just have to take care of yourself. You have an illness but you are not the illness. It doesn’t (and shouldn’t) have to become your identity. Sometimes, when people first find out that they have a chronic illness, they get caught up in that illness and stop living their lives. Yes, hypothyroidism can make you tired and depressed. You can have brittle hair, nails and feel achy all over, but those symptoms are manageable.

Getting and maintaining a positive outlook is one of the most important and beneficial things you can do for yourself. You may not be able to do everything the way you used to. Yes, you might have to cut back on certain responsibilities or deal with a messier house. (I’m still struggling in my efforts to deal with that one!) You also have an illness that requires your attention.

However, that illness should not be the focus of your life. You are still you. Hypothyroidism can not and should not take that away from you. I had a hard time dealing with the diagnosis probably because I also received the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia and Depression at roughly the same time. I was hit hard with a triple-whammy, but I’ve learned the hard way that passively grieving (or wallowing, depending upon who you speak to) and allowing myself to let the disease identify me has not made my situation any better.

In fact, it has made it worse. When you get into negative mode, your symptoms seem even harder to cope with. You close yourself off to activities that are necessary to maintain good health and happiness. You may even withdraw from social situations and lose some of the support system you so desperately need.

So, how can you get and maintain a positive attitude when you are dealing with a chronic illness?

It’s not easy, but it’s so worthwhile. I have a few tips that just might help you think of hypothyroidism and chronic illnesses in a more positive light.

1. Feel what you need to and move on. You may be grieving for the loss of your ‘old’ self. It’s understandable to feel grief, so feel it. The seven stages of grief are: shock, denial, bargaining, fear, anger, despair and acceptance.

   For example, you get the diagnosis of hypothyroidism. You suspected it, but secretly hoped nothing was wrong. You’re shocked. Once you get over that feeling, it sinks in that you have a chronic illness. You talk yourself out of it by saying, “ah, the tests are wrong. It’s all in my head. Maybe I need to find another doctor.” Eventually, you’ll allow yourself to move forward. You’ll start making deals with your doctor or god or whoever such as: well, if I lose weight, I won’t be sick anymore. If I’m a good person, I’ll get better.

   After you’ve played all of your bargaining chips, you get really scared. You’re afraid that you’ll never be able to cope or worse. You can get overwhelmed by this fear. You may also find yourself very angry. You may blame yourself for getting sick or others or genetics or whatever. Regardless, you are really angry and that anger is toxic to you for many reasons. (It can lead to other stress-related disorders and even chronic, or major depression.)If you get anger out of your system, you may be in despair. You feel trapped and you don’t see how you can do anything to improve your situation.

   In the end, you’ll learn to accept that you’re hypothyroid. You just have to allow yourself to feel each of these stages fully so you can move forward and make peace with your diagnosis (and your illness).

2. Be willing to get and accept help if you can’t cope or are feeling depressed, suicidal or desperate. Most of the seven stages of grief, when allowed to linger, can turn into depression or other forms of mental illness. If you feel what you feel and don’t find yourself feeling better in a few weeks or if you catch yourself thinking about suicide or other self-destructive thoughts, then it is imperative that you seek out help.

   It’s not always easy to ask for help, but help is there. Mental health care providers can provide you with coping mechanisms and strategies that will allow you to regain a sense of control over your emotions and be more willing to manage your condition and your life.

3. Believe in yourself. Okay. I know that this sounds really strange, but it’s true. Deep down you have to believe that you can manage this condition, that you are capable of helping yourself back to health. Negative self-talk can really undermine your sense of well-being and lead you down the path to self-destruction, depression and even worse roads.
4. Educate yourself about your condition. Have you ever heard of the expression, “knowledge is power?” Well, it’s true. The more you know about this condition; the less apt you are to be frightened of it. The internet is a great source of information. Take courses (like this one!) on the subject, read books and just ask questions. (I’ll have a full resource list including web sites, articles, books and support groups in Lesson 8 to help y’all with this.)
5. Take action. You won’t feel better unless you put some effort into it. You have to take your medication(s), go to doctor’s appointments and exercise, among other things. The more you do to make yourself feel better, the better you will feel. Now, that’s a Catch-22 we all wouldn’t mind being in, right?

Basically, you have to fight, fight, and fight the feelings of frustration you have as a person struggling with a chronic illness. You must be honest with yourself about your limitations and take action to live well with your condition. It’s okay if you’re not the same as you used to be. In fact, if you take action, educate yourself and live actively and proactively, you may just find that you are better than you ever thought you could be in so many rich and rewarding ways. At least, it’s worth a shot and it certainly beats the alternative.

Okay, we’re at the end of this section. I’ve done my postulating.

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