Understanding Hashimoto’s Disease - Shedding Light on Invisible Struggles

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis - maybe you’ve heard of it, or maybe you haven’t. Either way, it’s one of those conditions that remains to be invisible and that many don’t realize they have until it’s too late. It’s not just a long, fancy medical term. Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disorder that can completely change how someone experiences day to day life. The better we understand it, the more empathy we can show for those dealing with it every day - along with showing some grace to the world’s other hidden diseases. 

So, what exactly is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis? At it’s center, it’s an autoimmune condition where your immune system decides to attack the thyroid gland by mistake - unable to recognize the good that it’s trying to do. The thyroid - a tiny, butterfly-shaped gland in your neck - does a ton of heavy lifting for your body. It’s in charge of nearly all of your metabolic levels, energy, and even whether you feel too hot or too cold. When it’s under attack, it can throw almost all of your functioning ability out of whack. For people with the disease, this can result in symptoms such as exhaustion - like walking through molasses every single day. Weight gain - no matter what diet or exercise you try. And the other problematic symptoms - hair thinning, brain fog, and the whole “why am I freezing when it’s not even cold??” situation. 

Here’s the thing. No matter how much research that’s been done, experts think it’s a mix of genetics and environmental triggers like stress or infections. Women - especially those in their 30s to 50s - are more likely to develop the disease. It’s incredibly difficult to diagnose, with some symptoms being confused with extreme anxiety & depression. A proper diagnosis usually involves confirming with your thyroid hormone levels and searching for specific antibodies that point to the immune system being out of line. Unfortunately, again, it’s not always caught right away. Symptoms tend to creep in slowly, and it’s easy to brush them off as simply being “stressed” or “burnt out.”

There’s no one-size-fits-all fix for Hashimoto’s. Most people benefit a lot from thyroid hormone replacement therapy - with prescribed pills like Levothyroxine that bring hormone levels back to normal. But even with this treatment, lifestyle changes make the biggest difference. Eating nutrient-packed foods, managing stress, and maintaining a perfect balance between activity and rest can make a massive difference in how someone feels on a daily basis. 

This disease is a reminder of how incredibly complex our bodies are, and how much we rely on them to function as they do behind the scenes. It’s also a call to action - to learn more, listen to our bodies, and be there for the people living with invisible illnesses. The more we talk about hidden conditions like Hashimoto’s, the less alone people feel. It’s about creating a safe space where no one in our community has to hide their struggles or feel judges for what they’re going through. So, let’s keep the conversation going. One step, one story, and one bit of awareness at a time. 

Sources: www.thyroid.org

www.mayoclinic.org

www.niddk.nih.gov Written by Kria Turimella