Updated June 09, 2015.
It's no surprise to many that there is a connection between thyroid disease and metabolic / hormonal symptoms like weight change, fatigue, fertility, and menopause. At the same time, a whole category of mental and emotional symptoms are still confusing to patients and practitioners alike, and it's often overlooked that mental health symptoms can be the result of thyroid conditions and imbalances. Depression, for example, often doesn't resolve in patients -- even after treatment with an antidepressant medication -- until underlying thyroid imbalances are properly diagnosed and sufficiently treated.
Few books have focused on the mental health symptoms of thyroid disease, which makes the book Thyroid Mind Power: The Proven Cure for Hormone-Related Depression, Anxiety, and Memory Loss, a particularly welcome addition to a thyroid patient or practitioner's bookshelf.
Thyroid Mind Power brings together a unique family-based team that includes the holistic physician Richard Shames, MD, holistic nurse and counselor Karilee Shames, PhD, RN and their daughter, acupuncture specialist Georjana Shames LAc.
Richard and Karilee Shames, the husband and wife writing/health advocacy team I've regularly interviewed over the past decade, are well-known for their integrative approach to thyroid care and hormonal health.
In the book, the Shames have stated that we need to clearly identify and help three key categories of people that need better thyroid care:
- the undiagnosed;
- the misdiagnosed; and
- those who have been diagnosed but who are inadequately treated.
The Shames have always had strength in their understanding of the relationship between thyroid imbalances and mental and emotional symptoms.
Thyroid Mind Power is organized around their concept of five different "Types" of thyroid patient, from the mental health symptom perspective.
These five types include:
- Moody Mind-Type: These thyroid patients are frequently depressed, suffering from mood swings, and experiencing negative thinking
- Edgy Mind-Type: These thyroid patients feel anxious, panicky, irritable and angry.
- Foggy Mind-Type - These thyroid patients may have attention deficit disorder, or experience memory loss, or even dementia.
- Sleepy Mind-Type: These thyroid patients may suffer from insomnia, narcolepsy, or have non-refreshing sleep.
- Needy Mind-Type: These thyroid patients frequently suffer from eating disorders, substance abuse, and addictions.
One of the best features of the book is the detailed protocols, so to speak, presented for each of the types, and the fact that these approaches are not cookie-cutter answers. The Shames have worked with thousands of thyroid patients, and their expertise shows in their avoidance of pat, , one-size-fits-allsolutions. Instead, the Shames discuss a full range of synthetic, natural and compounded thyroid medications, as well as diet, herbs, and lifestyle issues, as integrated parts of treatment.
The Shames also demonstrate their understanding of the relationship between adrenal and thyroid health, and how they correlate to anxiety, outlining practical approaches to help bolster and support the adrenals along with the thyroid, to help ensure optimal hormonal, mental and emotional health.
Richard and Karilee Shames are authors of two popular books that have been reviewed here at the About.com Thyroid site, Thyroid Power: Ten Steps to Total Health and Feeling Fat, Fuzzy, or Frazzled?: A 3-Step Program to: Restore Thyroid, Adrenal, and Reproductive Balance, Beat Hormone Havoc, and Feel Better Fast!
Thyroid patients will find Thyroid Mind Power to be a well-researched, compassionate book, filled with practical advice on how to resolve the mental and emotional impact of thyroid and hormonal imbalances.