Anxiety and Thyroid: When Nervousness Has a Physical Cause

That racing heart, constant worry, and overwhelming nervousness you’re experiencing might not just be stress or anxiety disorder. Sometimes these feelings have a physical cause — your thyroid gland may be working too hard, flooding your body with hormones that trigger anxiety-like symptoms.

Why This Symptom Matters

Your thyroid is like your body’s gas pedal, controlling how fast or slow everything runs. When it produces too much hormone (hyperthyroidism), it’s like pressing the accelerator to the floor. This can create symptoms that feel exactly like anxiety or panic attacks.

Many people with hyperthyroid conditions report feeling constantly “keyed up,” experiencing heart palpitations, sweating, trembling, and an overwhelming sense of dread — even when there’s nothing specific to worry about. The physical symptoms can be so intense that they trigger panic attacks, creating a cycle where you become anxious about feeling anxious.

What makes thyroid-related anxiety different is that it often comes with other physical changes. You might notice unexplained weight loss, difficulty sleeping, feeling hot all the time, or having more frequent bowel movements. Your hands might shake when you try to hold a cup of coffee.

The good news? When thyroid anxiety is caught and treated, people often feel dramatically better. Many describe it as a fog lifting — suddenly they feel like themselves again.

Could It Be Your Thyroid?

Anxiety can have many causes, from life stress to genetics to other medical conditions. Depression, heart problems, caffeine sensitivity, and certain medications can all trigger similar symptoms. It’s important not to assume every anxious feeling is thyroid-related.

However, thyroid testing makes sense if your anxiety came on suddenly without an obvious trigger, especially if you’re experiencing other symptoms like rapid weight changes, heart palpitations, or extreme sensitivity to heat. Women are more likely to develop thyroid problems, particularly during times of hormonal change like pregnancy or menopause.

Family history also matters — thyroid conditions often run in families. If a parent or sibling has had thyroid issues, your symptoms deserve closer investigation.

What Tests Should You Consider?

For anxiety symptoms, doctors typically start with TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) to check if your thyroid is overactive. However, a complete picture often requires additional tests like Free T4 and Free T3, which measure the actual thyroid hormones in your bloodstream. In some cases, thyroid antibody tests can identify autoimmune conditions like Graves’ disease.

What to Expect from Testing

Modern thyroid testing is straightforward — just a simple blood draw at a lab or collection center. Most testing services let you order online without a doctor’s visit first. You’ll get your results digitally within 1-3 days, along with clear reference ranges showing whether your levels are normal, high, or low.

The best part? You can take these results directly to your doctor for interpretation and next steps, potentially speeding up your path to feeling better.

When to See a Doctor

While waiting for test results, seek immediate medical attention if you experience chest pain, severe shortness of breath, or symptoms of a panic attack that won’t resolve. These could indicate other serious conditions that need urgent treatment.

Also see a healthcare provider promptly if your anxiety is interfering with daily life, work, or relationships. Even if it turns out to be thyroid-related, you may benefit from treatment to manage symptoms while addressing the underlying cause.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.