Challenges in Diagnosis
Hyperthyroidism isn't easy to diagnose because many symptoms mimic those of other conditions. Patients may complain about individual symptoms such as insomnia, tremors, or nervousness, and doctors may simply treat these bothersome symptoms with a sleep remedy or antidepressant while ignoring the bigger picture.
In some cases, the hyperthyroid patient is misdiagnosed as having a psychiatric illness. That's because many of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism affect emotions and behavior. People who have an overactive thyroid are often jittery, nervous, and anxious. They may have what they believe are panic attacks. They may be easily provoked, and in rare cases, may have bizarre or delusional thought patterns.
Essential
A panic attack can feel like an intense episode of stress, but it occurs without any obvious provocation or warning. Generally, each attack lasts just a few minutes. According to the American Psychological Association, the key symptom in panic disorder is your fear of having future attacks. Patients with panic disorder will have normal thyroid tests.
To make matters worse, many people with hyperthyroidism have trouble sleeping. The fatigue only worsens the exhaustion and emotional difficulties, making you even more irritable, jittery, and anxious. If you notice that you are suffering from these kinds of symptoms, consider your thyroid a possible culprit. A simple blood test is all it takes to diagnose or rule out a thyroid problem.
