Last week a co-worker emailed to me a link with one of
those personality tests. This particular test is called “How Emotionally
Intelligent Are You”. She must have read
my mind, somehow knowing I needed a little workday intermission. From time to
time, any distraction is welcomed, especially during those times when you are
heading into a comatose-can’t-concentrate-anymore moment. Getting up to sign
for a FedEx package or doing the vending machine stare down (even though you
aren’t going to purchase anything)…these are office respite techniques, helpful
for resting the eyes and hopefully getting back into focus.
Although I have done a ton of personality tests – in high
school, college, for jobs, and for fun it dawned on me, after receiving her
email, that I had never done one post thyroid disease.
Some experts say that our personalities do not change significantly
throughout our lives. My guess is that these so-called experts have never
tracked subjects pre, mid and post thyroid dysfunction. I do not know what the
scientific definition of personality is. To me, with CTL simplicity, it means how we behave ourselves. The years
while at the peak of my thyroid dysfunction, my behaviors changed dramatically.
I became extremely insecure, confused, argumentative,
irritable, intolerant, fearful, pessimistic and on my really really bad days –
apathetic. On those bad days, I wanted nothing to do with the human race. Interaction
was kept to a minimum; I hid from the FedEx man.
The mental and physical changes occurring in people with
thyroid disease are sometimes hard to fathom, even doctors don’t truly
understand what all is going on in our body.
I wrote a little bit about my ten year saga in the previous blog post; looking back, though, I wish I would have taken several personality
tests, doing my own informal study – perhaps, doing one each year, keeping a
diary of any drastic changes as I battled to achieve optimal to remission.
I’m not sure, where you are with your healing journey, below is the link to the personality test, make sure you read the entire bottom
portion after getting to your results. This could be an eye opening experience
to those who haven’t made the thyroid/personality connection.
Tell me what you think. Do you think
your personality has changed, due in part to thyroid disease?
CTL
I have not taken the test but am very interested in this being that I myself am experiencing a major personality swing. At my last lab results my TSH was a 98. I have not been myself but if my boyfriend had no informed me of my behavior I would of never realized it.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, I haven't take the test either but I plan to! I think I have my days, were I am myself and days were I am not!
ReplyDeletePersonality changes are quite common in thyroid disease. It's unfortunate because so many are being treated with antidepressants and antipsychotics when all they need are some dietary changes and natural thyroid supplements. Thank you for sharing your story.
ReplyDeleteI unfortunately experienced seeing my now ex-wife's personality change, drastically two years ago. She'd not yet been diagnosed hypo and was being treated unsuccessfully for depression and anxiety on myriad mixtures. When she was finally diagnosed, I had no idea her bizarre and erratic behavior was from thyroid disease. I don't think her doctor fully explained hypo is more than simply low iodine and can be treated with a pill a day. I finally began extensive research after it was too late and our marriage ended. I hope she's OK and can one day return to the loving caring person I once knew. Terrible disease.
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