DR. JECKYLL AND MR. THY…PERSONALITY CHANGES WITH THYROID DISEASE

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?

How Emotionally Intelligent Are You

CTL

VACATION TIPS FOR THE THYROID SUFFERER

 

My husband came home the other day with a lovely surprise.  “Honey, we are going to Mexico for our 20^th wedding anniversary,” he said.  I was so excited.  Yea! I’ve never been to Mexico…Oh wait a minute…have I?

Isn’t it a shame, that I must think really hard about something like that? 

But with thyroid disease, comes a chalk full of symptoms, affecting various areas of the body, READ fellow thyroid activist, Hypothyroid MOM’s blog post and symptom list.  Symptoms can be far worse for some and not that bad for others…For example, for some, the fatigue is almost unbearable; for others, it is the joint pain.

As for me, without a doubt, hands down…it is my memory and brain fog.  Alright, so let me see…Hmmm, OK…I used to work for an airline… and I was able to fly for free…have I been to...?? Ummmm nope, I’m pretty sure I’ve never been to Mexico. Yippee!  We are going to have fun!

Since my brain cells have decided to take their own permanent vacation, I have had to come up with five tips to help make all my excursions more memorable:

 

1.  Say CHEESE! Of course this is the obvious – take many pictures and shoot video footage, if you can. Don’t be too annoying that you make this a stressful event for everyone involved.

2. Play games! A great way to spend some quality fun time. Laughter can stimulate parts of the brain promoting a better memory. 

3. Scrap it! Collect/save brochures, ticket stubs, maps etc… then make a scrap book when you return.  It makes for a nice keepsake and it will help you recall certain adventures of your trip.

4. Find a happy medium! Don’t schedule too many guided tours, however you want to do a little planning.  If you rely on spontaneity throughout your entire trip, you may not do anything and conversely, If the vacation is too action packed, it becomes one big blur.  Those are the types of vacations where you need a vacation, after the vacation.

5. Save the best for last! A sunlit walk on the beach, dine at your favorite bistro or visit the attraction you’ve always wanted to see.  Psychologists say we are more likely to remember events which occur at the end of something. Ahhh, that moist, delicious icing on the cake!

If I don’t do some or all of these tips, my time away becomes, well…just a time away.  It was great at the moment, but many many years from now I could be saying…Hmmm let me see, have I ever been to Mexico?

Crazy Thyroid Lady

Don't forget to get your copy of my thyroid book Wow Your Mom Really is Crazy

YOU KNOW YOUR THYROID HORMONE LEVELS ARE OFF WHEN...

Top ten ways, you know your thyroid hormone levels are off:

1.  You are watching a television show and during the commercial break, you totally forget what television show you are watching. Hmm…what do I have on… Downton Abbey or CSI?

2. Your arguments with your significant other end in… “Oh whatever.” Because you can’t think of anything else to say.

3. You can’t remember if or when you took your thyroid medication(s), the same medication that will likely help get you back to your normal levels.

4.  You are no match intellectually with your children (or any household pets).

5.  It doesn’t matter what is the forecasted weather, you know, you will either need to wear a parka (hypo) or anything sleeveless (hyper) to work.

6.  You are sleepy in the morning, after coffee, before lunch, during lunch, after lunch and when the sun goes down.

7.  Forgetting something is taken to a whole other level…it is not like something normal like forgetting where you placed your keys. It is like forgetting your address, the ages of your children or the make/model and color of your car.

8.  You are looking, looking…I mean seriously looking…tearing the house apart. You are putting a lot of effort into this organized bloodhound and rescue type-search. This search has been going on for the past 60 minutes…then suddenly on the 62^nd minute, you forgot what you were searching for (time for a nap).

9. You look at a simple word like “THE”…cock your head sideways and say, “Is that how you spell that word?”

10.Your train of thought is like the little engine that couldn’t.

 But of course, for me…most of these thyroid hormone-related issues hardly ever happen… because, well… my Endo says my TSH is primarily “within normal range.” (sarcasm)

Crazy Thyroid Lady

What!? You haven't purchased my thyroid book yet? Do it now, it is a quick and easy read. Wow Your Mom Really is Crazy