Reduce Stress
Another important issue for Graves' disease and hyperthyroidism patients is to reduce stress, and practice some form of relaxation and stress reduction. This means regularly practicing some activity that generations the relaxation response, with its associated physical benefits.More information on the connection is dicussed in Graves' Disease and Stress.
Some of the healing approaches to stress reduction that may be of help include:
- Tai Chi, Qi Gong
- Cognitive Therapy, Psychotherapy or Counseling
- Biofeedback Therapy
- Creative Therapies: Art, Music and Dance Therapy
- Prayer
- Massage
- Reflexology
- Self-Hypnosis
- Meditation and Guided Imagery
- Journaling
- Yoga, Pranayama breathing
- Reiki and Energy work
Get and Give Support
Participating in a support group is also an important part of coping with your chronic thyroid condition. I have a number of online support groups where you'll find helpful fellow patients who can share information, support and friendship.- About.com Thyroid Disease Forum
- Alternative Medicine
- Hyperthyroidism & Graves' Disease
- Thyroid & Hormones, Fertility, Menopause
- Thyroid Cancer Support
- Thyroid Diet and Weight Loss
- Thyroid Top Doctors & Support Groups
- Thyroid Disease: UK & Ireland
Learn More and Stay Informed
As part of your information gathering, you may want a read a book on Graves' disease and hyperthyroidism. You may want to read my review of Graves' disease, A Practical Guide by Elaine Moore. Another article that looks at Elaine Moore' book is The 10 Things Your Doctor May Not Have Told You About Graves' Disease.You can also read an article by Mary Kugler, About.com's Rare Diseases Guide, who reviewed my book, Living Well With Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism.
With new developments coming out all the time, it's important that you stay up to date on the latest thyroid news. To find out what's happening in the thyroid world, sign up for Mary Shomon's free weekly email Thyroid Newsletter, which features the latest news on thyroid disease diagnosis, treatment, and related health issues of interest.
You can also bookmark the About.com Thyroid Blog -- where you'll find up-to-the-minute information about the latest thyroid news, and links to thyroid information and news here on the site, and around the web.
And don't forget that even celebrities get thyroid problems. You might find inspiration in the story of Olympian Gail Devers', who came back from severe Graves' disease to win an Olympic medal. Other famous thyroid patients are featured in this online gallery of celebrity thyroid patients.
Sources:
Braverman, MD, Lewis E., and Robert D. Utiger, MD. Werner and Ingbar's The Thyroid: A Fundamental and Clinical Text. 9th ed., Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW), 2005.
Moore, Elaine A. with Lisa Moore. Graves' Disease A Praactical Guide. McFarland & Company, Inc., North Carolina, 2001
Shomon, Mary J., Living Well With Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know , HarperCollins, New York 2005, Online
