In this Newsletter:

➡️ What your thyroid actually does
➡️ Thyroid hormones explained
➡️ What happens when your thyroid’s off
➡️ What’s really causing thyroid troubles

A decade ago, I didn’t give much thought to the thyroid — until mine stopped working properly.

I thought something was wrong with my heart… or that I was just “burnt out.” But my constant fatigue, night sweats, anxiety, and brain fog turned out to be something deeper.

That “something” was my thyroid.

Since then, I’ve spent years learning how this tiny, butterfly-shaped gland in the neck can quietly disrupt your life — or completely transform it when supported properly.

Let’s break it down together.

👉 Missed my last newsletter about my 10-year thyroid journey and what I wish I knew from day one? Check it here.

🦋 What Is Thyroid?

Your thyroid is a small gland at the base of your neck. But don’t let its size fool you — it’s one of the most powerful players in your body.

It helps regulate:

• Metabolism

• Body temperature

• Heart rate

• Energy levels

• Mood

• Hair and skin health

• Menstrual cycle

• Brain function

👉 In short: it helps your body run smoothly — from head to toe. So when your thyroid is off, you can feel “off” in all sorts of ways.

💡 Thyroid Hormones 101

Your thyroid primarily makes two main hormones:

• T4 (Thyroxine): This is the primary hormone produced by your thyroid gland. T4 is more of a storage (inactive) form. Once released into your bloodstream, T4 is converted (mainly in the liver and tissues) into T3.

• T3 (Triiodothyronine): This is the active thyroid hormone. T3 is the go-getter that affects your cells and metabolism.

Made by your pituitary gland (in your brain) is TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone). TSH is the messenger that tells your thyroid how much T4 and T3 to produce.

🧠 Think of it like a thermostat:

• When T3 and T4 are low, TSH goes up to “turn up the heat.”

• When T3 and T4 are high, TSH goes down to “cool things off.”

To recap simply:
TSH is the signal, T4 is the inactive supply, and T3 is the active stuff that keeps you energized. Your doctor can measure all three to see how your thyroid is doing.

👉 Interesting fact: your thyroid also makes calcitonin - it helps regulate calcium levels in your body.

⚠️ What Can Go Wrong?

Like any system, the thyroid can get out of balance. Here’s what happens when it’s underactive versus overactive:

Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid)

This happens when the thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormone. As a result, everything slows down. This is especially common in women.

Symptoms include:

• Fatigue

• Weight gain

• Dry skin

• Hair thinning

• Depression or low mood

• Brain fog

• Feeling cold all the time

• Constipation

• Irregular periods

👉 Note: even “mild” hypothyroidism can impact mood, energy, and fertility.

Hyperthyroidism (Overactive Thyroid)

This is the opposite problem — the thyroid makes too much hormone, speeding everything up. Less common, but it happens.

Symptoms include:

• Rapid heartbeat

• Anxiety

• Weight loss

• Insomnia

• Sweating

• Shaky hands

• Feeling wired but tired

🔍 What’s Really Causing Thyroid Troubles?

Your thyroid might be the one “acting up,” but often, it’s not the real problem — it’s just the messenger. Here are some of the most common root causes behind thyroid imbalances:

Nutrient Gaps

Your thyroid needs certain “building blocks” to work — and without them, it can’t do its job.

• Iodine is essential to make thyroid hormones

• Selenium, zinc, and iron help convert hormones into the active form your body uses

Even if the thyroid gland is healthy, it may slow down if these nutrients are missing.

Autoimmune condition: Hashimoto’s

In Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, your immune system mistakenly attacks your thyroid — a condition known as autoimmunity. This chronic inflammation can slowly damage the gland and lead to hypothyroidism.

Hashimoto’s is actually the #1 cause of an underactive thyroid in developed countries.

Autoimmunity triggers can include:

• Gut issues

• Chronic infections

• Toxic overload

• Food sensitivities

• Blood sugar imbalances

• Chronic stress

👉 Tip: Soothe inflammation — add a pinch of turmeric to your next meal. It’s a gentle way to calm your immune system.

Hormone Conversion Bottlenecks

Your thyroid mainly produces T4, but your body needs T3 — the active form.

Here’s the catch: most of this conversion happens outside the thyroid, in places like your liver and gut.

Conversion issues can happen if:

• Your liver is sluggish

• Your gut microbiome is imbalanced

• You’re under chronic stress (which diverts hormones into inactive forms like Reverse T3)

👉 Tip: Sip warm water with lemon to support your liver (and T4-to-T3 conversion).

Other Root Disruptors

Other sneaky — and often lesser-known — contributors that disrupt thyroid health:

🧠 Brain Signal Misfires
Your brain tells your thyroid what to do via TSH. If the pituitary or hypothalamus misfires (think of a broken thermostat), the thyroid never gets the message — and hormone production slows down.

🚪 Thyroid Hormone Resistance
Sometimes the body makes enough hormones, but cells don’t “open the door” to use them. This can be caused by receptor issues that make cells ignore thyroid hormone signals.

🧬 Genetic Roadblocks
Some people are born with mutations that make it harder for the thyroid to make or activate hormones.

💊 Medications & Illnesses
Certain drugs — can interfere with thyroid function. Major life events (like childbirth or a severe illness) can also trigger thyroiditis and cause temporary hormone swings.

🧪 How Do You Know If Your Thyroid’s Off?

Many symptoms are vague and easily mistaken for stress or burnout. That’s why proper testing matters.

The gold standard? Ask your doctor for a full thyroid panel, which includes:

• TSH

• Free T4

• Free T3

• Reverse T3

• TPO and TG antibodies (to check for Hashimoto’s)

👉 Note: TSH alone isn’t enough — it’s just one part of the picture.

🌟 Small But Mighty: Your Thyroid Deserves Attention

Though tiny, your thyroid plays a powerful role in your well-being — from energy and focus to weight, mood, and more. When it's out of sync, your whole body feels it.

So if something feels “off,” trust that feeling. Your symptoms are signals — not something to ignore or push through.

🧠 Understanding how your thyroid works is the first step.

In next week’s newsletter, I’ll share simple but powerful ways to nourish your thyroid naturally — with nutrition, stress support, and daily practices that work with your body, not against it.

Here is to healthier happier you!

Warmly,
Viktorija 💛

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References linked here