Expert Advice
Acella Pharmaceuticals, LLC., is partnering with Helene Zahn-Chilberg, MA, LPMHC, LCAS-A to bring greater awareness to the importance of thyroid care and education. This post was sponsored by Acella Pharmaceuticals and should not be construed as medical advice. Please talk to your doctor about your individual medical situation.
Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider before beginning any exercise, fitness, diet, or nutrition routine.
In my private practice, the most common issues that bring people in to see me are anxiety and depression. When we first meet, I often ask them how their lives have been impacted by these issues. By far, the most common answers are sleep disruption, reduced activity level, and withdrawal from interpersonal relationships. In exploring these areas further, I find that it is important to discuss activities and relationships that are healthy and create greater well-being.
In this article, we will explore these areas to encourage you to consider how you can engage in activities and relationships to create more fun and joy in your life and prevent emotional burnout. For greater ease, let’s consider activities and relationships as two separate areas, though we can certainly acknowledge that there is crossover between them. Let us begin by discussing relationships.
Are your relationships bringing you joy?
It is important to have an honest look at your relationships and to evaluate the quality of and level of comfort you have with each one. How much do you feel able to be yourself, free of judgement and criticism? Do you feel supported and encouraged to explore and create happiness in your life? Do you have people in your life who make you feel good simply by being around them? When people aren’t feeling well, it is not uncommon for them to withdraw, even from those who care and support them. It is also a behavior that can contribute and amplify a sense of aloneness, anxiety and depression.
There are a few things that can create new possibilities. If your current relationships are less than fulfilling, it may be time to consider limiting your time with people who are truly unhealthy and have become a source of emotional pain and discomfort. It may also be time to explore new ways to meet people who can create more positive and life-enhancing closeness. If it is hard for you to allow people in your life who treat you with respect and kindness, I encourage you to make yourself a priority. To do so, you’ll need to resolve whatever is blocking you from allowing kind and respectful people to be part of your life. Sorting out these complex issues is something I help my clients with in counseling, as avoidance of relationship is a trauma response. People are relational by nature; having or not having rewarding relationships has a significant impact on the overall quality of life and how we experience it.
Activities to Prevent Burnout
Often the issue of forming relationships overlaps activities. Is there an activity you’ve enjoyed participating in that you’ve allowed to fall away or now actively avoid? You may have allowed such activities to fall away because other things in your life have taken precedence. You may feel like you don’t have enough time or energy for fun and enjoyable activities. What if making time for these types of events had the power to improve your overall well-being and prevent burnout? Are reducing your stress, enhancing your relationships, and improving your support system enough motivation to make time for yourself a priority?
Suggestions can be scheduling family time at least once a month for a shared fun activity. This can be as simple as a walk in nature or a day trip to see something in your state that you have not checked out before. Specifically scheduling time to do things that contribute to relaxation and social engagement can make a significant difference in your state of mind. I encourage you to get outdoors. Nature can be an amazing stress-reducing force. Even sitting in a local park or by a body of water can help restore a sense of peace. Exploring possibilities and being willing to find ways that work for you is all that it takes. If you are having a difficult time thinking of options, talk with others to get ideas. There are many ways to explore ideas online, whether it be interest areas, options or suggestions for planning.
Finally, greater well-being and happiness can be great motivation to explore new avenues to have more fun and joy and prevent burnout. I encourage you to consider that you are worth it, and that happiness can be a choice that you make consciously. Choosing to spend more time engaging with people you feel great around and doing things you enjoy is good for your state of mind and well-being.
As always, here is to your greater health and happiness!
ML-0388
INDICATIONS & IMPORTANT RISK INFORMATION INCLUDING BLACK BOX WARNING
Important Risk Information
Drugs with thyroid hormone activity, alone or together with other therapeutic agents, have been used for the treatment of obesity. In euthyroid patients, doses within the range of daily hormonal requirements are ineffective for weight reduction. Larger doses may produce serious or even life-threatening manifestations of toxicity, particularly when given in association with sympathomimetic amines such as those used for their anorectic effects.
- NP Thyroid® is contraindicated in patients with uncorrected adrenal insufficiency, untreated thyrotoxicosis, and hypersensitivity to any component of the product.
- In the elderly and in patients with cardiovascular disease, NP Thyroid® should be used with greater caution than younger patients or those without cardiovascular disease.
- Use of NP Thyroid® in patients with diabetes mellitus or adrenal cortical insufficiency may worsen the intensity of their symptoms.
- The therapy of myxedema coma requires simultaneous administration of glucocorticoids.
- Concomitant use of NP Thyroid® with oral anticoagulants alters the sensitivity of oral anticoagulants. Prothrombin time should be closely monitored in thyroid-treated patients on oral anticoagulants.
- In infants, excessive doses of NP Thyroid® may produce craniosynostosis.
- Partial loss of hair may be experienced by children in the first few months of therapy but is usually transient.
- Adverse reactions associated with NP Thyroid® therapy are primarily those of hyperthyroidism due to therapeutic overdosage.
- Many drugs and some laboratory tests may alter the therapeutic response to NP Thyroid®. In addition, thyroid hormones and thyroid status have varied effects on the pharmacokinetics and actions of other drugs. Administer at least 4 hours before or after drugs that are known to interfere with absorption. Evaluate the need for dose adjustments when regularly administering within one hour of certain foods that may affect absorption.
- NP Thyroid® should not be discontinued during pregnancy, and hypothyroidism diagnosed during pregnancy should be promptly treated.
Indication
NP Thyroid® (thyroid tablets, USP) is a prescription medicine that is used to treat a condition called hypothyroidism from any cause, except for cases of temporary hypothyroidism, which is usually associated with an inflammation of the thyroid (thyroiditis). It is meant to replace or supplement a hormone that is usually made by your thyroid gland.
NP Thyroid® is also used in the treatment and prevention of normal functioning thyroid goiters, such as thyroid nodules, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, multinodular goiter, and in the management of thyroid cancer.