Stress, Hormones & Thyroid: the 3-Legged Stool

I’ve made this description to so many patients, I really should put it in a video and press Repeat. I use it to describe why your adrenal (stress) gland, ovaries, and thyroid gland should always be past of the same conversation. They work together and depend on their harmony. If one area, say your hormones, are challenged, it will eventually place strain on the other area(s), say your stress response or thyroid.

Your naturopathic or functional medicine doctor will always screen these areas together, as well as making sure your 3-legged stool is on good even flooring - your blood sugar. Your “hangry” tendencies also play into this scenario, by setting the tone for how well your metabolism runs. We know when we are hungry that our digestive tract responds, our brain feels a little slower, and our moods may be affected. It certainly also internally affects how well our body handles stress, and how well-fuelled our thyroid and ovaries are.

Your hormones, stress and thyroid may need you to work on your diet and “hangry” side. It may need you to work on routine and structure (especially your thyroid gland), and it may need you to get checked and worked on for seemingly unrelated other glands! The great thing is - the results are usually deeper when you have all of that information before coming up with a treatment plan.