The Thyroid in Overdrive: What You May Be Missing About Hyperthyroidism
🕒 7-8 min read
In a hurry? These are the highlights worth knowing:
Hyperthyroidism can impact your digestion, energy, mood, and nutrient absorption, but your gut can help you find balance.
Start by tracking how stress, sleep, and meals affect your symptoms. Patterns often point the way to relief.
Download your FREE 7-Day Food & Observation Journal inside the blog to start connecting the dots.
If you’re navigating hyperthyroidism, feeling wired but tired, or wondering where to even begin, this blog is for you.
📌 Keep reading - or save this post when you're ready to reconnect with your body’s signals.
You’ve probably heard a lot about underactive thyroid and the fatigue, weight gain, and cold hands that comes with it.
But what if your experience is the opposite… and no one’s really talking about it?
If you’ve been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, you might feel like the odd one out. It’s less common, less understood, and often overshadowed by its slower cousin.
But that doesn’t make it any less real.
And it certainly doesn’t make it easier.
As a Master Nutrition Therapist, Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition®, I know that every thyroid story is different, and every body deserves care, context, and support.
In this blog, you’ll explore what hyperthyroidism really means, what symptoms may be trying to tell you, and how nutrition and lifestyle strategies can help you feel a little more like yourself again.
What Is Hyperthyroidism?
Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland at the base of your neck, but don’t let its size fool you. It plays a big role in how your body uses energy. When it shifts into overdrive and starts making more hormones than you need, you have hyperthyroidism. Everything speeds up including your heart rate, digestion, mood, and metabolism, until it feels more like chaos than balance.
Common Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism include:
Racing heart or heart palpitations
Anxiety, irritability, or restless energy
Trouble sleeping or insomnia
Increased sweating and heat sensitivity
Unintentional weight loss
Frequent bowel movements or diarrhea
Muscle weakness or tremors
Enlarged thyroid (called a goiter)
Bulging eyes (this is often seen with Graves’ disease)
Every one of these symptoms is a real, physical response to a body running on overdrive. You’re not overreacting or “just sensitive,” your system is being overstimulated by too much thyroid hormone.
Looking at your thyroid through a more holistic lens opens the door to deeper healing, bringing clarity to the connections beyond just the gland itself.
Why Your Symptoms Deserve Your Attention
Hyperthyroidism isn’t just about feeling “a little off.” When your thyroid shifts into overdrive, it affects nearly every system in your body, from your heart to your gut to your mood. You might not look sick, but you can feel like you’re unraveling from the inside out. And while it’s easy to brush off symptoms or blame yourself, what your body needs most is attention, not judgment.
Here are 8 ways hyperthyroidism may be showing up in ways you didn’t expect:
Your heart is working overtime. That pounding, fluttering feeling or fast heartbeat isn’t “just anxiety.” It’s your heart responding to hormonal chaos. Over time, this can raise your risk for high blood pressure or irregular rhythms like atrial fibrillation.
Your muscles can’t rebuild. If everyday tasks like climbing stairs or carrying groceries feel harder, it’s not just fatigue. Hyperthyroidism can cause muscle breakdown faster than your body can repair.
Your bones may weaken more quickly. Overactive thyroid speeds up bone loss, increasing your risk for osteoporosis or fractures even if you’re young or active.
Your nervous system is on high alert. Shakiness, irritability, and sleep troubles are signs your system is overstimulated. Even when you're exhausted, your body can feel wired, making rest feel out of reach.
Your digestion is moving faster than usual. When food passes through too quickly, it can cause frequent trips to the bathroom and make it harder for your body to absorb the nutrients it needs, impacting how you feel in many other ways.
Fertility and pregnancy may be affected. Thyroid imbalance can make it harder to conceive and can impact pregnancy and your baby’s development.
There’s a rare but serious risk. Though uncommon, a thyroid storm is a life-threatening complication that underscores why medical care isn’t optional, it’s essential.
Your emotions are caught in the storm. Mood swings, anxiety, or just not feeling like yourself are natural responses to excess thyroid hormones impacting your brain and body.
When you begin to connect the dots between your symptoms and what’s really going on, things can start to make sense.
The more aware you are of your body’s signals, the more empowered you’ll feel to take sustainable steps forward.
Sometimes healing starts with simply noticing. A journal and pen sit ready and waiting for you to slow down, tune in, and give your symptoms the space to speak.
How to Support Your Overactive Thyroid
Medical treatment is a crucial part of managing hyperthyroidism, but it’s not the only part. True healing isn’t just about controlling symptoms. It’s about supporting your body, mind, and daily life as you find your way back to balance.
Here’s where you can begin:
1. Build a Solid Medical Foundation
Caring for an overactive thyroid starts with medical support, and that’s a powerful first step. A clear diagnosis and treatment plan help take some of the uncertainty off your shoulders. Whether you’re taking antithyroid medications, beta-blockers to ease certain symptoms, or exploring next steps with your doctor, know that this forms the groundwork of your healing and makes room to focus on the whole story.
Stay in open conversation with your provider, ask the questions that matter to you, and trust that your experience of what you're feeling day to day is just as important as your lab results.
2. Support Strength From the Inside Out
As you continue working with your doctor, it’s helpful to know that an overactive thyroid can make it harder for your body to maintain muscle and bone strength. If you’ve been feeling unusually fatigued or noticing things like muscle weakness or bone thinning, know that these are common with hyperthyroidism.
To support your muscles and bones, you don’t need to push yourself with hardcore workouts. Instead, focus on consistent, gentle movement to help rebuild strength in a way that feels grounding and sustainable. Here are a few ways to get started:
Going for a walk (bonus if it’s outdoors in nature)
Gentle strength-focused exercises (like light weights or resistance bands)
Yoga or stretching to improve stability without overwhelming your system
Of course, movement is just one piece of the puzzle. Your body also needs the right nutrients to support healing. Prioritize calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium found in foods like leafy greens, sardines, nuts, seeds, and organic yogurt. You can also ask your provider to check your levels and guide you on supplements if needed.
These small but steady shifts can go a long way in helping your body feel stronger and more supported over time.
3. Support Better Blood Sugar Balance
When your thyroid is in overdrive, your appetite can feel unpredictable and your blood sugar often follows. One moment you might feel wired, and the next, shaky or drained, as your body works hard to find its footing.
Here are a few ways to support more steady energy throughout the day:
Build your meals with balance. Try to include protein, healthy fats, and fiber at each meal to help keep your energy more stable.
Keep supportive snacks nearby. If you start to feel jittery, lightheaded, or irritable, reach for something with protein, fat, and fiber to truly nourish your system, not just give it a quick fix.
Eat every 3-4 hours, even if it’s something small. I don’t usually suggest rigid schedules, but when your body’s in a state of high demand, going too long without food can make symptoms feel more intense.
Looking for more steady energy and fewer crashes? Check out my blog [4 Tips to Balance Blood Sugar] for simple, sustainable strategies that help you feel more grounded and energized throughout the day.
Balanced blood sugar doesn’t mean bland meals. This vibrant skillet scene is a reminder that nourishment can be simple, satisfying, and supportive all at once.
4. Support Your Gut
Your gut is deeply connected to your thyroid. So if it feels like meals go “right through you,” or you’re constantly in the bathroom, you may need a little extra support for your gut in addition to your thyroid.
Here are a few ways to support your digestion:
Stick with gut-friendly basics like well-cooked veggies, soothing broths, and small amounts of fermented foods, nourishing options that are gentle on digestion and still supportive for your gut health.
Hydrate consistently. Water helps keep things moving and supports regularity in a simple but powerful way.
Tune into how foods make you feel. Bloating, urgency, or discomfort are gentle signals from a body that’s always working to keep you informed.
Your digestion is one of the best real-time clues for how your body is handling stress, hormones, and nourishment. The more you tune in, the easier it becomes to make choices that truly support healing.
Want help connecting the dots between what you eat and how you feel? Download my 7-Day Food + Observation Journal, a supportive tool to help you track meals, symptoms, and patterns without calorie counting or obsession.
5. Be Mindful with Iodine
You may have heard that iodine supports thyroid health and in some situations, that’s true. But when your thyroid is already working overtime, too much iodine can sometimes make symptoms worse.
This is especially important if you’re managing Graves’ disease or nodular hyperthyroidism, where extra iodine can encourage even more hormone production.
That’s why it’s a good idea to avoid seaweed snacks, iodine-containing supplements, and products labeled “thyroid support” unless your healthcare provider has specifically recommended them.
This doesn’t mean iodine is the enemy, it just means your body needs a more tailored approach right now.
Curious how iodine plays a different role in hypothyroidism?
Check out my blog post [Gut–Thyroid Connection: What You May Be Missing About Hypothyroidism] for a deeper look at an underactive thyroid and how to support it differently.
6. Support Your Nervous System
When your thyroid is racing, your nervous system also feels restless and wired, making moments of calm feel like a distant memory.
Thankfully, you don’t need long, complicated rituals or silent retreats to find moments of peace. Small, intentional pauses throughout your day can be a big help to get your body out of overdrive:
Try box breathing or another gentle breathwork technique when you notice overwhelm creeping in.
Listen to a guided meditation before bed to help your mind and body unwind.
Take a short walk outside, or simply stand barefoot on the grass and take a few deep breaths.
This isn’t about piling on more tasks, it’s about giving your nervous system brief moments of rest and care.
Looking for more ways to find calm and balance? Check out my blog [Balance Your Nervous System] to find simple practices and easy tools you can use anytime, anywhere.
Stillness doesn’t always come easy. But when you choose to pause, even on foggy days, your nervous system can find a calm and peace you can return to, again and again.
7. Support Your Liver
Your liver quietly works behind the scenes to help manage and clear excess thyroid hormones, playing a key role in keeping your body balanced. When it feels overwhelmed, your symptoms might feel even more challenging.
Now, you don’t need complicated cleanses or a shelf full of supplements. Gentle, consistent habits can make a meaningful difference:
Include leafy greens, lemon water, and colorful veggies as often as you can to support your liver with natural, whole foods.
Work on reducing alcohol and ultra-processed foods, not as a punishment, but as a way to support your body’s healing.
Stay hydrated by sipping water throughout the day aiming for about half your body weight in ounces daily, with a bit more if you’re active or sweating.
Looking to support your liver naturally? Read my blog [How to Support Liver Detox Naturally], for simple, lifestyle-friendly tips to help your body restore balance.
8. Stay Curious, Not Fearful
Managing hyperthyroidism can feel overwhelming, especially when symptoms shift quickly. Remember, this doesn’t mean something is wrong. It means your body is actively responding and working to find its balance.
The goal isn’t to control every feeling, but to stay gently connected to yourself:
Check in weekly with your energy, sleep, digestion, mood, and heart rate.
Jot down what stands out, and bring those notes to your appointments, so your care reflects your lived experience, not just lab numbers.
Above all, trust your body.
It’s communicating, asking for your kindness and support in very real, physical ways.
Curiosity invites understanding. Compassion keeps you grounded. Together, they’ll guide you toward feeling more like yourself far better than fear ever could.
Final Thoughts: Healing on Your Terms
Living with an overactive thyroid can feel like your body is stuck in fast-forward, but that doesn’t mean you’re powerless. With the right care, consistent support, and some compassionate curiosity, it’s possible to feel grounded in your body again.
Medication might be one chapter of your healing, but it’s not the whole story. When you start caring for your nervous system, gut, blood sugar, and liver with intention, you’re not just managing symptoms. You’re rewriting your story and creating a new path, one thoughtful choice at a time.
Healing rarely happens all at once. But it does unfold when you stay engaged, well-informed, and supported in ways that honor your pace, your needs, and your life.
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RESOURCES
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Hyperthyroidism (Overactive Thyroid). National Institutes of Health. Updated September 2022. Accessed July 16, 2025. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/hyperthyroidism
© Stephanie Walsh and Walsh Approach, 2025. I pour a lot of care into creating this content, so please don’t copy or reuse it without permission. You’re always welcome to share excerpts or links if you give clear credit back to Stephanie Walsh and Walsh Approach.