Episode 269: From Symptoms to Solutions: A Deep Dive into Hashimoto’s Root Causes (Part 2)
Last week we started a deep dive conversation on the 5 root causes that drive Hashimoto's so you can be empowered to address them and significantly reduce - if not entirely demolish - stubborn symptoms.
If you missed that episode do not skip ahead, click here to head back and take a listen. Or if you were with us last week, go ahead and jump right in!
3. Chronic Stress: The Silent Thyroid Killer
We often think of stress as a mental health issue, but stress has a direct biochemical impact on your thyroid—and it’s a HUGE factor in triggering Hashimoto’s.
How stress triggers Hashimoto’s:
- Cortisol blocks TSH and T3 production – When you’re constantly stressed, your adrenal glands pump out high levels of cortisol, which directly inhibits your thyroid’s ability to produce and convert hormones.
- Cortisol causes leaky gut – Chronic stress literally breaks down the gut lining, setting the stage for gut dysbiosis and autoimmunity.
- Cortisol weakens the immune system – At first, high cortisol suppresses immune function, but over time, it dysregulates the immune system, making it more likely to attack the thyroid.
Studies show that major stressful events often precede a Hashimoto’s diagnosis—whether it’s a divorce, loss of a loved one, or even ongoing low-grade stress like work burnout. (Pyzik et al., 2018).
👉 Key takeaway: Stress management isn’t just “nice to have” for Hashimoto’s—it’s essential. Practices like deep breathing, meditation, and nervous system regulation (like vagus nerve stimulation) can dramatically impact your healing. If you need help in this arena, click here to book a free consultation.
4. Viral Infections: The Epstein-Barr & Hashimoto’s Connection
Have you ever had mono? If so, you very likely have a hidden Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) hanging out in your body, which has been strongly linked to Hashimoto’s.
How viruses trigger Hashimoto’s:
- Molecular mimicry – EBV proteins can mimic thyroid tissue, leading your immune system to attack your thyroid.
- Persistent inflammation – Some viruses can stay dormant in the body and reactivate under stress, keeping the immune system in attack mode.
- Direct thyroid infiltration – Research has found EBV inside thyroid cells of Hashimoto’s patients (Vojdani et al., 2016), suggesting it plays a direct role in the disease. Your body thinks it’s attacking the virus, meanwhile it’s actually attacking you.
Other infections that can trigger Hashimoto’s:
- Herpes simplex virus (HSV-1, cold sores)
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- Chronic Lyme disease
👉 Key takeaway: If you’ve been dealing with chronic fatigue, low immunity, or recurrent illness, it might be worth looking into latent viral infections and immune support strategies like antiviral herbs, low-dose naltrexone (LDN), and mitochondrial support.
5. Self-Silencing: The Emotional-Hashimoto’s Link
One of the most fascinating (and least talked about) Hashimoto’s triggers is self-silencing—a psychological pattern where someone consistently suppresses their own needs, emotions, and voice to avoid conflict.
How self-silencing triggers Hashimoto’s:
- Chronic nervous system dysregulation – Holding in emotions leads to chronic stress, which impacts immune function and thyroid health.
- Throat chakra imbalance – If you believe in the mind-body connection, Hashimoto’s attacks the thyroid—the center of communication and self-expression. It’s no coincidence that many women with Hashimoto’s have a history of people-pleasing and struggling to set boundaries.
- Emotional trauma & autoimmunity – Studies show that childhood trauma and emotional repression can increase the risk of autoimmune diseases.
This is one of the potential explanations for why women are 4 to 10 times more likely to develop Hashimoto’s than men. We’ve been trained to stay quiet where men are trained to speak up.
👉 Key takeaway: Healing from Hashimoto’s isn’t just about food and supplements—it’s about emotional healing, setting boundaries, and learning to honor your needs.
The Bottom Line: Hashimoto’s is a Multi-Faceted Condition
If you’ve been feeling like you’ve tried everything—gluten-free, selenium, thyroid meds—but still struggle with symptoms, it might be time to dig deeper into these underlying root causes.
Hashimoto’s isn’t just a thyroid issue—it’s a whole body issue. By addressing gut health, detoxing, reducing stress, managing infections, and prioritizing emotional well-being, you can give your body the support it needs to heal so you can finally feel like yourself again.
If you want help, you’re in the right place. Not only do I specialize in Hashimoto’s in my functional nutrition practice, I myself have gone through the trials and tribulations of the disease and can help you ride the wave of healing. Click here to get started.
References:
- Fasano, A. (2012). Leaky gut and autoimmune diseases. Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology.
- Vojdani, A., et al. (2016). The role of infections in autoimmune thyroiditis. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology.
- Pyzik, A., et al. (2018). Stress as a risk factor for Hashimoto's disease. Endocrine Connections.
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