Thyroid & Stress: The Connection You NEED to Know About

Have you been feeling tired and wired lately?

Maybe you're dealing with constant brain fog, weight that won’t budge, or an emotional rollercoaster that just won’t stop. You’ve cleaned up your diet, tried getting more sleep, even added a few supplements… but you still don’t feel quite like yourself.

It might not be "just stress" or "just hormones."
It could be your thyroid—and stress may be the hidden trigger no one’s talking about.

The Stress-Thyroid Link: A Two-Way Street

Let’s talk about cortisol—the primary hormone your body releases during stress. When you're under ongoing pressure (work, family, burnout, even unresolved trauma), cortisol levels stay elevated. While this is helpful short term, chronic stress puts your thyroid on the back burner.

Here’s how it works:

• High cortisol suppresses TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone), which can reduce the production of key thyroid hormones (T3 and T4).
• Conversion issues: Stress can interfere with the body’s ability to convert T4 (inactive) into T3 (active), meaning even if your labs look "normal," your body might still be starving for active thyroid hormone.
• Increased reverse T3: Under chronic stress, your body may also create more “reverse T3”—a hormone that blocks your healthy T3 from doing its job.

The result?
You feel sluggish, puffy, foggy, anxious—or all of the above.

Common Symptoms of Thyroid Dysfunction Triggered by Stress

If your thyroid is struggling under the weight of stress, you might notice:

• Constant fatigue, even after a full night’s sleep
• Cold hands and feet
• Hair thinning or loss
• Mood swings, anxiety, or irritability
• Trouble concentrating (a.k.a. brain fog)
• Slowed metabolism or unexpected weight gain
• Irregular periods or fertility challenges

The problem? Many of these symptoms are often written off as “just stress,” especially for women balancing careers, caregiving, and everything in between.

Stress & Thyroid: The Vicious Cycle

Here’s the kicker: Poor thyroid function doesn’t just result from stress—it also makes you less resilient to it.

That’s right. When your thyroid is under-functioning, your adrenal glands (which manage stress) have to work harder. And when your adrenals are already taxed? They can’t support your thyroid efficiently.

It’s a cycle—and a frustrating one. But the good news is: it can be broken.

Real Support Starts with Adaptogenic Herbs

One of the best natural ways to support both thyroid and adrenal health is with adaptogens—a category of herbs that help your body adapt to physical, mental, and emotional stress.

Some of the most effective adaptogens for thyroid + stress balance include:

• Ashwagandha – Helps regulate cortisol levels and healthy thyroid hormone production.  Ashwagandha is important because it works on both the stress response and thyroid together.
• Codonopsis – the roots have been used in traditional Chinese medicine during times of fatigue.  Codonopsis is an adaptogen that helps “bring a formula together” making it an important part to a formula by giving it a strong synergistic impact.
• Holy Basil – Known for mood stabilization and calming effects.  This is important to bring support to the emotional side of thyroid struggles when it is not functioning well.

These herbs have been used in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries, and today, they’re backed by growing modern research.

A Smarter Way to Support Your Thyroid

At Redd Remedies, we understand that true healing is nuanced. That’s why our Thyroid Strong™ formula is carefully crafted by our Master Herbalist to support the entire thyroid-adrenal axis—not just mask symptoms.

Thyroid Strong™ includes:

• Adaptogenic herbs to modulate stress response
• Essential minerals like selenium and zinc for thyroid hormone synthesis
• Kelp and L-Tyrosine to provide direct support for a healthy thyroid gland
• Antioxidants to reduce oxidative stress and support healthy liver function.

Backed by our Purity Promise and third-party tested for quality, it’s one of the few thyroid support formulas designed for the whole body picture—not just numbers on a lab test.

You’re Not Broken—Your Body Is Asking for Help

If you’ve been dismissed, overlooked, or told “your labs are fine,” but you know something’s off… trust your gut.

Your body isn’t broken. It’s just doing its best to adapt. Support your thyroid and stress systems with the nourishment they need, and you can begin to feel like yourself again.