Graves' disease: spiritual meaning and emotional causes

What Graves' disease is

Graves' disease, called Basedow's disease in much of Europe, is an autoimmune condition. The immune system makes antibodies that switch the thyroid gland on, so it produces too much thyroid hormone. It is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid. It affects women several times more often than men, usually starts between 20 and 50, and tends to run in families. Smoking raises the risk, especially for the eyes.

With too much hormone, the whole metabolism speeds up. Common signs are nervousness, irritability, a fine tremor of the hands, a fast or irregular heartbeat (palpitations), weight loss, feeling hot and sweating, poor sleep (insomnia), tiredness and a swelling in the neck, a goitre. Some people develop thyroid eye disease: gritty, red or bulging eyes, sometimes double vision.

Treatment is effective. Antithyroid medicines calm the gland, and beta-blockers ease the racing heart and tremor in the meantime. Radioactive iodine or surgery are options when the disease comes back. After them, many people need thyroid hormone tablets for life, which is the underactive side of the same gland. Untreated, Graves' disease strains the heart and the bones. A blood test makes the diagnosis, and a specialist guides the treatment.

The emotional meaning of Graves' disease

Graves' disease puts the whole body "in hyper". Spiritually, the question it raises is about that constant acceleration: what are you trying to show, and what are you not saying?

Proving who you are

In this hyperactivity you may be trying to prove who you are, without being able to stop. You always do more than you are asked. You live in a whirlwind, and you keep calling on the gland that sets your pace. The question is simple: who do you still need to prove something to?

Feelings swallowed

Underneath the activity, your real feelings are pushed down. You do not say them. You swallow them, and instead you want to demonstrate, perhaps even to get your own back. The throat, where the thyroid sits, is also the place where words should come out.

Guilt about someone you could not save

Spiritually, Graves' disease can point to self-punishment because you could not save someone, or a situation, in time. The guilt is great, and doing more and more can become a way of paying for it.

A whirlwind that never stops

The body of someone with an overactive thyroid runs fast, sleeps badly and struggles to rest. Spiritually, that pace can mirror a life that turns in circles: one task after another, no pause, no moment to ask what all this effort is for. Stopping may feel dangerous, as if everything would fall apart, or as if the feelings you have kept down would finally catch up with you.

Doing it all yourself

You may have become mistrustful, and feel obliged to do everything yourself. That gives you the impression of having more control over events. It is only an impression, and it keeps the whirlwind turning.

Giving in order to be loved

There is often a need to give, even what nobody has asked for, in order to feel loved. Receiving is much harder. The question is whether you believe you have to do so much in order to be appreciated.

A gentler way to hold it

The aim is not to blame yourself for an autoimmune disease. Genes, the immune system and the environment play a real part, and the treatment matters. The emotional perspective invites you to look at the pace you live at and the reasons for it.

• Say things as they come. Express what you feel along the way, rather than letting it pile up.
• Do your best, not your most. Let go of constant performance, and with it the habit of wearing yourself down.
• Notice the need to give. When you give unasked, ask whether you are hoping to be loved for it.
• Let yourself receive. Accept help, a compliment or care without paying it back at once.
• Recognise your needs. Take stock of who you really are, and what you need now.
• Stop going round in circles. You do not have to do so much to be appreciated.
• Choose yourself. Take time to express yourself, to respect yourself and to accept yourself as you are.