Ugh! Despite my daily meditation and my medications, I've been feeling really depressed and moody for several weeks now. I was about ready to call my doctor about it when it struck me that maybe something else was interfering with either my treatment or the depression itself.

A call to my doctor confirmed my suspicions. A few months ago, I was diagnosed with hypothyoidism and started a low dose of medication for it. Follow-up blood work a few weeks ago showed little progress, so my thyroid medication was increased.

"Yes, thyroid levels can indeed affect depression," I was told. It may take some months of medication adjustments to bring the thyroid issue under control, and during that time, it seems that I may have some additional issues with depression. Just what I wanted to hear -- or not. I'm not really sure. The thyroid issue can be treated; I know that. In the interim, I'll have to keep reminding myself that it's probably why I've been moody and feeling depressed.

I wanted to share this here in case anyone else is in a similar situation. If you have other health conditions, don't forget to talk with your doctor about how and when they might affect depression and what you can do about it.