The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Trauma and Adversity—A Transformative Guide to Understanding Childhood Trauma and Health

by Nadine Burke Harris

The next day, the EKG confirmed the abnormality with her heart. According to the results, it was beating faster and the muscle was working harder than normal. The cardiologist who interpreted the EKG included a note that reinforced my suspicions: possible Graves’ disease. Slim builds and strong heartbeats (as well as hair breakage) can be signs of Graves’, which is an autoimmune disease that results in the thyroid gland being overstimulated. Unlike the example I gave earlier of hypothyroidism (when the thyroid gland doesn’t make enough thyroid hormone), Graves’ disease is a case of hyperthyroidism, where the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone. If you remember, adults with hypothyroidism gain weight easily and can be somewhat lethargic. By contrast, people with Graves’ disease are often hyperactive and can’t seem to keep weight on.