Newly Diagnosed with Hashimoto’s? Here’s What Helped Me Heal

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s in college, and honestly, I was devastated. It felt like I had to completely change my life. No gluten, no dairy, no easy meals. My mental health was already at a breaking point and I was struggling with eczema, fatigue and hair loss.

The diagnosis was overwhelming, but it also left me with a sense of hope. I could do something to help these terrible symptoms. 

But the lifestyle changes I would have to make... it was all so much. The new supplements, different types of exercise, stress management, healing trauma.

And because I was struggling, I was so hard on myself. Which, I learned, is actually the opposite of what your body needs when it’s trying to heal.

Fast forward to today: I have learned how powerful the right mindset, foods and habits can be. It’s a lot easier now to find gluten- and dairy-free swaps. I’ve found recipes I love. I honestly don’t even miss it anymore—and that’s coming from someone who used to live for cheese and bread.

This blog post is a collection of everything I wish someone had handed me when I first got diagnosed. Books, labs to ask for, supplements that actually made a difference, food swaps, and healing routines that grounded me.

This post contains affiliate links. I only share what I personally use and love.

The Books That Gave Me Power (and Peace)

Researching Hashimoto’s gave me a sense of control in a situation that felt really disempowering. I won’t lie—some of it was scary. I learned I might be more susceptible to other autoimmune conditions. But I also found answers: the root causes of my skin issues, my anxiety, my brain fog.

Most importantly, I learned that symptoms can be reversed. That lifestyle changes make a massive difference. That how I felt wasn’t fixed—I had the power to shift it.

These books helped me feel informed, calm, and even hopeful:

You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay – for learning how to actually talk to myself with love

Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies by Tara Schuster – reparenting and gentle routines

The Root Cause by Dr. Izabella Wentz – the most in-depth Hashimoto's resource I’ve found

The Hashimoto's Protocol by Dr. Izabella Wentz – helped me rethink food as medicine

What to Ask Your Doctor (When They Don’t Know What to Do With You)

Unfortunately, most doctors only test for basic thyroid markers like TSH. That’s not enough.

I got lucky and found a doctor who lets me tell him which tests I'd like ordered (if only he was truly well-versed in Hashimoto’s. If you know of a great thyroid doctor in Florida, please let me know!)

Here are the labs I recommend asking for:

Test	Why It Matters
TSH	General thyroid hormone signal—but limited on its own
Free T3 + Free T4	Measures usable thyroid hormone
TPO Antibodies	Confirms Hashimoto’s
Reverse T3	Can show if your body is stressed or not converting hormones well
Vitamin D, Ferritin, B12	Essential for immune support + energy

 

My Current Supplement Routine

This changes over time, but here’s what I take right now, based on what’s helped me the most:

Selenium – helps with thyroid antibodies (I also eat 2 Brazil nuts a day!)

Zinc Picolinate – for hormone and immune support

Magnesium Glycinate – great for sleep and calming the nervous system

5-MTHF w/ B12 (liquid) – completely changed my energy levels, especially with the MTHFR gene

Liposomal Glutathione – detox support (take on an empty stomach in the morning)

Probiotic – gut health is everything when you’re healing autoimmunity

Lemon Water – I start every morning with it to ease my digestive system into the day

>> This Tea Pot is Perfect for a Single Cup of Warm Water

 

My Favorite Gluten- and Dairy-Free Staples

These are all staples I keep in my kitchen, and honestly, they help me feel like I’m not missing out on anything:

So Delicious coconut yogurt – I eat it every single morning!

Anything from Siete Foods – tortillas, chips, cookies. So. Good.

Katz gluten-free poptarts – for a nostalgic sweet treat

liveGfree GF nuggets from Aldi – better than fast food tbh

Chomps meat sticks – protein on the go

 

Gentle Healing Rituals That Helped Me Feel Human Again

These are things I do regularly that help me feel grounded, safe, and present:

Morning sun + grounding – I step into my garden and water the flowers while telling them how beautiful they are. I speak affirmations to them and to myself during this time.

Somatic shaking – simple but powerful release! It feels weird at first, but it really helps reset your nervous system.

Morning Pages – inspired by The Artist’s Way, I write my three pages of stream-of-consciousness thoughts followed by three affirmations

Lymphatic drainage – I jump on a mini trampoline (Louise Hay swore by it! Plus, it's such a fun way to get cardio in). I'll also walk the neighborhood or do some gentle yoga. All of these activities support the lymph system!

>> Pull a Few of these Yoga Cards Each Morning for an Intuitive Stretch

>> I Love Using a Brass Singing Bowl to Support my Morning Meditation

 

This is just the beginning, but if you’re newly diagnosed or in the thick of it: you’re not alone. Be kind to yourself. Go slow. Trust that your body wants to heal—and it will, with the right support.