Autoimmune disease starts with dis-ease in our immune system.
Having one autoimmune condition makes you three times more likely to develop another.
This initially shows up in many different ways as irritations or minor symptoms such as headaches, indigestion, skin rashes, bloating, lack of energy, and fatigue. As the disease progresses, the symptoms become progressively worse and more intense. Our immune system produces more and more antibodies which may or may not result in any major symptoms in the beginning
Preventing multiple autoimmune diagnoses
Most people get a diagnosis usually only after there is already damage at both a cellular and tissue level.
The thing is, we need to identify the drivers and the root causes of the dysregulated immune function so that we can prevent this from taking place.
Otherwise, the dysregulated immune system usually goes on to claim additional victims in the future. Leading to multiple autoimmune disease diagnoses in the future.
We can take measures and prevent ourselves from developing a second, a third, a fourth, and follow-on autoimmune disease diagnoses.
This is why no matter the diagnosis, we need to address the root causes and bring the immune system back into balance.
There are more than 80 autoimmune diseases that fall into the same category. While they may have completely different names, these diseases are not really all that different since their underlying mechanisms are not all that different.
However, the names of autoimmune conditions don’t tell us anything about which organ or part of the body is being affected. And this confuses us further.
So while Graves and Hashimotos affect the thyroid gland, Lupus is a systemic disease, Multiple Sclerosis affects the brain and spinal cord and Psoriasis affects the skin.
Interestingly enough, autoimmune diseases affect women disproportionately more than men.
But there is one more thing, your gut plays a critical role in autoimmunity, and infact, in all chronic diseases.
The blog posts and resources on this page will provide a roadmap for you to get started!
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms when it comes to autoimmune diseases. Some common underlying reasons are lack of proper sleep, low iron levels and poor nutrition. However, there may be other causes that are less common and hence remain unaddressed.
Dealing with any such conditions requires us to make changes in terms of our lifestyle, our diet and our mindset. As a result, the steps that my clients have to take can become really overwhelming. To avoid this, I take my clients through a step-by-step process that consists of 6 stages. By going through this process, they become much more aware of their own bodies, feel more energetic and confident as they finally start addressing the root causes of their disease.
In autoimmune diseases, chronic pain is often the first sign of an underlying imbalance. At other times it is a byproduct of the tissue damage that accompanies many autoimmune conditions. Either way, there is a lot of evidence that links chronic stress to pain that accompanies any chronic illness.
The most important aspect of immune function is about tolerance. A healthy and balanced immune system should be constantly surveillance and choosing not to respond a majority of the time.
When diagnosed with an autoimmune (or any other such severe chronic condition), we often feel helpless. In fact, conventional wisdom tells us that that there is not much that we can really do in terms of getting better apart from taking the necessary medications that have been prescribed. This further fuels this feeling of helplessness and leaves us feeling disempowered.
Our immune system is responsible for both accelerating and applying brakes on itself. This way we can have an appropriate, measured, and balanced response to a threat. Otherwise, we have chronic runaway inflammation which comes at a heavy price as it is being constantly fueled by an overreactive immune system.
Your autoimmune disease diagnosis does not have to control your life. You don’t have to feel constantly sick, in pain and deal with extreme fatigue for the rest of your life. There is much you can do to take charge of your health and get your life back.
The spectrum of autoimmunity is a progressive state of disease that runs from vibrant health at one end to degenerative disease at the other. In between, you have a broad range of varied but related stages of disease which are connected to each other. In other words, at any point, either you are moving towards disease or you are moving towards health.
You don’t have to wait for anything to be different in your life including getting an exact diagnosis to start supporting your body by creating a healing environment. Whether this is by making healthier food choices, choosing one thought over another, reducing toxins in your immediate environment, or incorporating deep breathing/mindfulness into your life, there are many things that are in your control. When you start living your life in this manner you find that you feel more empowered, motivated, and confident in yourself, in your body and you are able to face any health challenges in the future from a place of strength rather than fear.
You need to remember that the immune system has been designed to be very, very strong to counter any kind of threat and keep you alive. It is the ability to regulate the immune system and keep it in balance is what determines an appropriate versus over the top response.