5 Tips to Begin Your Healing Journey with Autoimmune Disease
Orlando Therapist Shares About Autoimmune Disease
So many people that experienced trauma, especially at an early age, also deal with some sort of autoimmune disease. Not only does the research reveal this truth, but I have seen this with my clients and through meeting people in my own journey of healing as I have learned to live with an autoimmune illness. Some of my clients that have suffered from trauma and also struggle with an autoimmune illness asked me to share some of what I have learned through my experience.
A little about my journey…
Being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease can be enlightening and frustrating at the same time. The doctor gives a prescription, maybe some referrals, and you’re on the way out the door. That’s it right? Well, I wish it were that easy. It wasn’t that long ago that I was also in that very same place.
There was a time where I was experiencing symptoms that did not go away with time, exercise, adequate sleep, supplements, or nutritious meals. My symptoms increased so much that I began to feel depressed, which exacerbated my anxiety. I was on a roller coaster of anxiety and depression. I had convinced myself that all of this was a result of stress. which only lead me to feel more anxious than normal, but I made myself believe that maybe it was just stress from work.
Over time, my anxiety mounted to such a point that I was unable to participate in my own self-care. Going to the gym and being around people even made me feel anxious. When I couldn’t destress by going to the gym or enjoy being around my friends and family, I realized what I was experiencing was more than regular ole stress.
After seeing many doctors and undergoing multiple medical exams like labs and ultrasounds, the results continued to come back as normal. I was feeling defeated because I knew something was not right. “How could this be NORMAL?!" My quality of life was going down the toilet. My mental health, weight, athletic ability, cognitive functioning, and my relationships were all being negatively impacted. I was starting to feel hopeless. I felt sad, alone, and grieved over these changes and losses.
Fast forward 6 years, I am well on my way to living a balanced and integrated life. I found a new normal and have learned to accept and appreciate aspects of having an autoimmune disease diagnosis. Through my rocky journey, I learned a few valuable tools that I would like to share with you.
1. Find an Autoimmune Support Group
We are in the age of technology where we can build and experience a community directly from our fingertips. There are many social media platforms that have online communities to connect with other people who are experiencing similar life circumstances. Connecting with individuals or being a virtual wallflower will have several benefits for you during this journey. You will witness others in their healing process which will provide you hope and encouragement as well as being able to give support to others on a similar journey. Diagnosis and lifestyle changes can feel lonesome but being part of these groups will help you feel that you are not alone.
2. Find Out As Much Information As You Can About Your Diagnosis
Knowledge is power. This step can be overwhelming, however, take it day by day, piece by piece. Understanding how it affects your body and the steps that can be taken earlier is better. Remember, one step at a time. If you feel the need to make many changes with the information you have at hand, take your time, and do not rush. This is stressful and stress will exacerbate the current symptoms you already have. Another benefit of learning as much as you can is so that you can feel empowered and advocate for yourself to doctors.
3. Find Proper Treatment
If your experience is like mine, and many others that I have witnessed in support groups, you may find yourself searching for a doctor that is the right fit for you. Despite normal labwork and different prescriptions, I still felt as though something was still wrong with me. My doctor insisted that I simply needed to watch my stress and sleeping habits, but I knew there was more to it. Based on this experience, I want to share that you have the right to ask questions, you have the right to disagree, and you have the right to change doctors.
4. Be Kind To Yourself
This may be the hardest step. We are used to a certain lifestyle, a certain drive, and constantly on the go. I remember feeling devastated and down for quite some time because I could not be in the gym for a long period. I couldn’t perform the same activities without triggering the symptoms that would last the next couple of days. This is the time when we are forced to slow down because our bodies cannot maintain this intensity. We can take this time to practice mindfulness and gratitude, step up our self-care, and redefine our beliefs and values. I recommend this guided mediation: Healing Light to help ground you during this stressful time.
5. Seek Counseling
One of the most important things I have learned and wish I would have done sooner for myself is to seek counseling. These diagnoses can be overwhelming, lonely, and disempowering. My personal experience in counseling has allowed me to believe that I can still have a good quality of life despite having a chronic autoimmune disease. A counselor can assist you in taking each step in the tips above while building your confidence, setting boundaries, and helping you navigate communication with those who do not understand. This list can go on, but the most important is having someone assist you in processing your grief experience within this journey.
If you would like for me to guide you on your autoimmune disease journey through counseling at Mindful Living Counseling you can schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation here.
For many, this may be the first time you’re reading about autoimmune diseases so here is a list of common autoimmune diseases.
List of Autoimmune Diseases
Celiac disease
Rheumatoid arthritis
Addison disease
Graves disease
Systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus)
Hashimoto thyroiditis
Inflammatory bowel disease
Multiple sclerosis
Type 1 diabetes
Multiple sclerosis
Guillain-Barre syndrome
Psoriasis
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Mindful Living Counseling Orlando is a trauma healing center. Our Orlando Therapy Services include anxiety therapy, trauma counseling, eating disorder recovery, teen counseling, and healing from toxic relationships. At Mindful Living Counseling Orlando, we use a down-to-earth approach infused with cutting-edge therapies that go beyond traditional talk therapy so clients can heal at the root level and experience lasting change. Feel free to access one of our Guided Meditations to help you feel settled and calm now.
