Wow, Staggering Statistics about Autoimmune Disease!

Take a look at the following quotes from an article about autoimmune disease:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH estimates up to 23.5* million Americans suffer from autoimmune disease and that the prevalence is rising.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Women’s Health, autoimmune disease and disorders ranked #1 in a top ten list of most popular health topics requested by callers to the National Women’s Health Information Center.

As a person among the millions with autoimmune disease (I feel so honored to have 2), I understand how evasive effectively dealing with my illnesses can be.  The idea of managing a chronic illness is overwhelming and can easily take your life over. Why?

• There is no one answer
• The amount of information out there is daunting
• Treatment is often a guessing game
• We wait (and wait and wait…) to get better to get on with life
• We fight our reality–tooth and nail
• We forget who we were before our diagnosis
• We become like a dog with a bone: obsessed with finding the answer

This goes for family members as well as patients.

Okay, I have not painted a pretty picture, so let me move on to the solution.  YOU!

Yes, you hold the key. Autoimmune disease is impacted by your stress level, and stress not only robs you of your day but it exacerbates your symptoms.  Think about it:  When you react, get angry, stay tense, fearful, frustrated, what do you think you do to your organs?  Yes, you implode upon yourself–everything compresses and both you and your organs are not happy campers.  Also if you have pain and you react to it, you make it worse because you have tightened every muscle and blood vessel surrounding the painful area.

I see it time and time again.  Your outlook, emotions, symptoms and many conditions improve as a direct result of learning how to live life on life’s terms.

I want to scream from the rooftop:  Your illness does not have to take you over!  You do not have to wait to live life until things get better!  There is no magic cure for you!  And yes, you can improve and enjoy life; autoimmune disease and all!  However, it’s up to you.  

So there you have it.  I say this because I live and breathe it. This is my work, my passion, and I love helping people take charge of their life.  I am one lucky lady!

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