The Challenge of Autoimmune Disease: Making Peace With Your Body
When Kevin found out that he had a rare autoimmune disease, he shut down not only physically but emotionally. He wasn’t sure how much of his life would ever look the same: what would he be able to do or not do? It was hard to hang out with friends who didn’t understand his diagnosis or the fact that some days he’d be feeling good and other days he’d have to cancel plans at the last minute because his symptoms were flaring up. He felt helpless and depressed.
Like him, when Nancy found out that she had contracted a skin disease that would mean forever living with and treating her symptoms, she felt fearful and drew back from her life. Because the diagnosis also affected her physical appearance, she found her confidence shrinking in social situations and wasn’t sure how to move forward.
Both Kevin and Nancy found themselves not only afraid of what their diagnoses would mean for them in the years to come, they also found themselves afraid of and confused by their own bodies: wondering where the illness came from, what caused it and why their bodies had decided to spring it on them now.
For many people diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, there are a myriad of feelings: shock, anger, betrayal. The life you thought you knew is changing, and your own body is responsible. Far from being able to control it, you now find yourself at the mercy of your body’s symptoms and issues. It may be one of the few times in your life that you simply have to throw up your hands and live with whatever is unfolding.
One of the most important things you can do for yourself-if you live with or have been recently diagnosed with an autoimmune disease-is to think about how these feelings about your body have actually been affecting you, and to begin to give yourself some tools to heal.
1)Your Body’s Confused Too
Because the symptoms of an autoimmune disease are coming from your own body, it’s easy to feel like your body itself is attacking you. It’s important to understand that your body is actually struggling with the same issues you are, trying to right its own balance. If you can see yourself on the same team as your body–rather than opposing sides-you can find ways to work together with what’s happening rather than being at odds with each other.
2)Give Up Blame & Guilt
You may have been blaming your body for doing this to you or even blaming yourself for whatever it is you think you did that made your autoimmune disease happen. Many autoimmune diseases have mysterious causes and you’ll drive yourself crazy trying to figure it all out. Ask yourself if blame is really serving you or how you feel about your body and consider letting it go. What could you focus on instead if blame or guilt aren’t running the show?
3)Work Together
Once you can see your body as an ally rather than an enemy, you are more likely to be open to listening to what your body needs and trying to understand it. Pay attention to your body’s cues and notice what seems to help. Be willing to incorporate what you’re learning into changes that work for you both.
4)Open Up
It’s easy to be afraid about what the future holds when you’re dealing with an autoimmune diagnosis. As you learn to reconnect with and listen to your body, you’ll also begin to regain some trust in the relationship. If you know that you’re just doing the best you can–and that you’ll continue to listen and stay connected-it’s easier to let yourself step back into the things you love. If you can’t do exactly the same things you used to, locate the feelings they make you feel and see if you can choose to do other things that call up those great feelings inside.
5)See the Opportunity
Learning to listen and taking care of ourselves is a muscle that many of us have never developed in a crazy, fast-paced culture. Although you might resent that you can’t do the things you used to, your diagnosis may also take you into a different set of priorities: as you listen to and reconnect with your body, much can change in the way you see and live your life as well.
About the author
Anna Stookey is a psychotherapist & bodymind coach who helps people move into their highest vision of health and wellness by partnering with their bodies rather than working against them. Ongoing blog at http://www.bodyreunion.blogspot.com or sign on to the website: http://www.bodymindguide.comDistributed by Content Crooner
Tags: Alternative Medicine, autoimmune disease, bodymind, heal, Health, Peace, Wellness