A Few Words About Coping with Autoimmune Disorders from Louise McDermott
The National Institute of Health estimates that up to 24 million people have an autoimmune disorder. However, the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) places that number closer to 50 million. Autoimmune diseases mostly affect women of middle age. Many of these diseases are debilitating and chronic, some can be fatal. Medical interventions are often not enough to treat the disease. Lifestyle changes are necessary to reduce chances of a “flare” or activation of symptoms from diet, stress, climate, and exposure to irritants and other factors. A patient with autoimmune disease needs to take a holistic approach to his or her health by reducing stress as much as possible. You can think of your symptoms as a guide to help you moderate the treatment of the disease. If you are intuitively aware that your emotional health is affecting your physical health, please consider counseling and psychotherapy as part of your treatment approach to better health.