9 things anyone with autoimmunity will understand

Living with autoimmunity is never easy.

By: Sandhya Raghavan | | Published: December 6, 2017 12:17 pm

Autoimmunity is an umbrella term given to a list of health conditions where the immune system turns rogue and starts attacking the body. The reason could range from genetic predisposition to infection to environmental factors, and currently, there are around 80 diseases that fall under this category. We know them by their many names like psoriasis, multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis, but they all them from the same health condition — an aberrant immune system. Living with autoimmune conditions is not easy because apart from the inconvenience of the disease, there are other challenges that sufferers go through. And no matter how much others sympathise, there are things only the ones with autoimmunity understand.

1 You live under constant fear

Autoimmune attacks are often unpredictable. Imagine an enemy lurking around you waiting for an opportune moment to strike. That’s exactly how it feels like. Most people don’t know what triggers an autoimmune reaction, so there is no safe place to hide. Sufferers live in constant fear, wondering when another flare up is due.

2 People think you have an allergy

Most people confuse autoimmunity with allergic reactions because the mechanism is somewhat the same. But the latter, body acts against external agents like soluble antigens, which enters your system through the respiratory system, the skin or the stomach. But in autoimmunity, the body’s reaction is against its internal antigens. While allergic reactions can be resolved with antihistamines almost immediately, autoimmune conditions take a while to abate. And more importantly, most people know what they are allergic to. So allergies can be prevented, but not autoimmunity. Here are somethings that are worsening your allergies.

3 It feels like you are losing your mind

Brain fog or brain fatigue is an associated health condition seen in autoimmune sufferers. Being confused becomes your normal state, where even thinking straight wears you out. You can’t focus on your work or remember where you left your glasses. People in the creative field find it difficult to crack ideas, feeling drained and uninspired all the time.

4 You try very hard to not be stressed

Although your doctor may rubbish it, you know deep inside that stress is worsening your flare ups. You try your level best to avoid it at all costs, but it’s second nature for you to worry and fret over trivial things. You may even turn to yoga and meditation, which become a part of your daily routine.

5 You start hating your medicines

Steroids save lives. They are the first-line treatment, helping in inducing remissions and short-term relief from life-threatening autoimmune conditions. But they also end up doing a lot of irrevocable damage to your body. Weight gain associated with steroid use can fuel low self esteem in people who already have self-image issues. Mood changes and depression apart, steroids also worsen brain fog by messing with your cognitive functions.

6 You are at war with yourself

Ayurvedic physician Dr Manaan Gandhi from Integral Ayurveda notes that most people with autoimmunity are waging a moral war inside their mind. There could a spiritual reason why you have autoimmunity. They often find their actions at odds with their morals, making them more self critical and self loathing.

7 You always have low energy

When there is an on-going battle in your body, it is natural to feel drained out and tired. Chronic fatigue is your natural state and nothing you do makes it any better. Your body feels down and out, yet you can’t manage a decent shut eye. Feeling tired? Try rosemary oil

8 People think you are lazy

When you live in a tired body with a depressed mind, there only so much you can do. Living becomes difficult. You find no motivation to strum your guitar or write a poem, things that you loved to do before. People think that you are plain lazy or uninspired.

9 Even when you get better, you fear for your health

There is nothing like a permanent cure in autoimmunity. So, even when your symptoms seem better for the time being, there’s always a chance that you will relapse. Best you can do is maintain a healthy lifestyle and pray that it never comes back.

Image source: Shutterstock

Published: December 6, 2017 12:17 pm

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