On the road back to health from Autoimmune Disease I used several modalities and therapies that supported me. But my own lifestyle changes were the at the core of my return to health and healing.
Lets look at autoimmune disease firstly.
What is Autoimmune Disease?
The immune system usually guards against bacteria and viruses. When it senses these foreign invaders, it sends out an army of fighter cells to attack them. Usually, the immune system can tell the difference between foreign cells and your own cells. In an autoimmune disease, the immune system mistakes part of your body, like your joints or skin, as foreign. It releases proteins called autoantibodies that attack healthy cells. Some autoimmune diseases target only one organ. Type 1 diabetes damages the pancreas. Other diseases, like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or lupus, can affect the whole body.
It takes time for these illnesses to show up in the body. Looking back I had early signs of issues with gut health at around age 7. The causes of many of my issues was chronic stress.
What is chronic stress?
Chronic stress is a prolonged, often overwhelming feeling of stress that can negatively impact a person’s daily life. Chronic stress can cause changes in mood, difficulty sleeping, and physical illness.
Chronic or extreme stress in early life has been associated with a wide range of adverse effects on development. It is an emotional or physical tension caused by an event or series of events or thoughts that make you feel angry, frustrated, or nervous. This type of stress is a normal response to multiple events that we have little or no control over.
Chronic stress has many symptoms brought on by our response to it:
Physical symptoms:
Pain
Chest pain
Racing Heart
Exhaustion
Problems sleeping
Headaches
Shaking
High blood pressure
Jaw clenching
Weakened immune system
Mental consequences of stress:
Panic attacks
Sadness
Anxiety
Irritability
Depression
People experiencing chronic stress often attempt to self-medicate by using substances to treat their emotional symptoms:
Gambling
Developing overeating or other eating disorder
Drinking alcohol
Compulsive shopping, internet browsing
Using prescription or illicit drugs
Smoking
Children growing up in difficult environments are under constant chronic stress, and it changes their brain structure and stops them meeting childhood milestones appropriately. Chronic stress is a significant contributor to complex post-traumatic stress disorder formation. (CPTSD)
Over the years I learned how lifestyle changes became medicine I needed to get well. I'm so very pleased now to be a Member of The British Society for Lifestyle Medicine and The Voices of Lived Experience
What is Lifestyle Medicine?
Lifestyle Medicine is an evidence-based discipline which aims to support people to prevent, manage and reverse certain chronic conditions, using supported behaviour change skills and techniques to create, and sustain lifestyle changes.
Lifestyle Medicine focuses on helping patients to eat more healthily, stay active, sleep better, improve social connections and mental health, and reduce harmful substance use.
The Six Pillars of lifestyle medicine are:
Healthy Eating
Sleep
Physical Activity
Minimising Harmful Substances
Healthy Relationships
Mental Wellbeing
And I added one...slow down
Healthy Eating
Lifestyle Medicine supports people to reduce consumption of ultra-processed foods by teaching the knowledge and skills required to follow healthier eating patterns.
Sleep
Supporting people to achieve good quality sleep and to avoid behaviours which have the potential to impair sleep quality.
Physical Activity
Supporting people to choose ways in which they could incorporate more physical activity in their lives, as well as reducing time spent sitting down.
Minimising Harmful Substances
Supporting people to stop smoking, reduce excessive alcohol consumption, avoid addictive substances and behaviours such as gambling or excessive internet or social media use.
Healthy Relationships
Supporting people to develop and sustain healthy and meaningful relationships and increase social connection to reduce stress and promote both physical and mental health.
Mental Wellbeing
Teaching proven techniques to reduce stress and help people with relaxation, support people to find purpose in life and improve health through connection with nature.
Slowing down was the biggest part of my change and helped me deal with underlying emotional issues causing many of my lifestyle choices and stress.
Voices of Lived Experience is comprised of passionate individuals who have all used lifestyle medicine to manage, and even reverse, a chronic illness or condition. 
We are dedicating our time to help us bring the patient voice to the forefront and ensure that everyone can have their voices and experiences heard.
From creating resources, to helping eliminate barriers for others and by sharing their own personal journey we offer not only a powerful perspective but also hope to others who may be navigating similar paths.
All of my workshops, events and programmes are designed to support and empower you to make better decisions for yourself and your health and wellbeing.
Check out the review below to find out more about Kirsty's journey with me.
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