Autoimmunity: Why We Fight Ourselves

"Illness is a cry to discover a truth about yourself in the midst of an illusion.  The illusion is a concept or mythology about your body or relationship or life which has developed in an attempt to protect you from feeling separate and worthless"- Donny Epstein

An autoimmune disease is often described as a condition in which your immune system mistakenly attacks your body.  But, is our body really mistaken in its attack?

The thoughts we have play a role in the way our body responds.  Our thoughts initiate chemicals to be released into the body which in turn leads to a cascade of reactions and actions within.  For example, when we have thoughts and feelings of stress, our body releases cortisol, adrenaline, and other chemicals which in turn tells our body to run away, fight or freeze.

If we have thoughts of love or joy, our body will release dopamine and our body’s cells will be bathed in this feel good drug.

Now, what thoughts could possibly contribute to having our bodies fight against themselves? What if you told yourself that you were a bad person? What if you told yourself that you were sick?  What if you were constantly telling yourself that you were not enough? Not worthy, not able to heal and were always hard on yourself?

What if, the thoughts you had that “attack” your self were actually leading to your body to attack itself?   

How can you change this?  Change your thoughts and you can change your body.  

Now, it is also important to remember that some thoughts and/or beliefs are subconscious and under the surface.  This means that we are not aware of them but they run in the background. They can also contribute to our illnesses.  Also, auntoimmune diseases are very complex in nature and multiple factors contribute to them.  However, this is one factor that you can control and change.  

Pay attention to your thoughts and see what you are saying to yourself.  Need help? 613-761-1600

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