3 Ways Autoimmune Disease Changes How You See Yourself
3 Ways Autoimmune Disease Changes How You See Yourself
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Discover the factors that affect one’s self-image when diagnosed with a chronic autoimmune illness and learn how to overcome sadness and a sense of defeat so that you can start to heal from the inside-out.
It took several years to figure out what my body needed and to achieve a new normal. But what immediately occurred was a realization that my life had changed.
I was a brand-new mom. Suddenly, I was dealing with daily medication and debilitating symptoms, including chronic fatigue (which no amount of sleep could cure), dry skin, brittle hair, weight gain, hoarseness, digestive issues, and depression.
I felt alone and in a fog, trying to figure out how to navigate this new world. Autoimmune disease changes your life as well as your self-perception — how you see yourself.
In an article entitled Who Am I Now? Living With An Autoimmune Disease, which was adapted from a presentation to the Myositis Support Group at the Hospital for Special Surgery, Dr. Patricia B. Vitacco, a psychologist, identified the following four factors that affect one’s self-image when diagnosed with a chronic illness:
- The severity of the disease process
- Stage of life when diagnosed
- Personality and emotional health before becoming ill
- Social and loving relationships and support systems
Let’s take a minute to break those down and further understand how they directly impact how you see yourself and how you envision your life after getting an autoimmune disease diagnosis.
Number 1: Severity of the disease process. In other words, how severe, painful, debilitating is your condition when you walk in the doctor’s office seeking a diagnosis? If you’re experiencing mild symptoms, perhaps a few sporadic stomach pangs or rashes isolated on a single part of your body, your life and the perception you have of yourself may not be as negatively impacted by a diagnosis. However, if your symptoms have you struggling to get out of bed every day or walk upstairs without excruciating pain or you’re suffering from persistent headaches and migraines, a diagnosis can severely impact how you start to view and treat your body.
Number 2: The stage of life when diagnosed. I was a young mom when I was diagnosed — a time that is supposed to be filled with discoveries as a parent and the happiness of watching my baby grow. Instead, I was spending most of my time in bed because of fatigue, going to visit a specialist for checkups and routine blood work, and scouring the internet to understand what my body was going through.
Number 3: Personality and emotional health before becoming ill. How you react to your diagnosis will significantly depend on your usual coping skills. If you’re the type of person who is easily frustrated by change or bad news, then you may not cope well. On the other hand, if you’re usually a resilient person who handles stress very well and possess healthy ways to weather storms, then you’ll meet your diagnosis with a newfound sense of determination and resolve.
Number 4: Your social, emotional relationships, and supports. This area refers to the quality of your relationships and how those closest to you support you in general. Are you surrounded by friends, family, and coworkers who are generally supportive and sensitive to your needs? Then you are likely to thrive in dealing with your autoimmune diagnosis because you’ll have empathy from those around you and perhaps even specific physical and emotional support in coping with everyday life.
In general, these elements of your life at the time of being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease can either help you overcome a diagnosis or adversely impact your life.
There are three ways having an autoimmune disease affects how you see yourself:
- You become obsessed with your health and how your body works. Suddenly, you become an expert in your particular disease. For me, I learned all about how the thyroid influences metabolism and body temperature and the nature of an underactive thyroid.
I also started learning how the thyroid interacts with other organ systems. For instance, how hypothyroidism and not producing enough thyroid hormone can lead to difficulty concentrating as well as impact memory.
If you haven’t gotten to that stage of the disease yet, trust me, you’ll get there. If you are at all concerned about your health before you were diagnosed, I guarantee that you’ll become a more determined person to cure your condition and find effective ways to be relieved of your symptoms. And that’s a good thing.
I believe that it is possible to put your condition into remission, and it does not involve running from one medical establishment to another trying various therapies or treatments.
- You are more aware of your body’s limitations and its fragility. Autoimmunity means your body is attacking itself in some way. Realizing that your body is enduring this kind of turmoil has the potential of making you feel helpless and that your wellbeing is out of your control.
To an extent, this is true, but many things are within your control that can positively impact the nature of your autoimmune disease and how it manifests. Specific lifestyle changes such as proper nutrition, a whole foods approach can heal your body in many ways. Reducing any allergens or potential triggers have the same effect. Stress-reducing techniques such as meditation and prayer can have a stabilizing impact. Consistent body movement and exercise can help you feel empowered and even relieve specific symptoms of autoimmunity, such as body aches and joint pain.
- You are more susceptible to feeling self-pity or self-empowerment. For many people with autoimmune conditions, it is easy to fall deep into a black hole of depression and to feel sorry for yourself. You may start to wonder why you’ve been saddled with an autoimmune disease that requires routine trips to the doctor, daily medications, or the need to restrict for certain activities or foods. I’ve been there, too.
When I went gluten-free, I initially felt terrible when I sat with friends or family and saw them continue to enjoy their usual foods and treats. At the same time, I was forced to find options devoid of gluten, a common allergen for those with autoimmune disease. I thought, “Why me? Why do I have to deal with this and be cursed with this condition?” I also felt that I was being punished by God for something I did wrong.
Thankfully, I eventually turned the corner emotionally and spiritually when I found approaches that worked for me. And those changed made me feel even better than I did before I was diagnosed. That’s when I embraced feeling empowered and realized I had more control over my body and my health.
When you also reach this turning point, consider it a chance to look at your autoimmune disease as a gift, or an opportunity, and turn the page on your health — to leave behind lifestyle practices that contributed to poor and declining health in favor of a more abundant life that includes personal choices that give you life.
