Complementary, Alternative, or Integrative Healthcare
Learning to cope with an autoimmune disease(s) or other chronic illness can certainly add to a person’s stress – just what someone experiencing any illness does not need. My number one recommendation is to be gentle with yourself. You don’t have to figure everything out overnight. There is a lot to learn.
I am quite well versed in Western medicine having worked as an RN for many years. However, I am, and have always been, open to Complementary and Alternative healthcare. I recommend you thoroughly research anything you want to try before embarking on a specific journey. And remember – ‘do no harm’ – to yourself, anyone else, or the environment!! Don’t get sucked in by anyone or anything that might cause harm; be discerning. If it seems too good to be true – well, you know the rest of that saying.
To learn a bit more about Complementary, Alternative, or Integrative Healthcare and how they are different and how they can work together check out what the National Institute for Health has to say.
Complementary Ideas for Living with Autoimmune Disease
Activity
One of the things important for everyone throughout their life is exercise, or as I now prefer to say ‘activity’. I found being active became extremely difficult with autoimmune disease. Before I was diagnosed I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what was going on with my body. I have always enjoyed going to the gym and working out. But it had gotten increasingly difficult, and I had trouble recovering from a simple, basic workout in time for my next session two or three days later. One day I showed up at the gym and my personal trainer said “No, you can’t work out, you obviously have not recovered from your last workout.” So, it wasn’t just me being a wimp. For the first time in my life, I got nauseated and vomited during workouts. These workouts were not particularly strenuous, so my trainer and I were dumbfounded. Once I had my diagnosis it all made sense. However, I still had trouble learning to cope with my limited ability.
Be gentle with yourself!! I know this now. It has taken me more than 10 years to catch on to going slowly with exercise and activity programs. Doing five minutes of exercise didn’t seem worthwhile, but that is where some people (me) need to start so they can progress to more. What kind of activity depends on you and what you enjoy and can do. Swimming is highly recommended, but I can’t swim, so it is not for me. Walking is an excellent activity as is yoga. I enjoy gardening, a great activity that also gets you outside. I must be careful though as I get carried away and often do more than is good for me for one stretch and then pay the price with several days of recovery.
Find what you enjoy and embrace it with enthusiasm and moderation.
Relaxation
We have learned that stress can be hard on our immune system and sometimes will trigger a flare-up. Learning to deal with stress is important, but not always easy. First, we don’t always recognize what is causing us stress. I’ve previously mentioned the HeartMath(TM) Depletion to Renewal Grid(R). It is an excellent tool to guide you to find and name your stressors. What will you do to help you decrease and cope with your stress?
Meditation is often recommended and works well. Some people find meditation difficult, so we need to think of a few other alternatives. Personally, I prefer guided meditation to help me keep my focus. I know I can interrupt the intrusive thoughts by acknowledging them, thanking them for the reminder, but saying goodbye for now as it is not the right time because I am meditating. I received this message recently; meditation doesn’t have to mean sitting with your eyes closed but can be one of these activities.
Breathwork is something I recommend and have been doing for years. One possibility is HeartMath(TM) Heart-Focused Breathing(R). There are numerous breathwork sites online to guide you. I found this one from the Cleveland Clinic and it gives a good background of the benefits of breathwork and explanations for several options.
The right yoga can also be relaxing. Find a program that works for you. There are numerous classes available for you; in-person, online, YouTube, or on tv. Some people are well-enough versed in yoga they can do it on their own.
Spending time outdoors can relax and help calm monkey-mind, and you get a bit of fresh air. Some autoimmune diseases, or the medications you take for them, can make you sensitive to the sun, so be careful. The outdoors is often a place for spiritual practices and can be quite relaxing for many people. Take time to find what works for you. If possible, cut a few stressors in your life.
Essential Oils and Aromatherapy
I enjoy using essential oils and aromatherapy. I love a variety of scents and have long found many of them to be calming. I first used eucalyptus years ago for my recurrent upper respiratory infections. Lavender is another oil I have used for years at bedtime. But I have discovered so many more. I now have a wide array of oils I use daily. I use several oils daily to help me relax, to boost my mood or energy, and others to help ease my physical pain. Of course, there are other oils I use solely because I like the smell. I’d be delighted to guide you in choosing oils for your needs (I’m a certified aromatherapy practitioner) with no obligation.
I recently intended to order DoTerra’s Serenity Oil, but inadvertently ordered the capsules. I don’t routinely take anything to help me sleep and often have trouble falling to sleep because of my restless legs or peripheral neuropathy. I gave the capsules a try and found they worked beautifully. In the meantime, I have ordered the Serenity Oil to try.
Neuroplasticity
I’ve been keenly interested in neuroplasticity for several years. Check out the blog I wrote a while ago Neuroplasticity, Development, Leadership: Do They go Together? Some things to think about: Can neuroplasticity help overcome, heal, or better cope with autoimmune disease and chronic illness? I have included a couple of links for you to check out. It is a wide-ranging topic.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31279682
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889159118312388?via%3Dihub
Neuroplasticity and Autoimmune Disease – MS
Neuroplasticity use has been researched for potential use in those with Muscular Dystrophy, one autoimmune disease. The following article has some information that you might find interesting.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4347609
Neural Stimulation for Autoimmune Diseases
Find out more about how neural stimulation might be helpful. As I read and search, I am encouraged by the research being done. Stay curious.
Wrapping Up
Being challenged with an autoimmune disease or any chronic illness might have left you feeling defeated, frustrated, angry, or not in control of your life. That is ok. However, you are in control. Take time to mourn what you have lost, and then you can move on with your life. There are numerous options for you. You do not have to be alone on your journey. My intention is not to gather clients, but to be available to help find what works for you. Give me a shout. Stay curious. Most important for all of us is self-care. Be gentle with yourself, have compassion for yourself
** UPDATE – Today I received an email informing me that the name of one autoimmune disease has been updated from Sjogren’s Syndrome to Sjogren’s Disease. To learn more about why this is important and more about Sjogren’s check out this link: https://sjogrens.org/blog/2024/language-matters-the-international-sjogrens-community-changes-sjogrens-syndrome-to