Have you been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition? Is this disease impacting your life? The list of autoimmune diseases is getting longer and longer. It is estimated that there are around 80 to 100 auto immune conditions now affecting nearly all body systems, from celiac disease, thyroid conditions, multiple sclerosis or inflammatory bowel disease, the effects are life changing and can be crippling! 

My name is Karina, I am a health coach and have myself been diagnosed with Graves Disease. I have been able to make lifestyle changes which have eliminated any signs of the disease and now I feel passionate to help others to heal and reverse their conditions. With the right knowledge it is possible to influence one’s health, to be in charge of the journey to better health! 

I will now tell you more about the origins of autoimmune diseases, and what we can do to heal. 

First of all, what is an autoimmune disease? 

An autoimmune disease is a condition that results from the immune system mistakenly targeting and attacking healthy, functioning parts of the body, as if they were foreign pathogens. 

Autoimmunity often has genetic links however is clearly associated with environmental factors, such as stress. 

The link between the gut health and autoimmunity is very important and we need to understand that stress is affecting gut health and gut health is affecting immunity and can lead to autoimmunity. 

The immune system is fighting pathogens with 3 layers of response and is therefore the most powerful protection that we have in our bodies. 70% of our immune system is residing in our gut, as the College of Naturopathic Medicine outlines in their health coaching course. The digestive system, the gut flora, can be influenced and disturbed by environmental factors, such as lifestyle and stress. 

In order to understand more about the role of the digestive system in regard to autoimmune disease it is important to explain about the leaky gut syndrome.  Let’s look at this a bit closer. 

What is leaky gut? 

If in our gut the intestinal epithelial barrier becomes leaky, bigger molecules, such as unprocessed proteins, and toxins, can cross the barrier entering the blood, says Bobbie Quereshi, M.Ost, ND and Nutritional Therapist. This can cause a very powerful immune response. Leaky gut syndrome can cause bloating, abdominal pain, or Fatigue and skin rashes. This will increase the risk of autoimmune conditions.  

One of the reasons for leaky gut can be severe stress. 

In a previous series of case studies, I have found that there was a clear link between childhood stress or physical trauma and autoimmune diseases. I had surveyed 6 women of which 5 had been diagnosed with one or more autoimmune conditions and all 5 had either stressful childhood events or a serious reaction to a medication, causing allergic reactions, causing stress on the body and the digestive system. 

If I include myself, I can confirm that I, myself suffered with severe childhood stress, and both me and my brother have both been diagnosed with Graves disease. 

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune condition where the immune system creates antibodies called thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSIs). They mimic thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and trick the thyroid gland into producing more hormones than necessary. This causes anxiety, difficulty sleeping, irritability, weight loss, eye problems and other debilitating symptoms, says Thyroid UK. 

Treatment includes medications such as Carbimazole, which can have side effects such as allergic reactions, even liver failure in rare cases, and beta blockers, says Thyroid UK. 

My brother had his thyroid removed, in his severe case doctors advised that this was the best option for him, and he now takes medication to balance his metabolism. In my case, I was convinced that I could heal myself by finding the reasons of my illness, instead of removing one of the most important organs in my body. We are both free of symptoms now. 

I have spoken to people with Multiple Sclerosis, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, which is chronic fatigue, and people with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachicardia Syndrome) and have found that these conditions are very difficult to live with. Of course other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and Lupus, where Autoimmune antibodies attach to tissues in the kidneys, lungs, nerves, joints, or blood cells, can be very difficult to live with as well.  

The knowledge of how the body works, with all body systems connected and working as one, has really helped me to understand that we must look at the body as a whole if we want to improve our heath. In my own case, I know how frustrating it is going to the doctor, feeling very unwell, and being given a medication to suppress symptoms without going deeper and looking at the reason for the illness.  

Quoting Anthony Bechamp saying “It is the terrain of the body which causes ill health.” If the terrain is unbalanced and even toxic, due to nutrition and lifestyle choices, then pathogens can grow and flourish, causing us ill health.  

I feel passionate about learning more and will continue to update you on my findings in the future. So, if you would like to embark on the journey of health and wellbeing, and learning join me in my future blogs. I will further investigate the link between childhood stress and autoimmune disease and will also further explain my own journey to better health. 

To start with let me explain what exactly I can do to help you and how health coaching can change your life. I hope the below FAQs will help. 

FAQs on HEALTH COACHING