The Reality of Autoimmune Conditions

The Impact of Misinformation on Autoimmune Conditions

In today’s wellness culture, there’s a lot of emphasis on the power of positive thinking, often with the suggestion that a change in mindset can overcome even the most severe health conditions. However, for those living with autoimmune disorders, this notion can be misleading and even harmful.

It’s crucial to recognize that while a positive outlook is beneficial, it cannot replace the need for proper medical diagnosis, detoxification, and treatment. Understanding the complexities of autoimmune conditions is key to providing the right support and care.

Misinformation on Social Media: A Frustrating Reality

Anyone who knows me knows I don’t do social media. Never have. Yes, the business has an Instagram account and a Facebook page, but you’ll notice the lack of content on these platforms. It’s just not my thing.

However, during a healthy market research exercise, I decided to check out what others were posting on social media about lymphatic drainage. I was completely disgusted by the amount of misinformation out there. I knew this was happening because of the things our clients come in and tell us, and because we constantly need to re-educate and reset expectations when new clients walk in the door.

However, I was refreshed to find an account with good information that had a ton of followers. The information this practitioner was giving was anatomically correct and pointed out the benefits and applications of MLD. And then, there it was: the post that triggered my core.

It suggested that thinking happy thoughts could make autoimmune conditions go away and that suffering from an autoimmune condition was due to a negative mindset. Wrong! Let’s all take a deep breath while I scream into this pillow for a solid minute.

Personal Connection: Living with Autoimmunity

Okay, first off, let’s unpack why this struck me on such a personal level. My husband Ben was 17 when he was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune condition that completely turned his world upside down. When he was 15, he moved into the house his parents still live in today.

As a 15-year-old go-getter, he was the obvious choice to paint the house from a pastel purple to a lovely off-white. We always suspected, but now know through new and improved blood testing, that the chemical in that paint triggered his autoimmune condition known as Addison’s disease.

Understanding Addison’s Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

Addison’s disease is a tough one. It’s rare, so doctors don’t “specialize” in it, and the treatment is truly guesswork—figuring out if this dose of steroid is enough to keep you alive or make you absolutely crazy while messing with your blood sugar. Ben essentially doesn’t have an intact endocrine system. Oh! And he has Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis in addition (commonly occurs with folks who have autoimmunity).

People die from Addison’s disease when their minerals get so out of balance that their heart stops (Addisonian crisis). Ben has had one of these episodes when a trusted chiropractor took him off one of his medications.

The Struggles of Misdiagnosis and Self-Advocacy

When he first started receiving treatment, he was way overdosed on prednisone and gained 80 lbs. He went from being one of the fastest, most incredible athletes in Texas, accepted into the Naval Academy to fly helicopters, to being discharged (due to his medical condition), overweight and completely hopeless. His doctor told him he would become diabetic.

When he researched and discovered it was the medication that was going to make him diabetic and not the pathology, he decided, “These doctors are going to kill me, and I have to figure this out for myself.”

Functional Medicine on Autoimmune Health

He went to chiropractic college and became a functional medicine practitioner for many years. The state of Texas has made it so chiropractors are no longer allowed to do functional medicine, but the knowledge he gained has made it so he’s incredibly functional and lives his best possible life (most days).

I tell you this because I’ve been living with someone who suffers immeasurably from autoimmunity every single day. I don’t know how he has the strength to get out of bed most mornings, let alone with a smile on his face. Through all of this, he has one of the brightest, most mindful outlooks of anyone I’ve ever met.

Detoxification and the Road to Healing

Here’s why I’m so pissed about this silly post. A few years ago, Ben found out about new blood testing that checks for several hundred different types of chemicals/known toxins. He tested off the charts for one: 1-Bromo-propane. That was it! That was his trigger.

Now that he knew the exact toxin, he knew the correct detoxification agent to support its clearance. He did a year and a half of weekly glutathione injections intravenously, and guess what? He no longer has that nasty toxin in his system, and his autoimmune markers went away. This is a true “medical miracle” and not something commonly occurring through regular medical interventions. I get choked up just thinking about it.

The Limitations of Positive Thinking in Autoimmunity

Let me be clear: THERE IS NO AMOUNT OF HAPPY THOUGHTS THAT WOULD HAVE FIXED THIS FOR HIM!!! HE HAD TO GET THAT TOXIN OUT OF HIS BODY!!! Don’t let ANYONE tell you that your sickness is in your head. I’m so sick of this nonsense.

It’s simply blame-shifting back onto the client. Instead, refer out to a doctor that can order sophisticated tests and get to the ROOT of the issue. This stuff is not cheap, and no amount of lymphatic massages will help someone detox a toxin like this if the appropriate pathways are not being supported and pushed hard. Don’t drag clients along like this. Get to the root of the issue and have them come back once they have a full treatment plan.

Supporting Autoimmune Clients with Compassion and Care

I’ve worked with countless autoimmune clients over the years. By the time someone comes in to try MLD for their chronic condition, they’ve been through it. Dismissed over and over again, they are desperate for someone to truly listen to them. Believe me, I’ve heard some gut-wrenching stories. The last thing that someone in this position needs to hear is that they’ve got to “put on a smile and change their mindset.” They have every right to be pissed about not feeling well.

The Role of a Positive Mindset in Healing

I sincerely thought about calling this practitioner to have a little chat about this. Clearly, this touched a nerve. I’m not the type to leave a public comment and start an online argument (this is no debate). But I know there are clients out there who do benefit from this mentality and that a happy mindset can be your best asset and definitely lead to a more satisfied life—but it’s not going to fix your autoimmune condition.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a true advocate for a positive mindset. Many, MANY people have told me I’m the happiest person they’ve ever known (it’s true).

My Experience with Positive Thinking and Chronic Illness

Here’s another true story: Happy thinking literally rewired my brain. When I was 11, my mom and stepdad built their dream home directly under the tall red radio towers here in Austin. Within three months, I went from being a state champion gymnast to being sick in bed with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. I was so sick, unable to go to school. I suffered with this for a few years. You know what fixed me? Happy thoughts.

I read The Art of Happiness, and it truly changed my life. There was one section that talked about when you smile (regardless of whether it’s genuine or not), you use muscles that release chemicals in your brain that trigger happy/ energized feelings. I seriously laid there in bed and smiled like a psycho.

I did it like an exercise, and it didn’t take long for my depression (which goes hand-in-hand with these ailments) to lift and for me to start moving my body again. Shortly after this, in my teen years, I started smoking pot, which lifted the rest of my symptoms (I stopped when I was 18 because I no longer had a need. Now I can’t handle it because that stuff is too strong!).

To be clear, I’m not suggesting this would fix your fibro/chronic fatigue; it’s just my personal story. And if you have fibro/chronic fatigue, please know that I see you and know how real and tough this battle is and how dismissive people can be. I can’t tell you how many people said to me “You don’t look sick.”

The Importance of Focusing on the Positive

In any case, I highly recommend The Art of Happiness and Buddha’s Brain. Buddha’s Brain is also about rewiring your mindset. Basically, we have evolved to be more focused on the negative things in life because these pose more of a threat to our survival.

Since, in modern times, most of us have all of our basic survival needs met, we no longer need to focus on these negative things because they don’t really pose a serious threat in this day and age. So, if left to our own devices, we will experience negativity 66% of the time.

We have to ACTIVELY override this and focus our attention on the positive things in life. Pretty cool, right!? THAT’S where positive thinking comes into play. If you’re thinking positively, you’re going to have a more positive outlook, and that will make your life better, and you will likely experience less pain in general—but it’s not going to make you well, my friends.

Final Thoughts on Supporting Autoimmune Conditions

I love you all. If you are someone who is living with an autoimmune condition, know that I see you, I hear you, and I admire your courage and strength.

Don’t let anyone dismiss you and tell you that it’s in your head or that just because they can’t measure or see your condition on an image or in sub-par blood work, that your symptoms are not real.

Let’s get to the root of your issue and do the best we can to support your sweet, strong, amazing body.