| It's easier for both health professionals
and most of their patients to use drugs as a substitute for change.
Self-medication with alcohol or nicotine, or prescription
anti-depressants and stimulants are easier than applying intelligence,
focus and analytical skills to complex relationship situations. Drugs
are also cheaper for the patient (in the short term) and more profitable
for the health professionals.
The long-term consequences and side-effects of
psychoactive drugs are unacceptable to an increasing number of professionals
and some patients.
What is Autoimmune Disease?
If you have an autoimmune disease, your own immune system
attacks you. Autoimmune diseases are
sometimes called collagen vascular diseases because your
immune system may attack supportive tissues and blood vessels.
The causes of autoimmune disease are not known.
| In most autoimmune
diseases the cause of antibody formation is unknown. Persons
with myasthenia gravis make an antibody that blocks the
transmission of nerve impulses to muscle; this causes the muscle
weakness and breathing difficulty associated with the disease.
In autoimmune hemolytic anemia, the red blood cells are
destroyed by autoantibodies. Persons with lupus erythematosus
make antibodies that attack cell components, including genetic
material.
Microsoft® Encarta® Reference Library 2003. © Microsoft |
If you have an autoimmune disease such as arthritis,
lupus, multiple sclerosis or fibromyalgia,
your immune system attacks your body tissues instead of protecting them.
Common medical treatments attempt to relieve your pain and to suppress
your immune system with steroids (corticosteroids) and
other immunosuppressive drugs.
[ Lupus . Multiple Sclerosis . Arthritis ]
Systemic coaching finds that autoimmune conditions
often originate in trauma, exposure to toxic materials and relationship
chaos, and that nutritional and alternative approaches can complement
mainstream medical treatment.
Some autoimmune symptoms appear to be
triggered by food reactions and environmental sensitivities. Some people
improve with vegetarian diets and some may benefit from avoiding foods
high in both phenylalanine (chocolate, apples, chicken and peanuts)
and tyrosine (dairy products, fish and oats). Many people
respond to common foods such as wheat, potatoes, milk and barley with depression.
[ Depression . Allergies . Food Allergies ]
Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune diseases includee lupus,
multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia, but there
are many others. Pemphigus vulgaris, for example,
is a blistering disease of the skin and mucous membranes.
Vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels) is also
frequently autoimmune.
Vitiligo (patchy loss of skin color) and
alopecia (patchy or complete baldness) are sometimes seen with autoimmune
conditions. Polymyositis and dermatomyositis (inflammation of muscles
and skin) are less common.
Medical Treatment
As the cause of autoimmunity is not understood,
most medical treatment attempts to alleviate the symptoms, which vary according
to the tissues being attacked. Pain-killers are commonly prescribed, as well
as corticosteroids and other immune system suppressants. Regular exercise
and adequate rest may help people enjoy more active lives.
Autoimmunity & Systemic Coaching
The older statistical paradigms used by many physicians are
slowly being replaced by systemic paradigms. If autoimmune symptoms
are examined systemically, systemic solutions for the symptoms may be found.
Systemic coaching examines whether autoimmune symptoms have a
useful function in the relationships of the sufferer.
As people with autoimmune disease often have a family history
of autoimmune symptoms, some disease symptoms may reflect relationship bonds: Systemic coaching may help people who have food allergies and sensitivities.
Food allergies often have a systemic (relationship) basis.
If you want to learn more, use an internet search engine for "systemic coaching" with topics such as allergies, chronic
fatigue syndrome or lupus. Or consider attending our Systemic
Coach training.
Let your experience indicate whether or not you are on the right track. Don't end any medication or prescribed symptom suppression until you discuss your research and
results with your physician. As you health improves, share your experiences to help other people build hope.
Where Are you Stuck?
What are you doing to move on? Are you waiting for something to happen? You are stuck only if you choose to
be so. Instead of frustrating yourself, and others, you can get systemic coaching.
Many people with autoimmune diseases keep on moving on. Others quit and suffer - or die. Whatever brought your symptoms to the surface -
it is your choice whether or not you do something about them.
Are you ready to move on - have you suffered enough - email us
Consult your physician about any opinions or recommendations
about medical symptoms or other medical questions.
Do you want relationship coaching or
systemic coach training?
We can train you to coach individuals, partners and teams to resolve a wide
range of emotional, educational and relationship challenges.
Copyright © Martyn Carruthers 2004, 2009 All rights reserved.
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