Take Control of Autoimmune Diseases Naturally

1. Take a walk. It doesn't have to be long, and it doesn't have to be fast. But get outside or to an indoor mall or museum and walk for at least 20 minutes. Studies find such moderate exercise can help with the stiffness and pain of autoimmune diseases and improve your mood.
2. Take an hour a day to rest. You don't have to nap if you don't want to, but just lying in a quiet room reading or meditating can be amazingly restorative. Don't be embarrassed about this. Tell your boss, children and partner that this one hour is what enables you to remain productive and energetic the rest of the day.
3. Learn at least one technique to reduce stress hormones in your body. Notice I didn't say reduce stress—I know that's impossible. But studies find that things like deep breathing, meditation and visualization can reduce levels of stress hormones in your body. These hormones are inflammatory—contributing to the inflammation behind many autoimmune diseases.
4. Find a support system. This might be your family, or it might be friends. It could even be a support group of other people with your condition. Whoever you choose, you need supportive people in your life who understand why you have days when you can't lift the laundry basket or make it through a grocery shopping trip, and who are there to help you on such days.
5. Learn to slow down. Women who cope well with chronic autoimmune diseases say they've learned to slow down. Some change to less stressful jobs or work parttime; others readjust their expectations of what they can accomplish on and off the job. Instead of making your disease fit your life, readjust your life to fit your disease. You'll feel better and will find you're able to cope better.
6. Participate in your care. If your doctor doesn't listen to you, minimizes your complaints, refuses to discuss integrating alternative approaches into your care or doesn't recommend other approaches to cope with the side effects of treatment (like
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