The Link Between Anxiety and Autoimmune Conditions: Finding Peace in the Overwhelm for women in Oregon
Anxiety and autoimmune conditions often go hand in hand, creating a cycle of physical and emotional overwhelm that can feel impossible to break. You might notice that stress or worry worsens your symptoms or that the unpredictability of your body leaves you feeling on edge. This isn’t your imagination—there’s a real, scientifically recognized connection between anxiety and autoimmune responses. By understanding this link, you can begin to untangle the patterns and take steps toward healing both your body and mind.
Listening to the Wisdom of Your Body
Your body has a way of speaking to you, even when words fall short. Through sensations, symptoms, and cycles, it tells the story of your experiences. When you live with anxiety and an autoimmune condition, your body’s messages may feel overwhelming or confusing, but they’re not meaningless.
Think of a racing heart, tight chest, or aching muscles as your body’s way of signaling it’s carrying too much. Fatigue, inflammation, or flares of pain may be its quiet—or sometimes loud—request for rest, safety, or nourishment. This is not a failure on your part; it is one way for your body to communicate what's going on to you. They can also be reflections of living in a world that is, often, if not all of the time, overwhelming.
In a world that often teaches us to push through, numb out, or ignore discomfort, learning to listen to your body can feel like a radical act of self care. The relationship between your anxiety and autoimmune condition is part of this deeper conversation. By tuning into what your body is telling you, you open the door to healing in ways that go beyond just symptom management.
Photo by Kinga Howard via Unsplash
Understanding the Anxiety-Autoimmune Connection
Your body is beautifully intricate, with systems designed to protect and support you. But when you live in a state of chronic stress or anxiety, those systems can become overactive, leaving your body feeling like it’s constantly under attack. In some cases, chronic inflammation related to autoimmune conditions can also contribute to mental and emotional symptoms like anxiety, depressed mood, fatigue, and more.
Research has shown that chronic stress can exacerbate autoimmune conditions and even play a role in their onset, alongside other contributing factors. . Anxiety keeps your nervous system in a state of hyper-vigilance, which can further destabilize your body’s natural rhythms. If you’ve ever noticed how your autoimmune symptoms flare during periods of high stress or how living with an unpredictable body heightens your anxiety, you’re experiencing this connection firsthand.
Why This Feels So Overwhelming
Living with anxiety and an autoimmune condition can feel like carrying a weight that no one else can see. It’s not just the physical symptoms—like pain, fatigue, or digestive issues—but the emotional toll of trying to manage it all. There’s the frustration of medical appointments that leave you feeling dismissed or unheard, the isolation of navigating a condition others don’t understand, and the shame of feeling like you’re failing when you’re simply trying to survive. Therapy or support can help counter these feelings by offering a space where you feel validated, understood, and guided toward practical steps to navigate these challenges.
This cycle of overwhelm isn’t your fault. Anxiety often keeps your nervous system in a loop of hyper-alertness, while autoimmune conditions make it harder for your body to reset. It’s a vicious cycle, but one that can be softened by compassion and support.
Finding Peace in the Overwhelm
Healing doesn’t mean fixing yourself—you are not broken. It means acknowledging the complexity of your experiences and learning to respond to your body’s needs with kindness. This process may involve celebrating small moments of ease, recognizing your resilience, or embracing rest as an act of care. It means learning to honor and trust the messages your body is sending, and finding ways to nurture it with rest, compassion, and care. Healing might look like taking small steps to soothe your nervous system, embracing moments of stillness, or seeking support that helps you feel seen and empowered:
Listen to Your Body with Curiosity
When a symptom arises, instead of pushing it away, ask yourself: What might my body need right now? This might be rest, hydration, movement, or simply acknowledgment of what you’re feeling. Viewing your symptoms as communication rather than an enemy can shift the way you respond to them.Practice Grounding Techniques
Grounding doesn’t have to be complicated. Simple practices like slow, deep breathing, placing your hand over your heart, or feeling your feet on the ground can help calm your nervous system. If grounding feels challenging during moments of intense overwhelm, start with the smallest step- including healthy distractions- and build from there. These small moments of regulation remind your body that it’s safe to let go of some of the tension it’s holding.Reconnect with Your Inner Compass Anxiety often pulls you out of connection with yourself, leaving you second-guessing your needs or instincts. Gentle practices like journaling, mindfulness, or even speaking affirmations aloud can help you rebuild trust in your inner wisdom. These steps don’t have to feel perfect or complete—even small moments of self-reflection can be meaningful in your healing process.
Seek Out Supportive Relationships
Healing doesn’t happen in isolation. Whether it’s a trusted therapist, a community space, or a compassionate friend, surrounding yourself with people who listen and understand can ease the burden of navigating anxiety and autoimmune challenges alone.
How Therapy Can Help
As a trauma-informed therapist, I believe deeply in the wisdom of your body and your ability to heal. Therapy provides a space where you can explore the emotional weight of living with anxiety and autoimmune conditions, uncover patterns that keep you stuck, and learn tools to regulate your nervous system. For example, somatic approaches in therapy can teach you how to notice and respond to subtle shifts in your body’s sensations, while mindfulness techniques can help you create moments of calm in the midst of overwhelm. Together, we can work to create a life where you feel more connected to your body, your strength, and your sense of peace.
You don’t have to navigate this alone. If this resonates with you, I’d be honored to support you on your journey. Let’s take the first step together.
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