Myasthenia gravis is one of the many
autoimmune diseases affecting humans. The hallmark of myasthenia gravis is
muscle weakness, which can affect different parts of the body, such as the
eyes, resulting in drooping eyelids and double vision, and the limbs affecting
body movement, and the throat resulting in difficulty in swallowing. There are
many underlying causes or triggers of the onset of an autoimmune disease.
Basically, it is the dysfunction or malfunction of the immune system.
Researchers have now discovered that
there is a close connection between attitude and autoimmune
response. The research findings indicated that attitude can
suppress or enhance the immune system. The explanation is that when affected by
certain emotions and moods, the brain releases certain brain
chemicals that are transmitted to the immune cells with receptors for
those chemicals. In other words, there is a biochemical link between human
emotions and immunity.
Attitude is a learned response to a
person, a circumstance, or an event. Researchers have found that control over a stressful situation
may lead to a positive attitude, which will benefit and improve the immune
response.
In one study, two rats, having been
given electric shock, were put in two different cages, one with a wheel to
control the shock, and the other one without the wheel. The result was
that the rat which could control the wheel had much better immune response than
the other one without the wheel. That is to say, without the capability to
control the situation may be devastating to the immune system.
Given that myasthenia gravis, or any autoimmune disease, has to do with a
compromised immune system, it is therefore important to boost your immune system with an attitude of
being in control, or at least not to suppress it with an attitude of
helplessness. Do not let your despair develop into a depression, which may
result in higher-than-normal cortisol (a hormone) that suppresses the immune
response. Again, research has indicated that optimism increases the immune system
functioning.
Understandably, to be diagnosed with myasthenia gravis is a devastating
experience. But don't let that negative emotion be a stumbling block on your
road to recovery. Although according to conventional Western medicine, there is
no cure for autoimmune diseases, there are many natural ways not only to
control and cope with the disease symptoms but also to enhance your immune
system to combat the disease over the long haul.
The first step is to develop an
attitude of being in control. This mindset is critical to recovery.
I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis more than two
decades ago; I struggled with my disease symptoms for a while; I stopped all my
medications; and for over a decade, I have been totally drug-free. If
I could do it, you can do the same too. There is no miracle
cure, except the intention to get better, which is no more than an attitude of
control, empowerment of knowledge, and determination to fight against all
odds.
Read my book: My
Myasthenia Gravis (2nd edition)
Stephen Lau
Copyright© by Stephen Lau
No comments:
Post a Comment