Coping with the Stress of Having an Autoimmune Disease Mei Ling Moore
P
atients with rare, autoimmune skin blistering diseases such as pemphigus and pemphigoid often have painful blisters that may be exacerbated by stress. As a patient myself, my personal slogan is: Worry = Stress = Blisters. Under normal circumstances, we have enough everyday stress to deal with. Since the early part of 2020, all of us have dealt with the added anxiety related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We may worry about whether or not we are more vulnerable to COVID-19 because of our immune system. Many patients have had concerns regarding the COVID-19 vaccines as well. To address these concerns, there are resources available on the IPPF website, including information from our Medical Advisory Council and recordings of past webinars. For many years, I have given a workshop on de-stressing at the annual IPPF Patient Education Conference. Due to the pandemic, the 2020 conference was held online, and I was unable to give my presentation. The
following are some tips I typically discuss in my workshop that you may find beneficial in combating stress. A few of these methods will take practice. Take your time, take it easy, and know that it will get easier as you do them more often. Meditation can give you a sense of calm and peace that benefits both your emotional well-being and your overall physical health. These benefits don’t end when your meditation session ends. Meditation can help you remain calm throughout your day.
As a patient myself, my personal slogan is: Worry = Stress = Blisters.
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Quarterly | Spring 2021
Keep in mind that when you close your eyes and look straight ahead (the area between your eyebrows), it keeps your mind active, and it will be easier to reach a meditative state. If you look down, you may fall asleep!
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