Mamas in Faith

If we are being completely honest if I hear someone else say that they “healed” their autoimmune disease when “they finally regulated their nervous system” I think my head might explode. Or if another influencer claims that calming a dysregulated nervous system will fix all of the autoimmune diseases that you have. And the funny part about that is those same people would literally just be like see its obvious thats why you became ill. I hate to break it to you buuuttt its not my nervous system that is causing my autoimmune issues, okay, okay. If that was the case a lot more people would be (scare quotes here) healed from their autoimmune dieases. Also while we are on that topic I have some thoughts about when people say “theres no way that your body is going to attack itself” ummmm excuse me what? Have you seen all the crazy miracle things are bodies do to keep it self alive? Yes if it thinks something is not supposed to be there its gonna do something to try and get rid of it.

What I am not saying is that a dysregulated nervous is not a real thing. Sure it could be but the way some health and wellness infulencers are using it to claim that if your nervous system is calmed it will heal you just isn’t the truth. Sure using techniques to reduce stress are beneficial in managing autoimmune symptoms but “calming your nervous system” is not going to get rid of an autoimmune disease. (This is my personal opinion, and I’m sure plenty of other people have varying opinions)

Your nervous system helps you body react to stimuli, it can be classified into two main parts the central and peripheral most of the time people are talking about the later. Which includes all nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord. It also includes the autonomic nervous system which controls all of those things you do but dont really have to think about doing. Like think the beating of your heart, your gut digesting foods and even breathing. These actions in the body can be altered by outside stimuli but even then you normally arent thinking about such things.

People making the bold claim that your nervous system is causing or going to heal your autoimmune issues are typically wanting you to do things to get it from a fight or flight state into a rest and digest state by giving your body certain inputs- ie those that say “yoga fixed it”, “just meditate”. Many people have oversimplificed the whole, have not taken into account how we are all made indivuals AND they brush off potential underlying issues.

One thing that many people also forget is that we still know so little about the brain. Yes there is a vast amount of knowledge BUT I do not think that on this side of heaven we will ever fully understand how amazing of a Creator we have. The brain is complex in ways we cannot begin to grasp.

“Regulating your nervous system” is not going to make your autoimmune diease go away. However, stress management does play a role in the management of your symptoms which is a whole other challenge in itself. Chronic pain can lead to a lot of things and many times it can feel like there is nothing you can do about it. Being angered is okay, its a normal human response. Letting it consume your every thought is not the best thing for your body or for your soul.

What are your thoughts about how the nervous system plays a part in the autoimmune space?