Too much at once..Help

Most auto-immune conditions lead to other things. I have a certain condition (I keep it private!) which has already led to diabetes, vision problems, skin problems, sleep apnoea - and there are many more delights in store for me down the track - including Alzheimer's, cancer and osteoporosis.

It's hard coming to grips with all of this - especially when you start out (as I did) with PTSD, which certainly hasn't helped!

The best way to deal with it is to forget all the individual names and just lump it all together under one umbrella-term - 'an auto-immune condition', perhaps. That way your poor overloaded brain and your emotions don't have to cope with numerous individual things - as my list above indicates. One thing is far easier (mentally) to cope with than a dozen or more! So don't separate them out.

Detoxing isn't going to change things. There is some evidence that detoxing could do more harm than good.

You're looking for that magic bullet that cures everything. You need to come to grips with the fact that no such thing exists. Instead, learn to just live with what you've got. I know at first hand that this isn't easy - but if you just take it one day at a time, you learn to accept it and cope with it.

The worst thing you can do, especially when you're in your current state of being overwhelmed, is to stop taking your prescription medications. They won't necessarily cure you, but they do alleviate some or all of the symptoms and make life liveable.

Also, try to understand that if, later on, you decide to abandon modern medicine in favour of herbal medicine - you'll just be swapping one medication regime for another, which is probably not nearly so effective or reliable. One is neither worse nor better nor safer than the other.

Meantime, discuss your fears with your doctor(s); seek professional counselling to help you get through this 'shock to the system'; and learn some relaxation techniques - perhaps yoga, or meditation, or just 'chilling out'. Aromatherapy can be very useful - try using lavender or rose to perfume your home - it really is very relaxing. And learn to do some deep breathing exercises - it's relaxing, and also helps your brain function more clearly.

And, since I know how much it helps when things get A Bit Much, I'm sending you a big HUG and my very best wishes.