For more than a third of her life, Jill has lived with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Jill shares with us the difficulty she went through in getting diagnosed and the impact its had on her life. She explains the importance of expressing your feelings when you can, and reminding yourself that your thoughts, emotions, and actions are all deeply interconnected.
Jill acknowledges that her tendency to hold onto things for too long, had made her life as a nurse so much harder. She talks about the value of sharing how you feel – at your own pace and in your own way – and the benefits it can have in bringing you relief, clarity, and a sense of being understood.
Jill believes we all deserve to feel supported and to be heard, and that learning how to express yourself is a compassionate act you can take to manage your mental health when you have a rheumatoid arthritis, and is sometimes the first step of compassion we can do for our self-care.
This is Jill’s story and her timeline of getting diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.
Depression is common in autoimmune conditions, and it’s not a personal failing or ‘just feeling low’ says Dr Robin Murray, a neuropsychologist. Chronic inflammation, pain, fatigue, and the unpredictability of symptoms all place real strain on both your body and your mind. Inflammation itself can affect your brain chemistry, which means depression can be part of the condition – not just a reaction to it.
This talk by Dr Robin Murray, a neuropsychologist, talks about how stress not causing autoimmune conditions, but how it can influence how your immune system behaves. When stress is ongoing, your body stays in a heightened state of ‘alert’, releasing hormones that can disrupt immune balance and increase inflammation. For people living with an autoimmune condition, this can mean more frequent or more intense flares.
Living with chronic pain affects more than your body, but can shape how you think, feel, and move through the world. This conversation with neuropsychologist Dr Robin Murray, is about understanding – not blaming. Dr Murray gives us some strategies to help, and explains how even small supports can make a meaningful difference.
You may have heard the term forest bathing – but do you know what it means and why it matters to those of us living with autoimmunity? John Anderson, Forest Therapy Guide at Global Institute of Forest Therapy explains the science and magic of forest therapy and its benefits.
In Part 2 of Dr Véronique Mead’s talk, a medical doctor and a trauma therapist, she talks about the clues offered when you go into a flare, and understanding the triggers – both can be a useful tool when managing an autoimmune conditions.
Dr Véronique Mead, a medical doctor and a trauma therapist, introduces us to hidden risk factors in Autoimmune Conditions, while sharing her own story. In this first conversation, she gently explores the connection between trauma and autoimmune conditions, weaving together lived experience, science, and deep compassion.
Pru reminisces on the ups and downs of her Lupus journey – and her story truly is a riveting one. Talk about resilience! Today Pru advocates for education of better understanding of autoimmune conditions and communication between patient and specialist. She volunteers to participate for Australian Lupus Registry (ALRB) and Biobank for SLE patients.
