When living with an autoimmune condition it’s important to manage more than just your physical symptoms. Your mind and body are deeply inter-connected, so your emotional and mental well-being are just as important. When you’re under stress, your body is impacted too, and frequently reacts. The good news is that you can take small steps to care for both your mind and body, which can have a big impact on not only how you feel from day to day, but also how well you are able to take care of yourself. The truth is that mental health is often overlooked in autoimmune care and is rare for it to come up in a rheumatologist’s office. We know that the emotional toll can be just as real as the physical for people with autoimmune conditions, which is why it’s so important to seek out support when you need it.
Resources
Self-Care Pillars
The Body and Mind Connection
Managing Stress
Lowering your stress is key. Sometimes it can creep up without you realising it immediately, and practices like deep breathing, meditation, journaling, or gentle movement (like yoga or tai chi) can ease tension and even reduce flares. Managing stress isn’t just about feeling calmer – it’s about giving your immune system a chance to rest and reset. When you’re living with an autoimmune condition, your body is already working overtime, so creating small pockets of calm each day can make a real difference to your energy, mood and overall wellbeing.
Community Support
Therapy, support groups, and moments of self-kindness can make a real difference when anxiety or low mood starts to creep in, which can easily happen when you’ve been in a flare-up for long. Support doesn’t have to look the same for everyone and sometimes it’s talking things through with a therapist and other times it’s connecting with people who truly understand what you’re going through. Even small acts of compassion towards yourself, like taking a rest day without guilt or doing something that brings you joy can help you feel grounded and supported through the ups and downs of living with an autoimmune condition. At MyFlareUp we get it, because we’ve lived the inner-struggle and know it well. That’s why we kicked off our Dragon Talks sessions with the purpose of giving our members a safe space to be seen and heard. We share information by inviting guest speakers or sometimes we just share our experiences with a condition. It’s a great place to build connection with people on a similar journey to you, so that you feel less alone on yours.
Rest and Mood
When we don’t get enough rest, it’s not just tiredness that sets in – our mood, focus, and emotional balance can all take a hit. Lack of sufficient rest can over time heighten anxiety, lower resilience, and even make everyday stress feel harder to manage. For people living with an autoimmune condition, this additional stress can end up triggering a physical response in our bodies like increased inflammation or flares. Rest isn’t just about recharging your mind, but a vital part of keeping your body calm, balanced, and better equipped to manage your condition.
Mind + Body Resources
Trauma and Autoimmune Conditions Part 2
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.
The Problem of Chronic Pain
Living with chronic pain affects more than your body, but can shape how you think, feel, and move through the world. This conversation with Dr Robin Murray is about understanding – not blaming – and knowing that even small supports can make a meaningful difference.
Stress and Autoimmunity
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.
Depression in Autoimmune Conditions
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.
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Want to be our next speaker?
Whether you want to share what you’ve personally learnt or if you are knowledgeable in a particular area – we would love to hear from you. This could be around maintaining physical, emotional or psychological health. It could be your experience with certain treatments or simply what’s worked for you. Complete the form with a brief description and someone will be in touch with you shortly.
