Our bodies are designed to be their own saviors. We were created with countless mechanisms that collectively work to keep our bodies safe from any internal or external attacks. But what if the attack is external? Like a virus or an accident?
Could it be avoided? If you know what it is that is lurking to get you maybe you could avoid it if you’re careful enough?
Some people over do it, they think disinfecting their hands million times can keep them safe from germs or some sort of an external invader that will have them trembling with sickness. So they over protect themselves and their children and the whole family ends up germophobic with OCD. Is that really a life? - To me, most defiantly not.
But what if the attack is internal? What if your own body is attacking itself? And what if your lines of defence are standing by just watching the battle you’re losing?
Your immune system recognizes the various cells of your body as foreigners and starts recruiting its defence lines against, well basically against you. Your body is destroying itself from the inside out. Cell by cell, tissue by tissue, organ by organ and system by system. This is called an autoimmune disease.
I know this comparison highly underestimates the severity of autoimmunity but, doesn’t it feel the same way when you're overwhelmed with doubt and countless questions that are eating your head day and night?
When you feel like overthinking is literally self-destructive to a point where you can no longer function and all you really want to do is stay in bed and avoid the day.
To me both cases bring up the same choices and present the same fundamental question; would you go looking for answers and solutions or would you give up completely and go dying in a loved one’s arms?
I know this sounds depressingly tragic. But I’m just warming up.
Autoimmune disease is hard to diagnose. Because all you have is signs and symptoms given to you by the patient. Sometimes doctors can’t really detect the exact autoimmune mechanism that is doing the harm. So many patients are diagnosed incorrectly or accused of making up the symptoms. Does this ring a bell?
On many levels it does. How many times you felt it in your gut that something is wrong? You can’t quiet put your hand on it but you just feel its void. You just feel it with every cell of your existence. Some people are lucky enough to figure it out; others are destined for life with absolutely no joy regardless of how hard they look for it, or how many times they think they’ve chased it down. That thing that will make everything alright and restores life to normal.
If my father heard me saying this he’d accuse me of making a problem out of nothing, maybe he has a point. Life should be simple right? No?
Speaking of simplicity, let’s go back to immunity. When it comes to our immune system, it’s not all destructive and tragic.
Our immune system presents the most beautiful concept I’ve ever encountered. The term ‘Self Tolerance’ as defined in Robin’s Basic Pathology by ‘’the lack of immune response to one’s own tissue antigens. Obviously, such self-tolerance is necessary if our own tissues are to live harmoniously with a marauding army of lymphocytes. ‘’
I mean how majestic does that sound? Beautiful beautiful beautiful.
I mean how majestic does that sound? Beautiful beautiful beautiful.
Our bodies’ immune system sounds peacefully perfect doesn’t it? Well if you’re a normal-healthy person that’s exactly what it should be like. The body detects the self-destructing molecules and gets rid of them before the reach our vital tissues and organs. Don’t you just wish we have a filter exactly like that for your unwanted feelings, doubts and insecurities? And everyone ends up living and everyone is satisfied. Or maybe they just think they are? Maybe they’re just Okay with settling for simply just that. An ordinary life. You know; graduate, work and then die.
But if you’re one of those handful of people who are striving to make something out of their lives. Refusing to settle for anything less than that. These insomniac perfectionists, the counter of all stereotypes, living in a constant battle with themselves. Hiding behind million fears and insecurities but trying anyways.
Are you hopelessly autoimmune-d to peace of mind?
Questions that bring up more questions. Let’s end it shall we?
Aside from that, I guess what I’m trying to say is that maybe our immune system is telling us something here, it’s giving us a priceless lesson, one that is not learned very easily, ‘Self tolerance’ learn to tolerate yourself, your moods, your insecurities, learn to accept your fears, and the most important lesson of all is learning how to understand them in order to co-exist peacefully. Because in life everything requires self tolerance first.
