Is Your Body Really Attacking Itself? Rethinking Autoimmune Conditions

If you’ve been told “your body is attacking itself”—you’re not alone. This is the dominant explanation given to women with autoimmune conditions like Graves’, Hashimoto’s, Lupus, and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

But here’s the problem: that phrase often leaves you feeling helpless. Like your body is the enemy. Like something inside of you is fundamentally broken.

The truth? Your body doesn’t make mistakes—it adapts.

Autoimmune conditions arise when the immune system may become overactive and begin responding to signals that it perceives as threats. But instead of viewing this as a system gone rogue, what if we saw it as a system overloaded?

So what can overload the immune system?

• 🧠 Chronic stress (including unresolved emotional trauma)
  
• 🧬 Genetic predispositions + environmental triggers
  
• 🧪 Toxic burden from mold, chemicals, heavy metals
  
• 🌱 Gut imbalance (leaky gut or dysbiosis)
  
• 😴 Sleep deprivation and circadian disruption
  
• 🥣 Nutrient deficiencies (selenium, zinc, magnesium, etc.)
  
• 🔄 Blood sugar imbalances + metabolic dysfunction
  

Often, the immune system isn’t confused—it’s responding appropriately to an internal environment that no longer feels safe. Your symptoms may actually be a sign of the body trying to protect you by slowing you down.

The Reframe:

What if your body is not attacking you—it's asking for your attention?

Rather than fighting your body, what if you partnered with it? You might begin by:

• Supporting your nervous system regulation (via breath work, meditation, somatic tools)
  
• Running functional testing to identify nutrient or toxin imbalances (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis shows you how your body is functionally responding)
  
• Strengthening your gut health and reducing inflammatory inputs
  
• Creating a healing lifestyle grounded in rest, nourishment, and boundaries
  
• Releasing the belief that you need to “do more” to earn your worth or recovery
  

This is not about blaming yourself. It’s about understanding the body’s deeper intelligence—and responding accordingly.

If you’re ready to stop fearing your body and start listening to it, tune into Episode #21 “How To Listen To Your Body, Not Your Bias”  where Lauren shares her journey from Graves’ disease diagnosis to remission—and how she learned to trust her body again.