Page 10 - Autoimmune diseases

If you are under high level of constant stress, the

daily pattern of cortisol release can become

scrambled, peaking at 2- 3 am rather than at

daybreak. (Incidentally, this is why may people

have a form of insomnia that wakes them at this

time.) This is made even worse by long term

chronic stress where the body becomes more and

more exhausted over time.

Where cortisol is one example, there are many

other examples within the body where stress

disrupts the normal daily hormonal and

neurological cycles of the body. Stress also

disrupts the normal immunological cycles of the

body which can disrupt the normal type 1 and type

2 responses.

The bottom line message here is that stress and

exhaustion disrupt the normal coordinated function

of the immune system. To effectively manage an

autoimmune disease, stress must be kept low and

the body must be kept from becoming exhausted.

What this means is that you must get plenty of

good deep sleep at night and not push yourself too

hard during the day.