Understanding Autoimmune Disease

Understanding Autoimmune Disease is the first guide designed for mental health professionals who work with clients living with autoimmune disease. Only by understanding the impact of autoimmune diseases have on an individual’s life—from pre-diagnosis, to diagnosis, to post-diagnosis—can a mental health professional provide the type of help, support and guidance these individuals desperately need. For individuals struggling with autoimmune diseases, finding the right therapist can feel daunting. Suffering from “invisible illnesses” that are as mysterious as they are poorly understood, those most in need of mental health support will often feel unseen, being told their symptoms are “all in their head.” At times, it can even seem like the only person capable of understanding what they’re going through is someone with an autoimmune disease of their own. Understanding Autoimmune Disease helps those with autoimmune diseases feel both safe and seen, and enables both doctor and patient to work from common ground towards a better quality of life.