Lupus and Stress Management: How to lessen stress

The video below goes over lupus and stress management, while also discussing how stress affects the immune system adversely.The Lupus Foundation of America filed this video of me during their Living and Learning series December 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 epidemic and during the holiday season. Stress can increase lupus onset and lupus flares. Learnhow to lower stress can possibly help decrease the effects of lupus.

– The 1st part of the video goes over some of the science behind how stress abnormally affects the immune system. stress worsens cancer, autoimmune diseases, and cause increased death. Why is it that optimistic people who deal with stress well tend to live longer than pessimistic people who are easily stressed? Stress does have bad effects on our immune systems.

– Then I go over how people who are genetically predisposed to having lupus have a greater chance of developing lupus if they have had major stressors in their life (child abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, etc.)

– Then I go over how stress can cause lupus flares.

– Interestingly, easily stressed people can learn to deal with stress better. Some habits are easy and incredibly healthy in many other ways. Examples include exercising regularly, and practicing mindfulness daily.

​- I end the video with practical pointers on how to decrease stress.

– Download my free stress management handout from my Lupus Secrets