Are Autoimmune Diseases Incurable? (Part 2)

drgingernash
Aug 4
8 min read

In part one of this two-part article, I delved into my approach to evaluating and treating the physical aspects of autoimmune diseases. I explored immune system support through lymphatic health, personalized anti-inflammatory protocols, and creating immune tolerance via low-dose immunotherapy (LDI). I also highlighted the importance of gut health and individualized dietary recommendations based on genetics, epigenetics, and microbiome evaluation.

In this second part, I will take a deeper dive into the concept of identity and explore the subconscious beliefs we hold about ourselves—and how these beliefs may impact autoimmune processes. Let’s face it: trying to change your health by simply forcing yourself to eat better, move more, or stress less is like trying to put a square peg in a round hole. Sure, these habits are important, but true change must stem from an exploration of your identity on a subconscious level. Change doesn’t happen from living in a constant state of resistance to your deeper drives.

Let’s unpack this…

The concept of identity, in relation to autoimmune disease, is two-fold. On one hand, we have immune identity, which involves the confusion within the immune system that can lead to physical symptoms of intolerance. Mechanisms such as molecular mimicry (where foreign antigens resemble the body's proteins, as seen in rheumatic fever) and loss of tolerance (when the immune system mistakenly attacks self-antigens, like in Type 1 diabetes) are crucial to understand. Epitope spreading can exacerbate autoimmune conditions by broadening the immune response to target multiple self-antigens, as seen in multiple sclerosis. Genetic predispositions, such as variations in HLA genes, increase susceptibility to autoimmune diseases, while environmental triggers—like infections or stress—can provoke or worsen these responses.

This confusion in immune identity can lead to fluctuating symptoms and varying organ involvement, often resulting in the development of secondary autoimmune conditions. Ultimately, this affects treatment responses and disease severity. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for managing autoimmune diseases and recognizing the interplay between self-identity and immune function. However, after 26 years of clinical practice, I’ve found that there are often deeper processes in need of healing.

This brings us to what I’ll call narrative identity—yes, those stories we tell ourselves! While chronic stress is often highlighted as a contributing factor to autoimmune conditions, I believe that’s just scratching the surface. When we experience stressful events, our minds craft narratives around them. We interpret our experiences through a multitude of thoughts, solidifying those thoughts into a story that shapes our worldview—a true two-way street.

In the system that I am currently applying, created by Dr. Jade Teta, the concept of identity relates to what he calls MUD—Misguided Unconscious Decisions. And here’s the kicker: this MUD is keeping you stuck without you even being aware of it! So, what is MUD, and how is it preventing you from co-creating the life you truly want?

Let’s break it down with a little more context. Jade has written the following about the core philosophy of this transformational work, “many of our identity structures—our ways of being, thinking, feeling, and acting—are shaped by unconscious decisions made in the past, especially during moments of stress or trauma. These Misguided Unconscious Decisions (MUD) solidify into emotional holding patterns that govern our behaviors without our full awareness. Over time, these beliefs become “cemented” into our psyche, dictating how we respond to the world around us.” The goal of the healing sessions is to access these subconscious beliefs, bring them into conscious awareness, and reprogram them so that individuals can live from a place of empowerment rather than limitation. I will share an example from my practice below.

Meet Priscilla, a 38-year-old woman born and raised in New York City. Priscilla’s upbringing was magical; her mother was trained in modern dance, and her father worked at various universities as an academic, eventually acquiring tenure at the New School. Both of Priscilla’s parents were loving and supportive in every way. She grew up going to museums, reading lots and lots of books, eavesdropping on her parents' dinner parties, attending the best schools, and, of course, taking dance lessons from the time she was five years old. She lived the charmed, culturally rich life of a New York City kid with sophisticated parents. It was a shock to everyone when she developed terrible joint pains in her early 20s and, after seeing a number of doctors, was eventually diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at age 25.

Priscilla had no family history of rheumatoid arthritis, but her mother was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis shortly after giving birth to her only child. The family assumed it was all those years of dancing and putting physical stress on her body that was the driving factor. Priscilla hadn’t experienced any recent accidents, injuries, infections, or even major psychological stressors, but working with her over time revealed that she was one stressed-out puppy!

Priscilla adored her parents and wanted to please them at every turn. She got good grades, had an impeccable fashion sense, and maintained a few close friendships, but she had never really experienced a romantic relationship until she went off to college. She told me she always felt that her father especially, did not want her to date or even develop strong feelings for anyone she might become romantically attached to. This caused a tremendous amount of harm to her psyche. She never felt that she had an outlet to express her true self, away from the “perfect girl” she assumed her parents needed her to be.

She took her dance commitment seriously and eventually auditioned for the highly competitive dance program at Juilliard. When she didn’t get in, she was outwardly devastated, but in time, she admitted to me that deep down she felt a huge sense of relief. She couldn’t acknowledge this relief to her parents or even to her friends, as she felt she had to hide it. The intense grind of pursuing dance and the potential for more rejection in that world had left her feeling more than exhausted. She said she felt utterly lost.

We began using a breathwork-enhanced emotional processing technique (BEEP), and very quickly, we delved into the deeper feelings Priscilla had about her upbringing. Although her mother had given up her pursuit of a professional dance career, she never pressured Priscilla to follow in her footsteps—pun intended! Instead, what emerged was a deep-seated resentment toward her father. He had not only encouraged her to pursue a career in dance but had also made her feel, repeatedly, that she would be a disappointment if she didn’t achieve success in this field. Priscilla soon recognized that her father had always felt guilty about steering his beloved wife away from her dancing career and wanted to make it up to her—though not consciously, of course—by having a fabulously talented dancing daughter.

Recognizing this connection didn’t reverse her disease, but it did alleviate some of the stress surrounding her choice of a career in marketing. She often felt that her parents viewed her as a “sellout.” I challenged her perspective on that, helping her understand that it was she who had defined herself as a sellout and a failure—not her parents. As a parent myself I know how impossible it is not to project some of our own fears and desires onto our children and as a child myself I can attest to the power that parents have on the stories we tell ourselves. They may eventually become the core of our identity. Developing compassion toward self and others is part of the healing that occurs with this work.

A notable study published in The Journal of Rheumatology examined the connection between self-compassion and disease activity specifically in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Findings indicated that individuals who practiced self-compassion tended to have lower disease activity and improved quality of life. This suggests that fostering positive subconscious narratives—such as self-acceptance and kindness towards oneself—can significantly impact autoimmune diseases. For Priscilla, this has been her experience as well; she reports a significant improvement in her pain and inflammation levels, and our next goal is to help her lower her medication.

Moreover, a study in Psychosomatic Medicine explored how coping mechanisms and psychological distress affect disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Researchers found that those who held negative beliefs about their condition—such as viewing it as a personal failure or an insurmountable obstacle—tended to experience more severe symptoms. Additionally, patients with autoimmune diseases reported higher levels of psychological distress compared to healthy individuals. Interventions focused on emotional well-being have shown promise in reducing symptoms and improving overall health outcomes.

Beyond Talk Therapy

The challenge is that you can’t simply think your way out of these beliefs that the subconscious mind has firmly established. You need to access where they “live” and experience a shift on a deeper level to soften their grip on your self-perceptions and identity.

Priscilla’s case illustrates how accessing her MUD (Misguided Unconscious Decisions) and working to soften it can release some of the emotional charge and change her patterns of thought and action, leading to an improvement in the often debilitating autoimmune processes. By incorporating the techniques I now use in my practice to explore subconsciously held beliefs, self-perceptions, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and how we want to move through the world, she has seen a remarkable decrease in her symptoms and enhanced ability to manage her condition.

Remember in part one, I talked about the “signatures” locked into the immune, hormonal, and nervous systems? It’s not that we “cured” her autoimmune disease by eliminating her antibody markers; rather, we have greatly improved her quality of life by helping her step into a new identity. The old identity won’t simply disappear by talking about it. Talk therapy can be super helpful, but there’s a need for a combination of intellectual insight and breaking the patterns of dysregulation, alongside editing these narratives that can powerfully affect our health.

The link between the subconscious mind and autoimmune disease highlights an essential aspect of health that is often overlooked in conventional medicine. As we continue to unravel the complexities of the immune system and its interactions with our emotional and mental health, it becomes increasingly apparent that treating the mind and body as interconnected entities is vital. By acknowledging not only the impact of stress and emotional well-being, but our MUD as well, we can empower patients to take charge of their health and foster a more proactive approach to healing–even with some of the more challenging conditions like autoimmune diseases.

Quick review:

Physical aspects of autoimmune conditions:

Immune System Support: Includes lymphatic health, personalized anti-inflammatory protocols, and creating immune tolerance/decreasing sensitivities using low-dose immunotherapy (LDI).

Gut Health: Involves individualized dietary recommendations based on genetics and epigenetics, as well as microbiome evaluation.

Psycho-spiritual aspects of autoimmune conditions:

Stress, anxiety, and depression have a bi-directional relationship with chronic illness of all kinds, with research particularly correlating to autoimmune diseases.

Psychological narratives shaped in childhood, adolescence, and even early adulthood can profoundly affect our ability to manage autoimmune processes and influence our lives.

Engaging in any type of spiritual practice, whether faith-based or simply connecting with the aspect of your being that remains untouched by any ailment, can be beneficial in managing autoimmune disease.

By recognizing and addressing the emotional and psychological dimensions that accompany these diseases, I believe I can offer more comprehensive treatment strategies that empower patients. As we continue to explore the connections between identity and disease states, it becomes increasingly clear that fostering positive subconscious beliefs and emotional well-being can play a crucial role in managing autoimmune diseases and improving overall quality of life.

In essence, while we may not be able to "cure" autoimmune diseases in the traditional sense, we can certainly help individuals live more authentic lives filled with greater vitality and freedom. It’s all about embracing a holistic approach to health, where both the mind and body are nurtured, allowing for true healing and empowerment.

Thank you for reading and please reach out if you’d like more information about this new aspect of my work. Until next time, stay curious and compassionate towards yourself.

In health,

Dr. Ginger