“If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.”
~ Jack Kornfield
Why I Wrote This Book
I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis 10 years ago, and so much changed in that moment. It cracked me open in painful ways, but also in transformative ways. Prior to developing autoimmune disease, meditation seemed like something only monks could do and I could never do. After autoimmunity hit my life like a wrecking ball, meditation became a daily practice that soothed me like nothing else. A nightly gratitude journal also became essential to me. It helped me see beyond my pain and remember there was still beauty surrounding me. Self-compassion taught me to be kinder to myself and gentler with my body. The mind-body connection may not have cured me, but it did save me.
I started writing this book in 2019 (seven years after my diagnosis). I wanted to share these techniques with others, knowing how much they helped me. Of course, I didn’t know the world was about to turn upside down. In addition to the pandemic and the rise of violence and extremism in response, I also went through some personal pain. Both of my parents died. They were elderly, so in many ways it was a blessing, but losing parents is still a heavy grief to carry. Not surprisingly, I experienced a health setback that required all my tools to navigate, including the ones I share in this book. In some ways, I’m amazed I found the time and energy to write in the midst of so many challenges. But with each chapter I wrote, I was reminded of the power of a healing mindset. Just like the mind-body connection saved me after my autoimmune diagnosis, it also saved me during the intensity of the past few years.
What Is a Healing Mindset?
Simply put, it’s the practice of harnessing the anti-inflammatory power of our minds to support autoimmune health. It’s realizing that some thoughts and behaviors ramp up inflammation and others tone it down. My book is a roadmap to doing less of the former and more of the latter.
The Stress-Autoimmune Connection
Our immune system is directly impacted by stress. Stress not only increases inflammation, it also increases autoimmune activity, including how often we flare, how long it lasts, and how severe our symptoms. If you are an autoimmune warrior, this won’t surprise you. It’s why so many people list stress as one of their biggest flare triggers. That’s a painful demonstration of the mind-body connection. But the good news is that there are ways we can harness this connection for good, and that’s what my book is all about! There is an entire field of research which studies this interplay between our thoughts, emotions, brain, and immune system. It’s called psychoneuroimmunology. And there are now thousands of studies showing the strength of this connection.
Science-Backed Benefits of the Mind-Body Connection
- Less pain
- Less inflammation
- Less fatigue
- Less stress
- Improved sleep
- Improved digestion
- Improved relationships
- More willpower
- Greater mental clarity
- Better overall health
What the Book Contains
- 96 Mind-Body Techniques.
- Beginner tips to help you get started.
- Troubleshooting if you run into obstacles.
- Further resources if you want to dive deeper.
- The entire book was written with people with autoimmune disease in mind.
- It includes over 140 scientific references, but it’s not a textbook.
- It’s a practical guide to harness the mind-body connection in your own life.
- Like all of my books, it’s written simply, like a conversation between friends.
- My goal is take the intimidation out of the mind-body connection and help you use it for your own health.
Where to Buy It
- In the USA: It’s available in paperback, kindle, or PDF ebook.
- Outside the USA, the PDF ebook is available to download right now. You can start reading it today. And if your country has an Amazon website, the paperback and kindle versions of the book are available internationally through Amazon.
My Other Books
It’s been a while since I’ve written a book! I wrote so many so quickly, that I needed a rest. If you don’t have my other books, they focus on the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol and are some of the most popular resources in the AIP community. Go to my books page to learn more. PS. Healing Mindset is a diet-free book, making it available to anyone, no matter the diet they follow. It’s a great resource for people in the AIP community and beyond.
