Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month

March is National Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month. Ironically, it also mark 3 years since I was diagnosed with an Autoimmune Disease. If we aren't close chances are you have no idea that I have even been sick. That's the thing about Autoimmune diseases, they're invisible. There are so many Autoimmune diseases out there and so many people out there suffer from them. I personally suffer from Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. My Immune system attacks and destroys my Thyroid causing it to be underactive. Due to this some things normal people have control over such as energy and weight  aren't really in my own control. I can sleep 15 hours and wake up and not even 30 minutes later I already need a nap. People don't know this however, so when someone with an Autoimmune Disease, specifically Hashimoto's complains about how tired they are or how they can't lose weight people say to try harder and to sleep more. Believe me we wish the solution were that simple but it's just not. Another thing about Autoimmune diseases is there is not a cure. I'm basically on a synthetic thyroid hormone for the rest of my life. Suffering from an Autoimmune Disease has taught me how to be strong. When I got my first diagnosis, Lupus, I felt so defeated and I felt like everything was just crumbling down. Then I felt an abundance of love pouring in from my family and my church family and it lifted me up so much. I know that it was by the grace of God that that first test for Lupus was a false positive and I have a less severe Autoimmune disease. However, I also know there are people out there who are not that lucky but I have seen them remain strong through their fight with Lupus and not give up. One of the biggest things you can do for someone who has an Autoimmune disease is offer your support. just a simple "I'll be praying for you" makes such a difference and is such a comfort. It's not an easy road. I struggle to get out of bed some mornings because I just want to sleep and  I'm almost always in pain but I know that Christ is my strength and that I can get through everyday. Obviously I don't enjoy the countless doctors appointments, all the medicine, and getting sick but everything happens for a reason. God gives us certain battles to teach us lessons. Through my illness I have definitely grown closer to him and have learned to rely more on him more than I did before and it has made me a stronger person.