I have Graves Disease and I Love My Thyroid Gland

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Hello Lovelies:

I have Graves Disease… but I don’t have a problem with my thyroid gland. My organ has no deformities or permanent dysfunctions. At this present moment I’m in remission. Without the barrage of autoimmune attacks, my thyroid gland functions perfectly.

That’s because I have an autoimmune disease. My thyroid gland, an organ that I once hated with so much fervor… an organ that I eagerly wanted to destroy… has been beaten up and bruised as much as I have. Graves Disease stole the steering wheel and my thyroid was helpless to stop the joy ride that ensued.

If you have Graves Disease or Hashimotos, here’s why I think you should learn to love your thyroid too (no matter what treatment options you choose).

 I have Graves Disease and I Love My Thyroid Gland - If you have Graves Disease or Hashimotos, here's why I think you should learn to love your thyroid too (no matter what treatment options you choose).

The revelation that I have a dysfunction with my immune system and not my thyroid gland completely changed my perspective.

It made me look at this disease differently and affected how I choose to live with it. Yes, it is presented as an autoimmune disease and yes I also had the displeasure of experiencing a plethora of other health issues associated with an unhappy immune system. However, in my experience, from the very beginning of Graves Disease treatment the thyroid gland was presented as the villain in what felt like a never ending horror story. And that seems to be the common sentiment for autoimmune thyroid disease warriors.

Why the Thyroid is Seen as the Enemy

There is no cure for an autoimmune disease and the causes of such illnesses are not well understood. The current best plan of action is to suppress the symptoms and, if possible, remove the organs that are being affected.

So, many autoimmune thyroid disease warriors see their thyroid glands as the bad guy.

I spent the better part of a year hating my thyroid. I blamed that sucker for the state of my world, for the loss of my wellness, for the physical and emotional pain. To say that I wallowed in a state of hopelessness would be an understatement. The anger and self-loathing I felt was certainly not doing anything to help me heal.

I have Graves Disease and I Love My Thyroid Gland - Do Everything in Love

One of the most important life lessons Graves Disease has bestowed upon me is this:

We cannot truly thrive if we are in a state of self-loathing.

Regardless of your current state of health or your treatment choices, it’s important that you stop hating your body. When we love ourselves we make healthier choices and we do things from a place of absolute self-acceptance and concern. We transform our relationship with ourselves which inspires us to take the best care possible of our bodies, our minds and our souls.

Why Choosing to Love My Thyroid Gland Helped

My new found love for myself inspired me to learn everything I could about Graves Disease. I further discussed my options with my doctors and stopped hating my body for the weakened state that it was in. I realized that, no matter what, my beautiful body doesn’t want to be in a state of dysfunction.

Every second of everyday our bodies work tirelessly to give us this incredible life.

I am so grateful for the life that I have! I came to accept that my thyroid gland doesn’t want to destroy me and, regardless of my final treatment decision, hating it was not the answer. Loving myself unconditionally allowed me to look at my life and health from a different perspective and come to a new understanding of my illness.

Today I love my body, including thyroid, which I have been able to keep (thus far).

My goal is to support my health and thrive with this organ that’s suffered along with me. I have two awesome doctors who agree that this is a possibility. My world is so different than I had imagined it to be three years ago.

The decision to love myself entirely and unconditionally laid the ground work for the path I walk on proudly today (and helped me find my way towards remission). It saved me from making a brash decision to destroy my thyroid gland on the basis of self-hatred and anger. It helped me realize that I had options.

I love myself enough to continue to be open to other treatment options if the need arises in the future. Any decision I make will be made from a place of love and concern for myself, and not anger or hate towards my body. I continue to seek medical intervention and treat myself with absolute love and kindness.

If you have Graves Disease (or any chronic illness) my heart is with you.

I am by no means trying to sway your treatment path with my prognoses. I cannot stress to you how important it is that you continue to seek medical care for your illness, as Graves Disease can be deadly if left untreated. Discuss all of your options, make the best treatment choice for you and love yourself unapologetically! You need it and you deserve it!

Health and love,

sara-signature

Thought of the day: I am worthy of a loving relationship with myself built on the foundations of complete acceptance and compassion.

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Sara | Ms. Health-Esteem

Sara Flanagan is a wellness writer and the creator of www.mshealthesteem.com, where she shares her story of being diagnosed with Graves Disease, a chronic autoimmune disease, and empowering herself to do everything she can to thrive in spite of her diagnosis. She writes articles on self-love, acceptance, wellness and nutrition. Join the Health-Esteem Family today and share in the journey.

3 Comments

  1. Reply

    Em

    August 18, 2015

    Geez, Lady! You and I are seriously the SAME PERSON!!! Next time I’m out East I am looking you up!!! xox

    • Reply

      Sara

      August 21, 2015

      I would love that! <3 I actually wanted to know if you'd like to collaborate on something? I'd love to at least interview you for my blog. Let me know your thoughts!

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