Music plays a huge role in my autoimmune disease management
Cranking up the tunes helps drown out some of the worry and stress
Written by |
Living with a rare and chronic illness of any kind can be stressful, scary, and even isolating. Many of these conditions don’t have a cure, which adds the scary element of “the unknown.”
When I was diagnosed with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in 2018, the first thing I remember thinking was “what is that? I’ve never even heard of this disease.” I went to Google the second the doctor walked out of the exam room. But at the time, there wasn’t much variance in the information. “Autoimmune,” “platelet destruction,” “abnormal bleeding,” and “rare” were the same terms I saw pop up over and over again.
Next, I took to social media, which is now my largest resource for current disease information, community interactions, and support. Something I’ve noticed often from other patients is the astounding sense of helplessness, fear of sudden disease flares, lack of control over what’s next, and constant stress and worry.
‘How do you live life every day and not be in constant fear?’
ITP can be very unpredictable. One minute, you feel fine, have decent lab work, and go about your life. And within a couple of days, a flare can trigger. You wake up covered in bruises or you develop a terrifying nosebleed. So you head back to the doctor, and now your labs are horrendous. These flares can happen so quickly.
A constant question I see in ITP support groups is: “How do you live life every day and not be in constant fear?” This is such a deep and unsettling question. Fear, worry, and stress are constants, as is the feeling of having no control over your own body or your future. And I’m a huge believer that constant stress triggers more severe autoimmune responses.
While I don’t have an exact answer to how to live without fear, I will say music has been a huge outlet for me. The first obvious thing music does is distract me. It can drown out some of that internalized worry that plays on a loop in my mind. Humming a song or playing lyrics in my head instantly silences the worries.
Music is also proven to reduce stress levels and even inflammation. Autonomic responses like the “flight or fight” response or the cascade effect of cortisol production can both be disrupted by music. And this is something that seems to occur across any culture, any level economic background, and many different types of people.
Varying types of music can also affect your body’s response and stress levels. Calming music can help you relax when feeling overwhelmed. Upbeat, high tempo music can help distract your mind when you’re in a high stress moment. Many types of music can help you relax and escape daily mundane worries that are always present.
I always have access to some kind of music, whether it’s on my phone, the radio in the car, or even playing on my large Bluetooth speaker when I’m cleaning at home. ITP will always be with me, lurking around in my body like a forgotten time traveler sneaking around in a year they shouldn’t be. Keeping my stress levels down plays a huge role in autoimmune disease management. And it’s one of the easiest management skills to control, helping me feel more autonomy over my own body.
Note: Bleeding Disorders News is strictly a news and information website about the syndrome. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Bleeding Disorders News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to bleeding disorders.
Leave a comment
Fill in the required fields to post. Your email address will not be published.