Deadly Emotions by Don Colbert

Author:Don Colbert
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2020-08-02T00:00:00+00:00

•In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, the tissue around the joints (synovium) is attacked and may be eventually destroyed.

•In multiple sclerosis, another autoimmune disease, the myelin sheath, which covers the nerves, is attacked.

•In Hashimoto thyroiditis, the immune system assaults the thyroid gland.

•In psoriasis, the immune system targets the skin.

•In Type 1 diabetes, the islet cells of the pancreas are the goal.

Other autoimmune diseases seem to be more and more prevalent in our society, among them lupus, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease.

With an autoimmune disease, not only does the body see its own tissue as an invader and begin to attack, but a person’s general moods and sense of well-being are nearly always affected. That’s because the immune system on the attack generates blood proteins called cytokines, which are known to induce fatigue and depression.2

The brain is able to send both hormonal and nervous signals to suppress the immune system when under stress. When there is a disruption of the regulatory influence of the brain on the immune system, it can lead to increased immune activity and a greater chance of developing inflammatory and autoimmune disease.3

Autoimmune disease researchers Sternberg and Gold believe that the brain’s ability to regulate itself is also disrupted during an autoimmune attack. This creates even more autoimmune response, which spawns even more inflammation. The downward spiral can be dramatic and frightening.

As we have discussed previously, the brain and the body’s immune system communicate in a two-way fashion in an ongoing manner. The brain has the ability to suppress immune function during periods of stress. But when a disruption occurs in the regulatory ability of the brain, the immune activity or immune response can shift into overdrive and remain stuck there. This may very well be the mechanism that leads to autoimmune disease.4

And as we have also discussed previously, during periods of stress, glucocorticoids such as cortisol cause a temporary “revving up” of the immune system. The amount of cortisol released over time is a major factor related to immunity. A significant stress event, such as the loss of a loved one, can cause the adrenal glands to secrete a particularly large amount of cortisol. This generally leads to immune suppression, a lowering of immunity in the body.

Ongoing, continuous, more mundane stress, the day-to-day variety, causes the adrenal glands to secrete smaller amounts of cortisol, which actually stimulates the immune system. When this activation of the immune system occurs again and again, an autoimmune disease may result. The body becomes confused—not knowing if it’s really necessary to flee or fight, not really sure whom or what to flee from, or whom or what to fight!

God intended that the adrenal glands and the release of cortisol would enable a person to escape traumatic situations and dangerous predators. The body was never supposed to administer cortisol many times throughout the day for minor stresses. The drip, drip, drip effect of smaller doses of cortisol sends the signal “Rev up the immune system! Something must be attacking us.” When the body

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