Do You Have THIS in Common with Lady Gaga?

Do You Have THIS in Common with Lady Gaga?

Lady Gaga has never shied away from sharing the truth about her personal health issues and what she has called her “mental health crisis.” The musical artist and “A Star is Born” actress, who suffers from fibromyalgia, opened up about it in 2019 while accepting an award from the SAG-AFTRA Foundation.

In her acceptance speech, she said the chronic pain she felt from the autoimmune disease was also accompanied by “panic attacks, acute trauma responses, and debilitating mental spirals that have included suicidal ideation and masochistic behavior.” She called mental health issues “a crisis of epic proportions” and advocated that the foundation implement a mental health program for actors.

Unpacking the Link Between Autoimmune Disorders and Mental Disorders

As in Lady Gaga’s case, many autoimmune illnesses are linked with psychiatric issues. For example, having an autoimmune disease is associated with an increased risk for:

What is it about autoimmune disorders that heighten these mental health problems? When the body’s immune system is impaired, it can turn on you and attack and destroy your own healthy tissues by mistake, resulting in an autoimmune disorder. There are more than 100 different autoimmune disorders—including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and type 1 diabetes — affecting 80 million Americans. Over 75% of those suffering from an autoimmune disease are women.

The Root Causes of Autoimmune Disorders

Researchers are still trying to pinpoint the exact causes of autoimmune disorders, but many factors can play a role in their development. As you will see in the following list, these factors are some of the same root causes associated with symptoms of “mental illnesses.” This helps explain why it is not uncommon for people like Lady Gaga—and perhaps you—to suffer from both autoimmune conditions and psychiatric issues.

  • Leaky gut
  • Environmental allergens—pollen, dust mites, mold
  • Food allergens—dairy, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans are the top 8, according to the FDA
  • Toxins
  • Obesity
  • Head trauma
  • Lack of exercise or excessive exercise
  • Poor diet
  • Nutrient deficiencies
  • Stress
  • Sleep disorders
  • Hidden infections

Why Traditional Treatment Falls Short

The traditional treatment protocol for autoimmune disorders centers on suppressing the immune system with strong medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, or anti-cancer drugs like methotrexate. A doctor might give you one medicine to treat arthritis and another one for Crohn’s disease. And if you’re also suffering from depression or ADD/ADHD, they may give you yet another prescription to treat that. But this isn’t the best approach.

In my view, the best approach to get your immune system to stop attacking your body and start cooperating with it is to address the 11 major underlying risk factors that harm your brain and steal your mind. In my book, The End of Mental Illness, I discuss these risk factors and offer an action plan to reduce your risk for autoimmune diseases and mental health conditions. Specifically, I show you:

  • The lab tests to get to understand the health of your immune system
  • The common food allergens you should eliminate from your diet
  • The one vitamin you absolutely must optimize
  • A natural therapeutic substance was shown to have immune-enhancing effects
  • Sure-fire strategies to lower stress (stress increases the risk of autoimmune disorders)

The End of Mental Illness is written by psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and brain health expert Dr. Daniel Amen and relies on the latest neuroscience and leading-edge brain imaging to show that mental health is really brain health. The book reveals that “mental illnesses” are really “brain health issues” that steal your mind, and it shows how minimizing your biological, psychological, social, and spiritual risk factors can help alleviate “psychiatric” symptoms. Order your copy here.

If you want to join the tens of thousands of people who have already enhanced their brain health and overcome their symptoms at Amen Clinics, speak to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk.

4 Comments »

  1. I totally agree with this and more research is needed. As a neuro linguistic programmer and hypnotist I see mostly women that have been through quite a lot of conventional treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome without much relief. There has been some great success working with mind and body to seek out and release the deepest pain that moves from place to place within the body. The mind becomes fatigued from the constant onset of chronic pain.

    Comment by Davidene Bender Main — January 22, 2020 @ 3:50 AM

  2. Wow! I’ve several friends with autoimmune diseases that are debilitating. I can’t wait to share this news? And to buy your newest book. So grateful for your work and the revolutionary work of the Amen Clinis which have empowered my family to seek optimal health. 🙂 🙂

    Comment by Valerie Mehlig Curry — January 22, 2020 @ 4:10 AM

  3. Fibromyalgia is not an autoimmune illness, however.

    Comment by Katrina Kellar — January 22, 2020 @ 11:56 AM

  4. I also have read, and been taught that Fibromyalgia is NOT an autoimmune disease.

    Comment by Joan Moore — February 20, 2020 @ 12:40 PM

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