Mirror, Mirror On The Wall....

Incredibly insightful image found here. 

Google Alerts pointed me to this story recently: Found here, and entitled How To Look And Feel Beautiful With Autoimmune Disease.

The gist of the message given by author Angelica Catalanico is this: that even if someone with autoimmune disease feels like crap, she can still look beautiful, and in turn her outward beauty will positively affect her mood and feelings.

Hm.

There are more than 80 types of autoimmune diseases, some of which may have genetic components. The environment can also make things worse by prolonging or exacerbating symptoms. For example, stress and infections can kick up symptoms by activating genes that trigger an autoimmune response. 

While some people experience chronic, debilitating symptoms, others have the occasional flareup. It's unpredictable, and it takes effort to maintain a strong sense of personal style and inner beauty. 

"You could feel fabulous today and horrible tomorrow," YouBeauty reader Jane says about RA. When a bad day strikes, she'll stay in bed. But most of the time, she puts her best face forward, even if she's swollen and in pain. "I make a point of looking my the best," she says. "I always feel better when I put on my red lipstick."

She also emphasizes the need for regular exercise and maintaining a positive attitude:

Conditions can flare up in response to emotional ups and downs. One component of an integrative medicine perspective is psychoneuroimmunology -- the study of the link between psychology, the nervous system and immunity, based on the idea that our bodies respond to the way we process information mentally and emotionally.

Both are excellent points.

But.

I kept looking to see one specific concept mentioned in this article and was concerned that it was absent. I wanted to see some statement that said basically this: that some days if you don't feel like putting on that red lipstick, or you don't care how you appear to the other mothers at the kids' preschool, or if you just can't muster up a mental truckload of rainbows and unicorns and fairy dust to lift your spirits - it's OK. However you can get through autoimmune disease day by day is OK. Some days autoimmune disease isn't beautiful, and that is OK. It's not my fault, and it's not your fault.

Personally, I just don't find relief in a tube of red lipstick. Never have. Never will. And I refuse to add another burden to my already loaded-down psyche: that if I don't put on that red lipstick or chant mantras for hours that I'm doing myself a disservice. That I'm letting myself down.

That I NEED to Look And Feel Beautiful With Autoimmune Disease. No, I don't.

I don't need one more ounce of guilt, thank you very much.

I'm already feeling guilty for.........doing whatever caused my disease in the first place. I feel guilty because I just can't do the things that I used to, like work and contribute financially to our family, or keep my house spotless, or cook great meals.

I'll agree that making an effort to look presentable could bolster my spirits, but it has to be on my terms. When I feel that I can spare the energy to do so, and when I think that it's important. I don't need yet another unrealistic expectation of me and my body thrust upon me by the media.

My body just is what it is. I'm not going to slap some mind-bending labels such as "beautiful" or "ugly" on it.

And that's OK.