Autoimmune Diseases
When Your Body Feels Like It’s Turned Against You
Autoimmune diseases can feel unpredictable: joint pain one week, digestive issues the next, brain fog or fatigue that lingers for months. You might have a clear diagnosis, or you may be dealing with symptoms that don’t fit neatly into any category. Either way, it often feels like your body is working against you.
Here’s what changes everything: what if your genes aren’t your fate?
While genetics create susceptibility, environmental factors. stress, infections, toxins, nutrient deficiencies, poor sleep, and dietary triggers, largely determine whether autoimmunity develops and how severely it progresses. This means you have far more control than you’ve been led to believe.
Conditions I Commonly Support
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Celiac Disease
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Multiple Sclerosis
Lupus
Autoimmune-related digestive conditions
How I Approach Autoimmunity
Functional medicine works alongside traditional care by asking a different question: why is your immune system overreacting in the first place?
Through my RESTORE Protocol™, I help you:
Identify environmental and dietary triggers that fuel inflammation
Use functional lab testing to uncover hidden immune imbalances
Address grief and stress that can trigger flares
FROM THE BLOG
Autoimmune Disease Triggers: Environmental Factors You Can Control
Want a deeper dive into what fuels autoimmune flares? Explore this article from our Whole Body Wellness Blog.
FREE RESOURCE
Autoimmune Trigger Tracker
Living with autoimmunity can feel overwhelming. This daily tracker makes it easier to connect the dots between your symptoms and possible triggers like food, stress, toxins, and sleep.
Inside you’ll find:
A daily log for symptoms, diet, stress, and sleep
A guide to common autoimmune triggers and what you can do about them
Client Stories of Transformation
After working with her the first time, I knew I could come back to Jess for anything!
She made sure I was taken care of nutritionally, but also made sure I kept a positive mindset. She would check in regularly and see how things were going. I honestly don’t know where I would be without her. She has not only taken care of me, but she’s given me the tools to know how to advocate for my own health and take care of myself. I am so grateful for Jess!
– Erica
Jess shows the same care and manner for every patient.
– Natalee
I highly recommend working with Jess.
I came to her with struggles of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis/hypothyroid which left me feeling awful for a couple years. She actually cares about finding answers and is knowledgable. It has been comforting having someone in my corner who understands what I am struggling with, and is helping me make a difference.
– Allie
You May Also Be Experiencing…
Chronic Illness
Fatigue, pain, mystery symptoms your doctor can’t explain
Grief and Loss
When illness begins or worsens after loss or trauma
Thyroid Imbalances
Fatigue, weight gain, irregular cycles
Gut and Mood
Frequently Asked Questions About Autoimmune Disease
Can autoimmune disease be reversed?
The goal is immune modulation. When we support gut integrity, correct nutrient deficiencies, stabilize blood sugar, and regulate stress physiology, the immune system often becomes significantly less reactive over time.
Example from practice: One client’s CRP dropped from 13 to 6 in six months without medication. Another saw her pre-diabetes markers normalize completely within the same timeframe. These are not outliers. They are what becomes possible when we stop managing symptoms and start addressing causes.
Autoimmune disease may require long-term awareness and maintenance, but living in constant flare and exhaustion does not have to be your baseline.
Why do autoimmune symptoms flare unpredictably?
Flares are often linked to immune triggers such as:
- Emotional stress
- Infections
- Sleep disruption
- Dietary triggers
- Hormonal shifts
- Environmental exposures
Part of my work is helping clients identify their personal trigger patterns and build resilience against them.
Do you replace my rheumatologist or specialist?
What kind of testing do you use for autoimmune clients?
Testing is individualized but may include:
- Inflammatory markers such as CRP and homocysteine
- Micronutrient panels
- Thyroid antibodies
- Stool analysis
- Food sensitivity panels
- Hormone testing
If you already have recent labs, we review those before ordering anything new.
Can nutrition really impact autoimmune symptoms?
While food alone does not cure autoimmune disease, it can significantly influence how active or quiet symptoms are.
Strategic dietary changes often reduce flare frequency and improve energy, mood, and digestion.
How long does it take to calm autoimmune symptoms?
Immune stabilization typically requires 6 to 12 months of consistent work, and long-term maintenance is common.
Autoimmune healing is progressive, not immediate.
What mindset leads to success in autoimmune recovery?
Successful clients understand that:
- Healing is layered
- Consistency matters
- Lifestyle shifts are part of the process
- There is no single supplement solution
They are willing to explore both physical and emotional contributors to immune activation.
Can emotional stress or grief trigger an autoimmune flare?
Chronic stress and unresolved grief activate the immune system, disrupt gut integrity, impair hormone conversion, and keep the nervous system in a prolonged survival state. For many clients, they can trace the onset of their autoimmune symptoms or their worst flares directly back to a period of profound loss or sustained emotional stress.
This does not mean the disease is in your head. It means the body keeps score, and the immune system is not separate from your emotional life.
Recognizing that connection is not about blame. It is about expanding the map of what healing can look like, and making sure we are supporting all of the systems involved, not just the ones that show up on a standard lab panel.
Who is a good fit for autoimmune-focused care?
You may be a strong fit if:
- You have a diagnosed autoimmune condition
- You suspect immune dysfunction but lack clarity
- You experience unpredictable flares
- You want a root-cause approach alongside medical care
- You are ready to commit to a structured healing process
If you think you are good fit, book a discovery call today.