Is Trauma Behind Your Autoimmune Symptoms? Here’s What to Know
If you’ve been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition, you might be wondering:
Why did this happen?
Is it just genetics or bad luck?
What role did my past experiences play?
I’ve been reading The Autoimmune Cure by Dr. Sara Szal Gottfried, and it’s been incredibly validating. Especially for those of us who understand that the body carries more than just biology—it carries lived experience.
Dr. Gottfried outlines three major triggers for developing an autoimmune illness:
Toxins (such as mold, heavy metals, plastics, and endocrine disruptors)
Infections (like chronic viruses, Lyme disease, and long COVID)
Childhood trauma and chronic stress
The third often gets overlooked. But trauma is just as significant—if not more—when it comes to how the body begins attacking itself.
When we grow up in environments where love felt conditional, where we had to stay hypervigilant, or where emotional needs were unmet, the body never fully relaxed. The nervous system stayed on guard. Over time, that chronic stress can dysregulate hormones, compromise the immune system, and increase systemic inflammation.
So how do we start to heal?
Here’s what I’ve seen, both in my therapy practice and in my own healing work:
1. Support the nervous system.
EMDR, somatic work, and polyvagal-informed therapy can help regulate the survival responses that keep the body in a chronic state of threat. When your body starts to feel safe again, healing can begin.
2. Explore the deeper roots.
Many people with autoimmune conditions learned early on to prioritize others, keep the peace, or push through discomfort. These roles helped you survive. But they also created chronic internal stress. With EMDR, we gently uncover and release those early messages and beliefs.
3. Listen to your body instead of overriding it.
Healing isn’t about powering through—it’s about honoring limits, reconnecting with what feels safe, and creating space for rest, nourishment, and boundary-setting. Functional medicine may address the physical layer, but true healing includes emotional repair too.
Dr. Gottfried says:
“Your body isn’t betraying you. It’s trying to protect you.”
This perspective is so important—especially if you've internalized shame or blame around your health. Autoimmunity doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means your system has been carrying too much for too long.
If you're ready to explore the deeper layers of healing, EMDR therapy can be a powerful next step.
Curious whether EMDR is the right next step for your healing journey?
I offer virtual EMDR therapy to adults throughout California and Nevada, with a focus on trauma recovery, nervous system healing, and lasting change.
📍 Learn more or schedule a consultation at: www.MyEMDRLA.com
Michelle Nosrati, LCSW
Trauma Specialist | EMDR Therapist
Licensed in California & Nevada
Secure Telehealth Services Available
www.MyEMDRLA.com