For most of us with autoimmune conditions, we’ll have experienced symptoms for years without even knowing that they’re symptoms. Let me give you an example of what I mean.

I had just moved to a new city in a new state for a new career after getting married the week before and closing my design business. To say I had just undergone some serious stressors would have been an understatement. What happened next would have shocked anyone.

Less than a year later – I was 40 pounds over weight, I couldn’t remember what I did the day before, my mouth and brain didn’t seem to connect with one another, I became depressed and I was exhausted. In addition to that I had serious IBS but had no idea that was even a “thing” at the time.

For my new career I developed some copious note taking habits so that when someone asked what the decision was on a project the day before, I could just look it up. I bought new clothes to cover up my growing mid-section, ate lots of breath mints and tried to work early so that when my horrible cramping became too much to take I would go home and lay down for a while. Not that I had much energy for anything else after work.

This didn’t feel like living to me. So I wanted to share with you some typical early symptoms of autoimmunity so you can start to act now before your life feels like mine used to.

12 Early Signs of Autoimmunity

• fatigue
• unexplained rashes
• hair loss
• brain fog
• belly pain
• weight gain
• numbness and tingling in hands and feet
• body aches
• low grade fever
• swelling and redness
• depression
• anxiety

The hardest part though is because these symptoms can vary from person to person and be so non-specific that your doctor may not test for autoimmunity. The women I’ve spoken to and worked with have had less sensitive doctors suggest that it’s all in their head, they need to take anti-depressants or see a psychologist. Friends and family may have even dismissed their concerns and some women have even lost their jobs for underperforming due to undiagnosed and untreated autoimmune diseases.

I write this article to let you know that if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, you aren’t alone and it’s not in your head. Your body is desperately trying to tell you something isn’t right.  It’s up to you to listen.

Next week I’ll be sharing some key first steps you can take to reverse these symptoms and begin to get back your health.

Be sure to follow me on social media where I share additional resource to help you reverse autoimmune diseases @jessicagreenwellness .