22/10/2026
TRAUMA WAS PART OF MY AUTOIMMUNE STORY TOO⦠š
I may look like a woman who has everything together, but behind the smile is a lifetime of emotional and psychological pain that very few people know about.
And today, itās time to share some personal reflections about my own healing journeyā¦
I grew up believing I had to EARN love.
I was a āparentified childā. I learned to put other peopleās emotional needs before my own, to be responsible, to please others and to make myself useful.
I felt emotionally neglected by my parents, while watching my sibling receive the love and attention I so desperately craved.
Somewhere along the way, I developed a belief that followed me well into adulthoodā¦
That I wasnāt worthy of love simply for being ME.
I didnāt know what unconditional love felt like.
I didnāt know that I mattered.
I didnāt know that I belonged.
And I certainly didnāt know that there was absolutely NOTHING wrong with me.
As an adult, I found myself in relationships with partners who displayed narcissistic behaviours. I was constantly trying to prove my worth, earn affection and keep the peace.
Why?
Because the chaos was familiar.
My subconscious had learned that love meant working harder, giving more, accepting less and sometimes abandoning myself entirely.
I confused familiarity with love, and people-pleasing with being worthy.
And through all of this, my body was struggling too.
Depression. Anxiety. Panic attacks. Severe rashes. Emotional exhaustion. Heartbreak so profound that it affected me physically.
There were times when my body was desperately asking for my attention, but I was too busy looking after everybody else to listen.
Does any of this sound familiar?
SO WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH AUTOIMMUNE?
More than many people realiseā¦
Research has clearly identified associations between adverse childhood experiences, chronic stress and an increased risk of autoimmune conditions.
Our nervous system, stress-response pathways and immune system are intricately connected.
That doesnāt mean emotional trauma causes every autoimmune disease. But it DOES mean our emotional wellbeing deserves attention alongside our physical health.
This is why, when I work with clients, I ask questions that go beyond their symptoms.
What was happening in your life before your diagnosis?
Were you experiencing prolonged stress?
Were you grieving, living in an unhealthy relationship, feeling unsupported or carrying unresolved childhood trauma?
Were you spending your life looking after everybody EXCEPT yourself?
I ask because I believe we need to look at the WHOLE person.
Emotional healing is an important part of my approach. I dive deep with my clients to explore their stress triggers and if necessary, advise additional appropriate, trauma-informed somatic therapy, breathwork and other emotional support practices to support this process
N.E.T. (Neuro Emotional Technique) has especially been a significant part of my own personal journey...
These approaches arenāt replacements for medical treatment, and not every therapy has the same scientific evidence. But finding healthy ways to process emotional experiences and regulate stress can be invaluable.
MY OWN HEALING JOURNEY HAS BEEN 23 YEARS IN THE MAKING.
And Iām still learning.
I still have moments when old emotional wounds surface, but as I continue to work on myself, breathe and stay grounded, I now find myself recovering so much quicker. My āreactionā is now much healthier, as Iāve learned not to activate my āfight or flightā response, which releases adrenaline and increases cortisol (stress hormone).
I still have to remind myself that I am worthy of love, that I donāt need to rescue everybody, and that someone elseās behaviour is NOT a reflection of my value.
This isnāt something I expect to simply tick off a list and forget.
For me, personal growth is a lifelong commitment.
Iāve also come to understand something incredibly powerful...
Every person who enters our life can teach us something
Some teach us love. Some teach us compassion. Others teach us boundaries, self-respect and the importance of walking away.
Iām not grateful for the pain people caused me, but I AM grateful for what Iāve learned about myself through those experiences.
I no longer want to attract chaos, chase love or abandon myself to make somebody else happy.
I choose peace. I choose self-respect. I choose ME.
And above everything else, I choose to walk in the LIGHT rather than return to the darkness.
My Christian faith has been an important part of that journey.
As a Christian and certified medical intuitive, I genuinely believe I have been called to help others realise their power to heal themselves. I cannot ignore the spiritual guidance that has helped shape my path.
Today, I am living my truth more fully than ever before.
And the experiences that once left me feeling powerless have helped shape the woman I am becoming, and the compassion I bring to helping others.
NOW I WANT YOU TO HEAR SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT. ā¤ļø
You do NOT need to earn love.
You do NOT need to exhaust yourself pleasing everybody.
You do NOT need to tolerate disrespect simply because itās familiar.
You are worthy of love without having to DO anything to deserve it.
YOU MATTER.
YOU BELONG.
YOU ARE ENOUGH.
And there was never anything wrong with the little child who simply wanted to be loved.
Please, do something loving for yourself today.
Breathe deeply. Set a boundary. Say no without guilt. Rest without apologising.
Give yourself some of the love youāve spent your entire life giving everybody else.
You deserve unconditional love. And that includes love from YOURSELF.
š If this resonates with you, Iād love you to comment āI MATTERā below.
And if youād prefer to share your experience privately, youāre always welcome to message me.
With love,
Marsha Schults
Autoimmune Recovery Coach
www.marshaschults.com