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The Auto-immune Personality

Posted by megz @megz, Dec 24, 2023

There have been some studies and opinion pieces written over the years about people with certain types of personalities being more likely to get an auto-immune disease. Apparently, we are most likely to be quiet, agreeable pleasers who have a low self opinion, and who are more likely to put other people before ourselves.

I disagree, not just because being pigeonholed and labelled as all being the same is not helpful, but because it is in my nature to be disagreeable. I rest my case.

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Dec 24, 2023

Hi @megz, I think I'm with you on this topic. I think that an autoimmune disease can have an effect on personality traits but I don't think it's the other way around. I did find a 2021 study but it's a lot to digest on Christmas Eve 🙃

--- Exploring the Links between Personality and Immune Function: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8562652/

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1 reply
megz | @megz | Dec 24, 2023
In reply to @johnbishop "Hi @megz, I think I'm with you on this topic. I think that an autoimmune disease..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hi @megz, I think I'm with you on this topic. I think that an autoimmune disease can have an effect on personality traits but I don't think it's the other way around. I did find a 2021 study but it's a lot to digest on Christmas Eve 🙃

--- Exploring the Links between Personality and Immune Function: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8562652/

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Happy Christmas, John.
We're 45minutes into Christmas day here in Australia, so I'll read that link sometime soon, thank you.

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linda7 | @linda7 | Dec 24, 2023

Being a conscientious personality type I had to check out the study John linked! I have a lot of skepticism about psychological research. To summarize what I got out of it, previous research found that high inflammation was associated with extroversion, neuroticism and agreeableness. Low inflammation was connected to conscientiousness and openness to new experiences. This study only found a connection between extroversion and high inflammation plus conscientiousness and low inflammation. Take it with a grain of salt, or better yet some turmeric and omega 3!

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bradninchgirl | @bradninchgirl | Dec 25, 2023

I have also read some interesting things about Autoimmune illness and personality types. The research was a combination of work done in Denmark, the UK and New Zealand. It showed that abuse when a child caused behaviors in adults that resulted in autoimmune illness. The report was credible and matched my behaviors very closely. I wasn't abused, the exact opposite. But, I had been very ill as a child and what I experienced then is I believe the reason for me now. I was taken from my home by three strangers, (EMTs) put in a big cold van (ambulance), taken to a large drafty noisy building (hospital), and put in a room by myself (ICU). I was not allowed food or water (because that would have killed me). I spent three months in that hospital and although I know my parents visited very often, I don't remember one of those visits. No one told me what was happening or why I was there. I guess they thought a 3 year old wouldn't understand.

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1 reply
teddyz | @teddyz | Dec 25, 2023
In reply to @bradninchgirl "I have also read some interesting things about Autoimmune illness and personality types. The research was..." + (show)
@bradninchgirl

I have also read some interesting things about Autoimmune illness and personality types. The research was a combination of work done in Denmark, the UK and New Zealand. It showed that abuse when a child caused behaviors in adults that resulted in autoimmune illness. The report was credible and matched my behaviors very closely. I wasn't abused, the exact opposite. But, I had been very ill as a child and what I experienced then is I believe the reason for me now. I was taken from my home by three strangers, (EMTs) put in a big cold van (ambulance), taken to a large drafty noisy building (hospital), and put in a room by myself (ICU). I was not allowed food or water (because that would have killed me). I spent three months in that hospital and although I know my parents visited very often, I don't remember one of those visits. No one told me what was happening or why I was there. I guess they thought a 3 year old wouldn't understand.

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I had to laugh when I read Megz comment about being disagreeable. I'm feeling disagreeable about that study too! What I had read falls more in line with bradninchgirl's study. As someone who grew up with and then married into a household that would be considered abusive, I feel like my body finally said it had taken all the stress it could and quit. I'm living on my own in peace and quiet now with a focus on physical and mental health. Mentally, all is well but my body is still in recovery mode.

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megz | @megz | Dec 25, 2023

Almost every child and adult has had some sort of trauma in their lives, and we all deal with it differently, so I find it hard to attribute auto-immune conditions to that.

The rise in auto-immunity in the population mirrors the rise in processed foods and cosmetic products now in everyday use, containing additives and chemicals which are sometimes toxic. Commonly used cosmetics, skin products and perfumes (body fragrances, laundry products, scented cleaning products, room deodorisers, etc) contain endocrine disrupting chemicals which cause health problems of all sorts, including affecting immunity. They can have an immediate or cumulative effect on us regardless of personality.
https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/index.cfm

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