I’m Dr. April Moreno and I am the founder of the Autoimmune Community Institute. I am pleased to have this opportunity to share my story.
I know that the Dr. title can seem a bit snobby, but I use the title differently as a personal milestone because my life almost depended on this journey. I was determined to graduate school after my diagnosis, not knowing if it was something I would survive.
I was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition in 2016 during graduate school. I was in the 3rd year of my PhD program and was working on my dissertation. I was also in a full-time training program in the health sector.
Before I was diagnosed, I was going through a ton of depression, anxiety and ruminating on hurtful and abusive situations I was facing in my job. I quit my job and then to celebrate, I took a trip to Vegas. But on the short plane ride there from Southern California, I experienced an intense panic attack that left me feeling like I was floating alone in outer space for the next week, with numerous panic attacks each day, and I felt disconnected from my body. I didn’t know how to seek help, and getting therapy took a while for the first appointment, which didn’t even help me once I got it. It took about 3 different psychology therapists until I found one that worked for me.
Then, at that time, I was also beginning to experience a relapse in my health with body numbness, tingling, heat sensitivity and vision loss. It felt like the bottom of my health challenges was nowhere to be seen. Every day was different. Cold burning feet one day, the feeling of walking on pebbles, then walking on sand another day. One leg numb, the other wouldn’t move the way it usually would. It was 3 or 4 months of new health challenges. Fatigue, dizziness, even hearing strange voices from far away before falling asleep. I felt very alone, and very scared, not knowing what was happening.
A service like the Chronic Illness Hotline would have been so helpful as I didn’t know who to turn to, and the healthcare sector required weeks and months for support. When I was finally diagnosed with autoimmune issues I needed individual support which was virtually impossible to find.
Since then the therapy journey was amazing. She taught me the importance of mindfulness and visualization, such as visualizing a favorite and safe space in my mind that I could visit anytime I wanted. Learning how to advocate for myself. Learning how to identify any new health challenges through mindful awareness. One day, my psychologist told me that I didn’t need her anymore!
I was well on my way to helping others now. I graduated with a PhD in four years, unusual even for a health person. I started the Sisterhood of Limitless Living podcast, the multicultural podcast for autoimmune women thriving, and we are now into 70 episodes talking about the power of mindfulness, self-efficacy and life design with the stories of women who thrive with a variety of autoimmune conditions. And now, I have started the Autoimmune Community Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to autoimmune health equity and community research, advocacy and support.
The autoimmune and associated mental health journey were the challenge of my life and now I am at the other side of the mountain, where can see that it taught me mental strength, self-advocacy, and the ability to help others. I am grateful for my husband, the clinical community, and life-saving community services such as the Chronic Illness Hotline.
Dr. April is the Founder and CEO of the Autoimmune Community Institute, dedicated to community research, advocacy and support for the diverse autoimmune community. Your donation to the foundation is tax-deductible: www.acicommunity.org
You can find Dr April Moreno online at:
www.twitter.com/acicommunity www.instagram.com/autoimmunecommunityinstitute
The Sisterhood of Limitless Living podcast is the multicultural podcast for autoimmune women thriving, www.sisterhoodoflimitlessliving.com/podcast
