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                           AARDA Conference
                           ----------------
          summarized by Suzanne Gentilia and Mary Guerriero

We attended a conference put on by the American Autoimmune Related
Diseases Association (AARDA).  This was a very well done conference,
with good keynote speakers.  Of particular interest were Robert
Phillips, PhD, psychologist, founder and director of the Center for
Coping, Long Island, NY; and T.  Stephen Balch, MD, medical director
at Jacquelyn McClure Lupus Center, Atlanta, GA.

The one thing they both expressed was empowerment:  Empower yourself
to take charge of your life.  Learn as much as you can about your
disease.  Controlling your disease is a combined team effort with you
and your doctors.  The way you think can be your best friend or your
worst enemy.  The way you deal with the problem makes the difference,
not the problem itself.  They stressed relaxation techniques as one
means of coping.  They also recommended a book by Harold Kushner:
When Bad Things Happen to Good People.  (It is about $6 at Borders.)
Listen to your body.  When you feel tired, rest.  Don't let your
disease rule you or dictate who you are.  Life is a journey, not a
destination.

There were also six breakout sessions, each dealing with different
aspects of autoimmunity such as the gastrointestinal tract, thyroid
function, arthritis, and dermatology.

Everyone should try to attend at least one of these conferences in the
future.  We all have different combinations of autoimmune disorders.
From one of these conferences you will come away with a more positive
attitude about yourself.

This conference was organized by Virginia Ladd, executive director and
president of AARDA; and Pat Anderson was the conference coordinator.
Our thanks go to both of them for a job well done.