Torran, funny you should be triggered to ask by an autoimmune problem. I've been suspecting something autoimmune (actually one of the bad ones) in myself for a few years, but every time I get tests they come up negative (which is good, certainly, but doesn't help id my issue). Then a couple months ago: bam! autoimmune areata...entire sections of my head just stopped producing hair...quite the punk look! Doctor said stress possibly can trigger or exacerbate, and I've been trying to make changes since then, although I have not felt any more stressed the past few years than previously. But might as well try to get a handle on it now, I figure.
Sorry to hear you're going through this and having to consider the auto-immune thing. I hope you don't have too many other physical symptoms. (The punk look though is fairly excellent). I was extremely lucky in that what I have looked like it might be really bad news, and turns out, over the years, it's been really mild and hasn't impacted on how I live my life. Except now, I'm a lot more grateful for my health.
I absolutely think stress is trigger for some very strange physical things. Our minds and our bodies are so connected - it sounds a bit, y'know, out there, except when I considered that being nervous makes my heart pound faster and my cheeks go pink, so why shouldn't a day of grinding stress also be doing something physical (even if you can't see it straight away).
One really positive thing that came out of my health issues was a re-connect with my own body. I am very aware now of when I am run down, when I'm a bit jittery.
When I had my first 'bout', I was going through probably the worst time of my life. I was trying to hold it all together and act like everything was fine, and hadn't confided in anyone about how bad it was. But everything was falling apart - work, home, finances.
Anyway - not to be too self-absorbed or self-pitying - getting ill and getting diagnosed was a blessing in disguise because it reminded me that I only have one life. For a while a brain tumor was being discussed by the docs as a possibility, so, y'know, once that's been put on the table as an option, it is an extreme relief when the diagnoses is something different.
To cut a long story short - I do think stress is a dangerous thing. After the latest chat with the doc, this is why I'm now on a bit of a mission to try and 'fix' this inability to relax. Except my brain just doesn't seem very able to truly chill out.
All the suggestions on this thread have been great. Really enjoying reading what other people are experiencing and how they're getting a handle on it. Even without any physical ailments - the amount of people who are also restlessly considering housework at 11pm - I'm not alone!
Especially going to go ahead with:
Getting out in the fresh air
Exercising
A written to-do list (I currently keep a daily diary which actually does help me to feel a bit calmer).
Not fighting it - i.e a day of watching movies actually just isn't my bag.
Especially loved 'recognise it, use it for good, channel it', thanks
acroy