Have you ever wondered what it would be like to wake up one day in someone else's body? Nothing feels right; do you find yourself wondering who is this person and where is the real me? This is what people with Graves' disease go through almost every day. Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease discovered by Robert Graves in 1835. Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks the thyroid gland and causes hyperthyroidism. . Graves' disease occurs when antibodies such as thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin and thyrotropin receptor antibodies (TRAbs) attack the thyroid gland as if it were a foreign object or a virus of some kind. This disease is the most common type of hyperthyroidism. Attacking the thyroid gland in this way causes it to overproduce the hormone thyroxine, which controls the body's metabolic rate. Increased thyroid activity can increase the body's metabolism by 60% to 100%. (Weeks 34-35). Graves' disease is a thyroid disorder with an unknown cause, although there is an increased risk for those who develop it if other family members are affected. It is eight times more common in women than in men. It usually occurs in those over the age of 20, although children are sometimes affected. Graves' disease affects more than 3 million people, and there are approximately 60,000 new cases of Graves' disease in the United States each year. It represents 60% of cases of hyperthyroidism. Graves' disease has many possible symptoms that include fatigue, tremors, double vision, insomnia, anxiety, muscle weakness, unstable weight, nervousness or irritability, restlessness, anxiety, increased sweating, brittle hair and nails, heat intolerance, racing heart rapid and irregular, freque...... middle of paper ......h the multidimensional challenges associated with Graves' disease. However, empowerment and supporting the patient's self-efficacy to decrease feelings of hopelessness and helplessness and cultivate new habits and/or attitudes will improve coping. An encouraging and supportive environment that capitalizes on success and self-esteem with informal support will increase positive functioning. Works Cited Ghandour, Abdulraouf and Carin Reust. “Hyperthyroidism: A Stepwise Approach to Management.” Journal Of Family Practice 60.7 (2011): 388-395. Ginsberg, Jody. "Diagnosis and management of Graves' disease". CMAJ: Journal of the Canadian Medical Association 168.5 (2003): 575-585. Holcomb, Susan Simmons. “Detection of Thyroid Disease, Part 1.” Nursing 33.8 (2003): 32cc1-32cc4. Weeks, Bridget H. "Grave's Disease." Professional nurse 30.11 (2005): 34-45.