When Coach Anita Monique was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2016, she refused to let the condition define her life. Affectionately known as The Autoimmune Bully, she embraces this title as a declaration of strength.
“MS is feared by many and seen as a humongous diagnosis,” she explains, “but I wouldn’t allow it to dictate how my life was going to go. So, I became the Autoimmune Bully.”Autoimmune diseases attack the body, but Anita teaches people how to fight back—reclaim their power and take control of their health.
Personal Health Journey
Anita’s holistic health journey began in 2015 after the devastating loss of her uncle, who battled diabetes. Just one year later, she received her own life-altering diagnosis: Multiple Sclerosis. Fearful of pharmaceutical treatments, she was determined to find her own path to healing.
“I wanted to figure it out myself,” she says. “I began my holistic journey, doing everything naturally. My focus was on putting myself back together—starting with what was wrong and correcting it from there.”
Over time, Anita evolved her approach, shifting from holistic with an “H” to wholistic with a “W.” To her, this change reflects a more comprehensive approach to healing—one that embraces “all the things that help.” As a Wholistic Autoimmune Bully, she believes that true healing is about doing what works best for each individual patient.
Bridging the Gap Between Pharmaceutical and Holistic Medicine
Anita also speaks candidly about the divide between the pharmaceutical and holistic health industries. “They combat against each other,” she says. “I don’t agree with that because the main objective should be the health and well-being of the patient.”
She has witnessed how both sides often demonize one another, forcing patients to feel like they must choose between conventional medicine and natural approaches. That was the position she found herself in after her diagnosis—opting to go without pharmaceuticals for nine years.
However, in 2025, Anita made a pivotal decision in her MS journey: She took her first pharmaceutical medication, Tysabri (natalizumab). Initially, she was fearful of the potential side effects, but her neurologist reassured her. “Having a healthcare team that you trust is very important,” she emphasizes. This experience reinforced her belief that healing isn’t about choosing one approach—it’s about finding what works best for you.
Managing Stress
For Coach Anita Monique, managing stress is a daily learning process. Two key practices that support her emotional well-being while living with MS are yoga and meditation. “Yoga does help, and it’s amazing,” she says. However, she admits that once she feels the benefits, she sometimes stops practicing—only to return when stress builds up again. She is currently working on maintaining consistency in her routine.
Recently, Anita has also been exploring psychoneuroimmunology—the connection between the mind, immune system, and overall health. She describes it as an internal reflection of self-perception: “It’s about what you’re thinking of yourself—allowing yourself to believe and manifest those things in your life.”
Her biggest tip? Learn how to stop caring too much about what people think. “It’s hard to say, ‘just don’t care,’ but I’ve learned to let that go.” She recalls moments when she felt self-conscious about using a mobility aid, like a cane, and the assumptions people might make. But now, she stands firm in her confidence: “It doesn’t matter what the rest of the world is doing.”
Support Systems and Mental Health
For Coach Anita Monique, a strong support system is essential. She credits her friends as her biggest source of encouragement and highlights the many MS support groups available, such as those at The Shepherd Center and We Are Ill—a community dedicated to redefining what illness looks like for Black women living with MS.
👉 You can learn more about We Are Ill here
With so many support groups to choose from, Anita emphasizes the importance of finding one that aligns with your goals and values. “It is very, very important that people are mindful of where they’re spending their time because it’s easy for anyone with an autoimmune disease to be shifted to a negative place.”
Becoming a Restorative Health Coach
Coach Anita Monique felt called to help others understand a powerful truth: “You are more than your disease.” As a Restorative Health Coach, her mission is not to cure a diagnosis but to help people restore aspects of their health—managing symptoms and improving overall well-being so they can become the best version of themselves.One of the biggest misconceptions about her role is the idea that she can heal someone’s condition. “The goal is to help you feel better and improve your symptoms.” Through her work, Anita empowers others to take charge of their health.
Where to Connect with The Autoimmune Bully
If you’d like to learn more or seek guidance from Coach Anita Monique, visit her website, theautoimmunebully.com. You can also connect with her on social media, @theautoimmunebully. Exciting things are on the horizon, including her 9-week mentorship program, designed to help people with autoimmune diseases become the best versions of themselves.
Be sure to follow her for updates and resources!
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