#MyLupusJourney: Former White Supremacist Discusses Battle and How Hate Impacted Efforts to Control the Disease

A From The G-Man Exclusive

 

By Gary Glennell Toms

Acacia Dietz is the daughter of a preacher and was raised in an ultra-conservative Christian community. She never thought she would ever join an extremist group, but after leaving a dysfunctional and abusive relationship, she became involved with far-right communities through social media.

In a previously published special report, The G-Man Interviews revealed that she became a member of the National Socialist Movement (NSM) and served as its media manager. Motivated by concerns for women’s safety, she thought she could take refuge and find a purpose in the NSM. However, she quickly began to doubt and regret her choices. Now, as a managing director with Beyond Barriers, she works to prevent others from becoming involved with extremist groups and racist organizations. “Yes, as difficult as it has been for many to accept or believe, I am now fighting to end all forms of extremism and hate in America. However, I am waging an intense battle on the health front as well,” said Dietz.

In 2012, Dietz was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. In 2018, she was diagnosed with SLE/Systemic Lupus Erythematosus – more commonly known as Lupus. For those who may not be aware, lupus is a disease that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues and organs. It can be very difficult to diagnose, as the signs and/or symptoms mimic those of other ailments.

“Fibromyalgia or ‘fibro’ causes severe pain to joints and muscles, and sometimes even my bones hurt. Chronic fatigue is something I still suffer from to this day. When pain levels are exceedingly high, I experience brain fog and many other ailments. At times, fibro can be a precursor to a lupus diagnosis. However, that is not always the case,” Dietz stated.

In 2017, more tests were conducted because her symptoms worsened. “I had low-grade fevers on a daily basis, little or no energy, and constantly felt as though I had the flu, but that was never the case. I also started to get what they refer to as a ‘butterfly rash‘ on my face,” Dietz said. “This is a symptom closely associated with lupus. In 2018, doctors did brain scans to see if I had Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Thankfully, I did not. Ultimately, I was diagnosed with lupus.”

The former NSM representative tried using pharmaceutical medications. Unfortunately, her body rejected them because of how they interacted with other medications she was required to take. Currently, she is solely using natural supplements. They have proved somewhat helpful, but she is still searching for something that will allow her to live a “normal” life.

Dietz also stated that her relationship with the NSM and other hate groups greatly impacted her effort to battle the disease. “When I reflect on the time I spent in the NSM, the more I realize how detrimental it was to my emotional state and health. I was surrounded by people who were filled with hate and expressed it in a myriad of ways. The further I fell down the rabbit hole, the more it began to impact my battle with lupus,” Dietz stated. “Stress can cause symptoms or flare-ups to worsen, and being angry at the world and certain people in it, 24 hours a day and seven days a week, certainly did not help the situation. It only exacerbated it.”

On certain days, she can only be up for a few hours before the fevers, body aches and headaches start. Despite the discomfort, Dietz decided to produce and submit these videos because she believes her battle with lupus may help others. “I am at a stage in my life where helping people is what I definitely want to do. For the record, this isn’t about me. It’s about all the other individuals out there who are suffering from this debilitating disease. It is my hope that these videos help, inform, and, most importantly, serve as confirmation that they are not alone in their battle with the disease.”

Dietz submitted the following quote and requested it be shared with the public. “Sometimes it takes hard times to make us gentle and strong.” – Rigoletto