Sorry for the delay in posts to the Daily Digest folks. Running two businesses, family, knee surgery and LIFE has gotten the best of me lately. I promise to do better moving forward.
Anyway…here’s an email I received:
Hi Gluten Dude,
I was diagnosed with Celiac this summer, a week before my 24th birthday. It was supposed to be my “golden birthday”, turning 24 on the 24th. Instead, it was essentially another day of people cracking jokes at my expense – “oh I added extra gluten to my burrito today” and crap like that.
I’m struggling with how to find a balance in my social life. I want to still see people, but I feel like they get tired of me talking about CD constantly. I also live in a very small community with very limited resources, and I feel like my world is just shrinking smaller and smaller. I already struggle with anxiety and depression. My husband tries so hard to understand what I am going through but he has no context in his own life.
I guess I’m asking, when does it get better? When do I get to not live in fear of food? I know my life is changed forever, but everyone, my family included, seems to think this is just a phase. How do I get my bearings back?
Thank you.
Just a phenomenal email. I think most of us have been in dark places at some point with our disease. I’ll share how I got out of mine and hopefully you all can pipe in and share your journeys as well. You’ll not only be helping this lovely person, but I’m sure many more as well.
First, I’d like you to read my five-part series on How to Go Gluten-Free. It touches on my experiences after diagnosis and gives specific advice on how to handle the transition. I think the two most important factors in the transition are your attitude and your support system.
Without acceptance that this is your new journey, it will be tough to get over that hump.
Without the desire to WANT to feel better, gluten-free will always be a challenge.
And without those closest to you getting on board, you will always have that tension in your life. A tension that will make it even more difficult for your body to heal. I’m a huge believer that stress plays a vital role in our physical well-being. Life itself is stressful enough. Try not to surround yourself with people who make it more so.
I have a whole section my GlutenDude.com blog about dealing with relationships (https://glutendude.com/category/relationships). Please pick the most applicable posts and send the links to your husband and your family so they know that this is not just a phase. This is your life. And celiac disease does not define you. It’s just now a part of who you are.
I wish you the best and please keep in touch with me.
GD
And I’m damned if I do and I’m damned if I don’t
So here’s to drinks in the dark at the end of my road
And I’m ready to suffer and I’m ready to hope
It’s a shot in the dark aimed right at my throat
– Shake it Out, Florence + the Machine
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