WRITTEN BY: GRACE NOWLIN, LPC-ASSOCIATE, LMFT-ASSOCIATE SUPERVISED BY ANNIE VIERS, LPC-S AND LMFT-S You may have seen that May is Mental Health Awareness Month on various social media posts and blogs, but did you know that it is also Celiac Awareness Month? As a counselor living with celiac disease, this month provides a great opportunity to help educate my community about the hidden mental health challenges of living with celiac disease.
Understanding Celiac Disease
To provide a short overview, celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks itself because it identifies any gluten ingested (wheat, barley, rye, and malt) as foreign. This can lead to damage in the small intestine, as well as digestive issues, anxiety, depression, and nutrient deficiencies, among many other recognized symptoms. There is not a cure, and the only way to address the symptoms is to maintain a strict gluten free diet. Making the transition to a gluten free diet can be overwhelming and isolating. Adhering to a gluten free diet can be helpful in managing many other conditions, but I will be focusing on the impact for those with celiac, specifically.
When Food Becomes a Source of Stress
So many holidays, social events, or cultural traditions center around food or meals shared together. During the transition of starting a gluten free diet or when the first event comes up after going gluten free, the isolation and grief can set in and bring with it feelings of being left out or alone. One of the hidden parts of navigating celiac disease is understanding the risk of cross-contamination. Foods that do not have any gluten-containing ingredients, but that were prepared with the same utensils that were used with gluten-containing ingredients, are not considered celiac-safe. Therefore, eating at restaurants that prepare gluten-containing foods in common areas, attending a potluck style family dinner, or even taking communion at church can be limited for those with celiac, or will require careful planning in advance. These events that are meant to bring people together can isolate those who are not able to participate as much as they could previously. This was one of the biggest areas of adjustment for me. Thankfully, I was able to make accommodations and work with those around me to make sure I could still enjoy our various traditions.
How Chronic Illness Can Affect Mental Health
During my own diagnostic process, I was surprised to see how few resources there were for coping with a life-changing diagnosis. Everything I read discussed the positive impacts the diagnosis and treatment could have on mental health due to the elimination of brain fog, anxiety, and depression as symptoms once treatment started. Instead of relief, I experienced grief and a sense of loss when thinking about how my life would change, and didn’t see anything that validated how I was feeling. If you are going through something similar, you are not alone!
Healthy Ways to Cope and Build Support
Just as connecting with our community is helpful in maintaining and boosting our mental health, the same is true for finding support in dealing with celiac disease or other chronic conditions. Processing your thoughts, feelings, and experiences with a loved one can help you feel less alone during the adjustment period after your diagnosis. A very simple yet effective coping skill that can be helpful is reframing your thoughts. This involves paying attention to any negative thoughts or thoughts you would like to change, asking yourself if there is a different way you can view those thoughts or situations, and then replacing the original thought with a new, more hopeful thought. An example from my own experience was thinking, “I can’t enjoy my favorite foods ever again” and replacing it with, “I can use my interest in baking to try new foods.”
How Counseling Can Help
Counseling can help by providing a safe space in which to process significant life changes and transitions, including extreme dietary changes like going gluten free. Counseling can also help when navigating difficult conversations with others about your dietary restrictions and staying safe while enjoying food with others.
Looking back, it would have been helpful for me to attend my own counseling sessions to help work through the complicated feelings around going gluten free. Because I experienced that need, I am now working to fulfill that need for others. One of my counseling specialties that I have developed is working with those who are experiencing similar dietary changes, and walking with them through the grief, relief, and everything in between. At La Luz Counseling in San Antonio and Helotes, Texas, I would be happy to work with you as you navigate these changes, as well as continuing to find hope in tough times through Christian counseling.
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