Part 1: Social Anxiety (and other Mental Health Conditions) with Celiac

Having Celiac Disease is more than just watching what you eat. It’s constant stress about what will next harm you, when will someone notice that you aren’t eating or are eating something else. As someone who has lived the majority of her life with Celiac, I can confidently say that it is a misunderstood condition and will require an immense amount of destigmatizing and awareness in order to improve the quality of life for those with the disease. Having Celiac is a constant state of tension- of not being able to enjoy the small, little joys like spontaneously buying a snack or the big things, like having your own towering wedding cake. By doing little things to take action, you can take a giant leap in the direction of helping your peers with Celiac feel more understood, more loved and accepted. So, I’ve decided that rather than writing this article on tips for dealing with the social anxiety and other mental health obstacles that come with Celiac, I’ve compiled a list of what the people in your life can do to help you feel more supported, more safe. So the next time someone asks you, “Oh you poor thing! What can I do?” you know exactly what to say. :)

What can other, non-Celiac individuals do to make their peers/family/community members with the disease feel more supported and safe in their daily lives?

1. Be willing to learn. Do your research on Celiac Disease, understand what it really is and how it impacts our day-to-day lives.

2. Never belittle the condition or make it seem small. Don’t say, “Well, you could always have it worse!” or “So it’s basically just an allergy, right?” These kinds of statements are invalidating, and not only do they make us not want to open up to you, but they make us feel closed off and mocked.

3. Show us you care with your words and actions. Before an event you are hosting or choosing a restaurant to go to a friendly dinner at, communicate! Say, “Hey, I looked at their menu, and they have plenty of options that are gluten free!” or “I scanned the ingredients of this package and double-checked on Google- should be totally safe!” Show them you have put in the effort to research and understand our needs, and actually show this knowledge through your actions and words. Send us articles about new gluten-free products or research in the Celiac Disease sphere- knowing that you are thinking of us means so much more than you will ever know.

4. Finally, be understanding and empathetic. If you host an event and provide gluten free food, but your friend with Celiac feels too nervous to eat it, don’t be offended- they don’t not trust you, they are just wired to question in order to keep themselves safe. I’ve been in this position many times- trust me, we appreciate the effort and notice you trying- we simply need to do whatever it takes in order to keep ourselves physically safe and mentally sane. Ask yourself this- if someone offered me a bowl of soup that I thought had a bug in it, but they profusely tried to convince me it doesn’t, would I still want to eat it? Would I try to eat it out of politeness for the other person, and then feel terrible and anxious the rest of the night that I would get sick from eating a bug? Same goes for decisions on what to eat for people with Celiac- we are constantly making judgments and pro-con lists in our heads, trying to do what is best for us while also being respectful and showing appreciation for the efforts of others.

And there you have it! While this article could have gone on and on about all the mental health challenges people with Celiac Disease often face, instead, it gives you tools and solutions, insights into what you can actually do to support yourself and others with Celiac Disease. Remember- you’ll never understand the severity or the anxiety of anyone else’s experiences/perspective until you experience it yourself. Harness some empathy- I truly believe we all have it. :)