{"id":15296,"date":"2012-11-07T10:30:05","date_gmt":"2012-11-07T18:30:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/?p=15296"},"modified":"2024-04-22T16:01:41","modified_gmt":"2024-04-22T20:01:41","slug":"scared-to-eat-conquering-anxiety-regarding-food-allergies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/stress-anxiety-food-allergies-1107127","title":{"rendered":"Scared to Eat: Conquering Anxiety Around Food Allergies"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"GoodTherapyEating brings pleasure, energy, and well-being to our lives. A disruption of this simple, often mindless, but important activity could lead to stress and anxiety.<\/p>\n

People who have food allergies have to be extra careful about what they eat. A simple ingredient such as eggs or nuts could ruin a meal by causing hives or wheezing, and, in extreme cases, cause a reaction so severe that an epinephrine injection is needed to save the person from a life-threatening condition.<\/p>\n

Food intolerances, or adverse reactions to specific foods, can also cause harm to a person, but generally lead to minor symptoms such as diarrhea or stomach cramps, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information website. Celiac disease, for example, is not a food allergy but rather an autoimmune issue. People with celiac disease who eat gluten experience health problems as a result.<\/p>\n

Elika Kormeili, a therapist specializing in food-allergy issues and founder of the Center for Healthy and Happy Living, says that she has suffered from food allergies and knows the stress and anxiety<\/a> they can cause. She says certain social situations that involve food, such as birthday celebrations or work lunches, can be so stressful<\/a> that people with food allergies might avoid them entirely.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes children with severe food allergies (life-threatening) are so scared of being exposed to an allergen that it impacts their ability to participate at school,\u201d Kormeili said. She goes on to say that \u201cFood is a huge part of our socialization and when you are limited in what you can eat, it definitely causes anxiety.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Find a Therapist<\/a><\/h2>\n\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\tAdvanced Search<\/a>\n\t<\/form>\n<\/div>Food allergies may lead to anxiety, but anxiety may or may not lead to issues with food allergies. Kormeili said stress and anxiety can weaken the immune system to the point of aggravating food allergies. People with food allergies might also experience changes in mood<\/a> and behavior. Sometimes just getting on a diet to eliminate allergens improves mood<\/a>, decreases irritability<\/a>, and allows for better concentration.<\/p>\n

She has the following tips for coping with food allergies and the anxiety that sometimes follows:<\/p>\n