Celiac and Psychological Support

Today I’m going to take the focus away from heavy research studies to take a look at what’s in your head. I follow all the tweets here on Gling, and have seen a lot of people who come in here with a new Celiac diagnoses. From what is expressed in these initial introductions, I can see that most people have the same state of mind in common, yet most feel pretty alone.

First, I want to address what I call the “embarrassment factor”. A lot of the people who call out for help and/or advice do it quietly. They seem a bit embarrassed or ashamed that they are scared, clueless, etc. My heart goes out to the people who are new to this whole gluten free thing. I can see how it seems that most of us on the site may “have it all together” and that can be a bit intimidating. I feel it needs to be stated, again and again, that it wasn’t always this way!

We have all been in the position of being new to all the special flours and preparation methods. We have all sat (well, maybe everyone but me stands) in a grocery isle and stared at the food wondering how much of it was now off limits. We have all cried late at night over the way our food betrayed us when it was supposed to bring nourishment and joy- And many of us have had to look into the tearful eyes of our children and explain why they can’t eat the snack that the well meaning friend just gave them (more than once).

Believe me, you are among friends here! There is no shame in feeling however you feel when faced with a life changing Diagnoses like Celiac. The Center for Celiac Research (CFCR), which is the biggest Celiac research center out there, will tell you as much.

The Celiac Treatment Clinic at CFCR draws patients from all over the world because their level of care is so fantastic. At the clinic, patients are treated for their medical symptoms, of course, but they are also treated to much more. The clinic also has nutritionists and dietitians that help people learn as much as they can about the new way they need to eat. They top off the treatment with psychological care. There are therapy sessions for individuals and families, all intended to help people cope with their new life.

Seems to me that they are right on par with this frame of thought. Starting a gluten free diet is a huge change, and carries the same psychological effects as any other huge life change. We all know that there is a multi-step grieving process when a loved one dies, but did you ever take into account how normal it is to mourn the death of a life style?

I didn’t in the beginning. Every time I cried over a roll I couldn’t eat, I chastised myself for being silly. My motto became, “It’s just food! Get over it!” It seemed silly to me that I wanted so desperately to be comforted. In the social outpouring that came of my gluten free journey I learned that I was not alone in those feelings. I look back now and wish that I had looked more into CFCR and their approach toward going gluten free.

If you have joined Gling, then you are already reaching out- Even if you just came to get a recipe :) I encourage every one of you to hang out for a bit. Get to know some people, ask your questions and get the answers you need. If something seems to technical or too professional, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification. Really, that’s what we’re all here for :)

If you would like a taste of some support that CFCR offers, check out these two spots on their website. Education and Support comes in the form of links, resources and other juicy tidbits. Also, check out the Educational Videos, which are real people talking about their experiences in learning to live with Celiac Disease.