Therapists That Specialize in Food Allergies? Who Knew!

How do you feel about food allergies?

Sometimes I’m scared and nervous. Other times I’m frustrated and angry. And when I have anaphylaxis? Well, I’m straight up freaked out (and so is my family.) In fact, my husband has PTSD from the last time I had anaphylaxis and my auto injector misfired. We had a fast and harrowing ride to the closest hospital.

I have known for years that I am allergic to ALL seafood (finned fish and shellfish). Anything that comes from the sea wants to kill me. I hate seafood, and it hates me back. So we're even.

But then there’s the time you have anaphylaxis to a NEW food. Oh great.

Anxiety over food allergies

After all these years, I still get stressed out about food allergies. I have friends who seem to take it in stride and are always upbeat. They take precautions but don’t let it get to them too much. I wish I could be more like them.

It gets so old having food allergies. People without food allergies can eat anywhere, anytime.

I cook most of our meals at home, so I can control what food is in my kitchen. I am also too cheap to eat out all the time! Ha!

But it's a challenge when the Hubster and I go out to eat. I must carefully check restaurant menus, give them a chef card with my food allergy warning, and talk to the wait staff. And I make sure I ALWAYS carry my auto injectors.

It’s also stressful when I travel for work and am in a new state trying to find a safe place to eat. My colleagues usually want to eat somewhere I can’t, which leads to awkward conversations.

It’s so annoying. And I never know how the wait staff is going to react. It seems like everyone is short on patience these days. So, I usually beat them to the punch by saying, “I’m one of those annoying people with food allergies. Sorry you got stuck helping me!” Then I shrug my shoulders and smile. That usually makes them smile back and then I know we're on the same team. We're both stuck in an annoying situation. Yet, here we are.

You don't know what you don't know

I’m one of those people who feels like I can handle anything. Asthma, eczema, environmental allergies, food allergies – whatever. I just need the basic medication and info and I can take it from there.

But I maybe I need help processing the emotions that come with lifelong food allergies. When I help families with asthma, I often find that they “don’t know what they don’t know.”

Lately, I have noticed many food allergy counselors on social media. Hmmmm. I didn’t know that was a specialty. Am I missing some vital food allergy help? Are there things "I don’t know that I don’t know?"

I did a quick online search and found a website that compiles allergy food counseling information for patients and therapists. You can:

• Find a food allergy therapist (in the U.S., Canada, England, or Australia)
• Listen to podcasts
• Listen to webinars
• Read blog posts
• Use worksheets to process emotions

Well now, who knew? There's all sorts of help out there for those of us with food allergies and our families!

It would be nice to not have so much stress and anxiety with food allergies. I think I'll start with podcasts and webinars and go on from there.

Has anyone tried food allergy counseling? Did it help?