Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Has anyone got anxiety?


Harpsichord

Recommended Posts

Harpsichord Rookie

Hi there!

I have food related anxiety as a result of celiac disease. I don't like eating at restaurants or at friend's houses or anything, even when I logically know that they're safe. Whenever I get stomach aches I start panicking and shaking. I was just wondering if this happens to anyone else. I don't know a whole lot of people with celiac, and a lot of people I've met have it but don't have very strong symptoms and 'cheat' sometimes. I feel sort of alone. 


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



GFinDC Veteran

You are starting to worry me! :)  LOL, Joking!

Hi, you are not alone.  While celiac disease is not super-abundant, it is still a large number of people who have it.  1% of a couple hundred million or so in the USA.  I  don't know how long you have been diagnosed or have been eating gluten-free.  But I think it is very typical and helpful to be a little hyper-cautious during at least the first 6 months.  It's that increased alertness and concern that helps us learn a new way of surviving in the world of gluten eaters.  I wouldn't trust just anyone else's cooking even now after 9 years.   Their saying it is gluten-free doesn't make it so.

When in doubt, don't eat it!

We regularly suggest people not to eat at restaurants for the first 6 months.  And not eat food others have prepared.  Why not?  Because it is only our responsibility to make sure our food is gluten-free, nobody else's.  So we have to do what we can to ensure that is the case.

You get better faster by avoiding taking risks with your diet and health.  It is not unusual for recovery from celiac damage to take over a year.  So taking risks that may set that healing process back is not a great idea IMHO.

You can bring your own food or snacks.  And if you can't just skip the event.  You'll get more used to eating gluten-free and avoiding cross contamination risks over time.

Anxiety is a symptom of celiac disease for some of us.  It generally gets better after we heal some and begin absorbing nutrients again.  If you are new to the gluten-free diet there is hope for a big improvement in your health.  But it can take some time to feel much better.

 

Ennis-TX Grand Master

It is normal, I only eat at a place with 100% dedicated gluten free kitchen, or if I get something simple I and get to see how they prepare it (IE fish/veggies roasted on tin foil in a oven). I would not trust my own mothers to fix me a meal in her house. NOW if she came to my house and cooked it in my dedicated kitchen with ingredients I chose then we have no issues. 

Eating out with celiac is Russian roulette as we like to say, check the FindMeGlutenFree app and try to find places with good reviews, tell your server.

IF you need help with anxiety it is made worse by deficiency issues with this disease. We can have absorption issues with vitamins, minerals, and the healthy fats our brain needs to work work and our nerves fire correctly. Common ones are B-vitamins (full spectrum) and Magnesium. Go ahead and google deficiencies in them and see if you have any other symptoms.

I use Liquid Health Energy & Stress and Neurological Support 1 tbsp each 3 times a day and I take magnesium Calm from Natural Vitality dosed to tolerance.

jeanniemiller Newbie

your not alone I have had 3 melt downs shaking crying screaming my poor husband  I just found out good Friday that i'm celiac only place I eat out is hoss steak house tips baked potato I seem ok other place I take my own food I pray we both get better with our  Anxiety and depression over this disease

 

Bree J Apprentice

I am the same. Im 23 and have been gluten free for 5 years, but only 2 months ago i found out it's celiac and not just an intolerance. Since I've been more careful I do feel better, but I get even more anxious now. When my brother texted the family about his birthday dinner at a Hibachi (Japanese) restaurant, I had a full on panic attack because a lot of Asian foods have soy sauce, and everyone's food is made on a shared grill. Instead of spending time getting ready to go out, I cried and googled stuff about Hibachi to try and plan what I was going to do. I called the restaurant when I calmed down a little, and they said they had a gluten free protocol and gluten free soy sauce. Our chef sanitized half of the grill for me and my food. So it was all okay. But very stressful!

My biggest tip is to call any restaurant you're about to go to and tell them you have a severe allergy (the best way I've found that servers take it seriously), even ask to speak to the manager. I have general anxiety anyway, so phone calls are hard, but I've been learning to take ownership of my dietary needs, because I finally feel like myself when i do (and am not sick!).

Red Robin has a new interactive allergy menu online, I wish every restaurant did! I ordered online for pick up, and they had an option on every item to make it gluten free, or told me it was not safe to eat. I called (like I do) anyway to check, and they told me they have a special gluten free fryer for gluten-free french fry requests. It amazed me! I got a specialty burger in a lettuce wrap and 2 kinds of fries, and felt great! A win for me vs. restaurants lol.

I hope you start to find some peace. For now, go out to places still, but just maybe do some research before you go on the fully gluten-free dishes they have without modifications (so you're not worried someone will mess up). Many people have made forums similar to this one for foods at all kinds of restaurants. 

If anything, don't let anyone make you feel bad about your celiac! It's not your choice, but it is a necessity. People don't make fun of peanut allergies... just whip out that phrase if anyone gives you trouble, lol.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - trents replied to Rebeccaj's topic in Super Sensitive People
      4

      symptoms.

    2. - knitty kitty replied to NCalvo822's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      3

      Newly Diagnosed

    3. - knitty kitty replied to Rebeccaj's topic in Super Sensitive People
      4

      symptoms.

    4. - Rebeccaj replied to Rebeccaj's topic in Super Sensitive People
      4

      symptoms.

    5. - knitty kitty replied to CeliacPI's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      8

      Lymphocytic Colitis with Celiac


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      130,518
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Lois S
    Newest Member
    Lois S
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.3k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Should not be a problem except for the most sensitive celiacs. The amount of gluten that would get in the air from cooking alone has got to be miniscule. I would be more concerned about cross contamination happening in other ways in a living environment where others are preparing and consuming gluten-containing foods. Thinks like shared cooking surfaces and countertops. And what about that toaster you mentioned?
    • knitty kitty
      Hello, @NCalvo822, Blood tests for Celiac Disease test for antibodies our bodies make in response to gluten exposure.  These Tg IgA 2 antibodies mistakenly attack our own bodies, causing problems in organs and tissues other than just the digestive tract.  Joints can ache, thyroid problems or the pancreas can develop.  Ataxia is just one of over two hundred symptoms of Celiac Disease. Some people with Celiac Disease also make tTg IgA 6 antibodies in response to gluten exposure.  The tTg IgA 6 antibodies attack the brain, causing ataxia.  These tTg IgA 6 antibodies are also found in people with Parkinson's disease, though they may not have Celiac Disease.  First degree relatives (parents, siblings, children) of those diagnosed with Celiac should be tested as well.  Celiac is genetic.  Your mom and sister should be tested for Celiac, too!   Definitely a good idea to keep to a gluten free diet.  
    • knitty kitty
      @Rebeccaj,  When you smell toast or pasta cooking, that means that particles of that food are floating around in the air.  Airborne gluten can then be inhaled and swallowed, meaning the food particles get into your digestive tract.   If you're careful to avoid gluten and are still having symptoms, those symptoms could be caused by vitamin deficiencies.  
    • Rebeccaj
      ok thanks for your advice. But my question was what happens when someone you know in a house is cooking pasta or toast that's flour  Airbourne without eating.?
    • knitty kitty
      Do discuss this recent article with your doctors.  Thiamine Vitamin B 1 is important to intestinal health.  Thiamine deficiency can occur in Celiac Disease due to malabsorption.  Supplementing with a B Complex, Benfotiamine, and Vitamin D can help symptoms.   Thiamine deficiency aggravates experimental colitis in mice by promoting glycolytic reprogramming in macrophages https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39890689/#:~:text=Our mechanistic study revealed that,necessary to protect against colitis. "Conclusion and implications: Our study provides evidence linking thiamine deficiency with proinflammatory macrophage activation and colitis aggravation, suggesting that monitoring thiamine status and adjusting thiamine intake is necessary to protect against colitis."
×
×
  • Create New...