Not Doing Well Emotionally

[Black Sheep]

  On 3/30/2010 at 9:44 PM, Jestgar said:

This never works for me. I need to figure out how to make it better. How can I cook that food that I want? How can I make my shopping easier? How can I navigate the potluck today?

For me it's about keeping control of my life.

I do both, which works for me. The first solution (could be so much worse) helps keep me off the Pity Pot; and the second one is empowering. People keep telling me things like, "You know, I should probably cut out gluten, too....it's no doubt causing a lot of my health problems, as well, but....I don't think I could ever do it. It just seems so HARD! I would miss my pasta and bread!" And I tell them how, once you get rid of the stuff in your kitchen that contains gluten, and replace it with the good stuff, it's not that big a deal. There's brown rice, corn, and quinoa pastas. There's recipes for absolutely delicious breads (I made a killer pizza last week. My husband said the g.f. crust was SO much better than regular crust, and it was. So flavorful). There's g.f. snacks and breads in health food stores, or h.f. sections of large grocery stores. The only really hard part, I tell them, is eating out....but even that can be done.

And getting well after years of debilitating illness is so worth it.

[Mskedi]

  On 4/5/2010 at 12:58 AM, Black Sheep said:

I do both, which works for me. The first solution (could be so much worse) helps keep me off the Pity Pot; and the second one is empowering. People keep telling me things like, "You know, I should probably cut out gluten, too....it's no doubt causing a lot of my health problems, as well, but....I don't think I could ever do it. It just seems so HARD! I would miss my pasta and bread!" And I tell them how, once you get rid of the stuff in your kitchen that contains gluten, and replace it with the good stuff, it's not that big a deal. There's brown rice, corn, and quinoa pastas. There's recipes for absolutely delicious breads (I made a killer pizza last week. My husband said the g.f. crust was SO much better than regular crust, and it was. So flavorful). There's g.f. snacks and breads in health food stores, or h.f. sections of large grocery stores. The only really hard part, I tell them, is eating out....but even that can be done.

And getting well after years of debilitating illness is so worth it.

Wanna share that pizza crust recipe? My favorite gluten-free pizza place closed down a few months ago, and I haven't had a remotely satisfying pizza since.

[kayo]

I second the pizza recipe request!

My emotions have been up and down and all over the map. Some days I take it all in stride and other days I'm just so down. As time goes on though I have more ups than downs.

I think I have some more food intolerances (tapioca maybe) going on but haven't figure it out yet. I also think my thyroid is messed up. My weight has creeped back up and I feel so heavy all over.

Got my IgE test kit in the mail but haven't done it yet. I'm almost afraid to get the results! I have braced myself by thinking any food left that I can eat and still like will probably be on that list. I'll be down to lettuce and water and still weigh my heaviest!

[kareng]

I find my self so extra happy when I find something I like thats gluten-free. And really sad when something doesn't work out. Was practically in tears at the liquor store because the gluten-free beer wasn't restocked. Went to ask if they would still carry & the manager said they carry as many as they can get & it sells out. So no plans to stop selling.

[Chrisco]

I just made gluten free pizza on Saturday night and it was so yummy. I used a boxed pizza crust mix from www.kingarthurflour.com . They have just started making gluten free products and so far their stuff has been so tasty. The crust was so good. It was a little hard to make because of the doughs consistency. It's a sticky paste and is very hard to thin out when making the pizza. So our crust was a little thick but I was surprised how good it was. My husband and sister-in-law who are not gluten free ate it and loved it. The only negative is that we put the leftovers in the fridge and the next day the crust was really crumbly and not very good. Which I find seems to be a problem with a lot of the gluten free baked items that I make, but when eaten fresh out of the oven it's so good.

[JNBunnie1]

  On 4/5/2010 at 5:11 PM, Chrisco said:

I just made gluten free pizza on Saturday night and it was so yummy. I used a boxed pizza crust mix from www.kingarthurflour.com . They have just started making gluten free products and so far their stuff has been so tasty. The crust was so good. It was a little hard to make because of the doughs consistency. It's a sticky paste and is very hard to thin out when making the pizza. So our crust was a little thick but I was surprised how good it was. My husband and sister-in-law who are not gluten free ate it and loved it. The only negative is that we put the leftovers in the fridge and the next day the crust was really crumbly and not very good. Which I find seems to be a problem with a lot of the gluten free baked items that I make, but when eaten fresh out of the oven it's so good.

Two things: when making pizza crust, I take plastic wrap, spray it with olive oil cooking spray, put it over the crust and use my hands to spread it out. It doesn't stick at all. When I'm using a pizza stone, I put the plastic wrap on the bottom and the top and then flip it on the stone, which takes practice!

And does King Arthur Flour have a dedicated gluten free facility for their new gluten-free flours? Anyone know?

[Chrisco]

Thanks for the tip on making the pizza crust thinner.

I did check on their website and King Arthur Flours says they have a dedicated gluten free facility. It also says they are certified by the GFCO.

[tictax707]

And King Arthur brownies (from their gluten-free mix) are KILLER.

[Black Sheep]

  On 4/5/2010 at 5:11 PM, Chrisco said:

It was a little hard to make because of the doughs consistency. It's a sticky paste and is very hard to thin out when making the pizza. So our crust was a little thick but I was surprised how good it was. My husband and sister-in-law who are not gluten free ate it and loved it. The only negative is that we put the leftovers in the fridge and the next day the crust was really crumbly and not very good.

Well, my dough made from scratch was just like that (as far as the thick/sticky part goes), and from what I've read on g.f. recipe blogs, that's just the nature of the beast. Even the loaves of bread are that way---the recipes say that the "dough" should look like stiff cake batter. It really is more of a batter than a dough! But the leftovers of my scratch pizza were just as good the next day, and not crumbly at all. Btw, thanks Bunnie for the very common-sense advice on how to spread out the dough/batter or whatever you call it! It's one of those "duh! Why didn't I think of that" things; esp. when I consider the fact that, when I make bread, I spray pieces of plastic wrap and gently lay them over the top of the bread pans as the bread is rising, so it will neither dry out nor stick to the dough. I prefer thin pizza crust, so this will be a big help, although I must say, the crust I made was so yummy, that even thick we liked it!

O.k. as for the recipe....I don't know if I'm allowed to do links here to other sites. I guess if I'm not, then the Mods will delete it and I'll know better next time! So this particular pizza crust recipe (as well as both g.f. bread recipes I've tried) came from here: Open Original Shared Link[url=Open Original Shared Link]

I did a few things a bit different from the recipe, as there's no place locally that sells sweet rice flour, and I refuse to use white rice flour when there's brown. Also, I refuse to pay $35 per pound for arrowroot, when I can use cornstarch. Although if you're allergic to corn....I don't know, can potato starch be substituted? Sorry but I'm still new at this! Anyway, here's what I did different:

Used brown rice flour in place of white

Used sorghum flour in place of sweet rice flour

Used plain yogurt in place of ricotta cheese, as I was out of ricotta cheese

Although if you made the crust exactly as her recipe says, I don't know why it wouldn't be just fine. I don't know if the little changes I made had anything to do with the crust being just as good the next day or not. I also had to tweak her bread recipes a bit due to either not having the exact flours (like cert. g.f. oat, as well as sweet rice) she used, or again, being unwilling to use white rice flour when I have brown rice flour.

I'm also going to get one of those Breadman bread machines that so many celiacs recommend; it has a special g.f. bread setting, and they say it turns out delicious g.f. bread!

[Black Sheep]

O.k. I REALLY want to try those King Arthur brownies now, too!

[sandsurfgirl]

Awesome I was gone from here for a few days and my thread got me all sorts of good pizza tips. Cool!

I rested a lot this weekend and it improved my health and my mood. Hopefully it sticks.

I love this board. Have I said that lately?

[detritus]

  On 4/6/2010 at 12:25 AM, sandsurfgirl said:

Awesome I was gone from here for a few days and my thread got me all sorts of good pizza tips. Cool!

I rested a lot this weekend and it improved my health and my mood. Hopefully it sticks.

I love this board. Have I said that lately?

I second that! I,too, have been having crazy mood swings! This morning I was walking down the street practically singing because I felt so good, but tonight I feel icky and down. So I came here, and once again am comforted by reading everyone's thoughts and experiences. Life would be sooo much harder right now without our community.

[JNBunnie1]

  On 4/6/2010 at 2:47 AM, detritus said:

I second that! I,too, have been having crazy mood swings! This morning I was walking down the street practically singing because I felt so good, but tonight I feel icky and down. So I came here, and once again am comforted by reading everyone's thoughts and experiences. Life would be sooo much harder right now without our community.

And Haagen Dazs.

[kareng]

And chocolate & wine.

[Black Sheep]

  On 4/5/2010 at 4:43 PM, kareng said:

Was practically in tears at the liquor store because the gluten-free beer wasn't restocked. Went to ask if they would still carry & the manager said they carry as many as they can get & it sells out. So no plans to stop selling.

And g.f. beer.

Although at $2 per bottle (and that's the cheap stuff), I am a very light drinker!

And I agree with the "chocolate and wine" thing. lol

[juppygirl]

I am alternating my resting and doing stuff days while on holiday this week- been all over the place emotionally. This illness certainly makes you more self aware and I am definately trying to be nicer to myself and take the pressure off when I can - not everyone is in agreement though!

[Mac55]

Oh, I soooo needed to read these posts today! I've been feeling terrible off and on for weeks and today is a VERY rough day, emotions are all over the place. It really helps to know you've been there. Hoping I get out of this funk very soon! Thanks for the help!

[detritus]

  On 4/16/2010 at 5:54 PM, Mac55 said:

Oh, I soooo needed to read these posts today! I've been feeling terrible off and on for weeks and today is a VERY rough day, emotions are all over the place. It really helps to know you've been there. Hoping I get out of this funk very soon! Thanks for the help!

I'm sorry you're having a rough one. Lately I've been finding that a tablespoon of organic blackstrap molasses in hot almond milk really helps my mood. It has a lot of B-vitamins which help with depression. Hope things get better soon.

[Glutenfreenoobie]

  On 3/28/2010 at 4:58 PM, sandsurfgirl said:

I'm feeling better physically. I do have a cold right now, and I'm fatigued. Waiting on thyroid and vitamin, iron levels etc. to see if one of those is the culprit.

But, I am struggling emotionally. I know it's a grieving process, but it's very hard at times. The sadness over all the stuff I've lost in life because of celiac is overwhelming at times.

The uncertainty of the future, not knowing how much healing I will get and if I will ever feel "normal" and healthy is overwhelming too.

I want to do this, that and the other, but when I make plans I just don't know what I'll feel like that day, so I can't count on anything.

About 4 days ago I got really angry when someone did something annoying. The next day almost the exact same event happens and I was cool with it. My mom always thought that males around my age, mid 20's are just angry. My dad and my dad's mom both have anger issues too. Do you think my anger is normal, genetic, or caused by gluten intolerance?

By really angry, I mean that I slammed my foot really hard on the floor but felt no pain, could barely see while slamming my foot, also I could not remember slamming my foot. I'm 190 ibs and a bodybuilder so I'm assuming I slammed with all my strength.

[tictax707]

  On 4/16/2010 at 6:18 PM, detritus said:

I'm sorry you're having a rough one. Lately I've been finding that a tablespoon of organic blackstrap molasses in hot almond milk really helps my mood. It has a lot of B-vitamins which help with depression. Hope things get better soon.

Now THAT sounds fantastic. I am already a huge fan of hot almond and/or soy milk. I will have to add that into my regimen! thanks for the tip!

[proud-armywife]

I haven't been here long, but I just wanted you to know that I am sorry- I hate feeling like that. Please know that I am sending hugs and wishing you well. I kind of remind myself during these times one day, one moment. Tomorrow is new-wishing you well.

[tictax707]

  On 4/16/2010 at 6:27 PM, Glutenfreenoobie said:

About 4 days ago I got really angry when someone did something annoying. The next day almost the exact same event happens and I was cool with it. My mom always thought that males around my age, mid 20's are just angry. My dad and my dad's mom both have anger issues too. Do you think my anger is normal, genetic, or caused by gluten intolerance?

By really angry, I mean that I slammed my foot really hard on the floor but felt no pain, could barely see while slamming my foot, also I could not remember slamming my foot. I'm 190 ibs and a bodybuilder so I'm assuming I slammed with all my strength.

I think three things:

One: you learn how to deal with your anger as you grow up by watching your parents, so undoubtedly some of that is passed on to you, not by genes particularly, but by environment.

Two: This disease is rough. Personally I have felt anger and frustration. Because I am not perfect in my emotional chanelling, I am sure that these emotions have come out, but triggered by other things.

Three: There is another forum here that focuses on the behavioral components of gluten intolerance. I'm not all that up on it, but it's there. You can check it out to see how it fits you.

So ultimately I think it could be that all three things are playing into your actions at the moment.. I wish you the best in dealing with all this, and come back to post and vent!

[Mac55]

  On 4/16/2010 at 6:18 PM, detritus said:

I'm sorry you're having a rough one. Lately I've been finding that a tablespoon of organic blackstrap molasses in hot almond milk really helps my mood. It has a lot of B-vitamins which help with depression. Hope things get better soon.

I remember reading this before. When I was at the store today I saw some and picked it up. Thanks for the tip!! I'll try it soon. PS-feeling a lot better as of yesterday afternoon.

[MartialArtist]

  On 3/28/2010 at 8:41 PM, kareng said:

Maybe we could print it on t shirts. Take them to your Mothers of young children group instead of food.

You'd be a millionaire in a week if you sold those online! LOL!

But seriously, that IS your primary job -- especially when they're 2 and 5 for goodness sake! And now the next level part of your job where you feed the family has become harder than it used to be so it takes more time and energy.

If you're getting frustrated with feeling like you're not accomplishing what you want or "enough", pick one single thing each day to be purposeful about aside from the primary job of tired-and-alive kids and make that a next-level priority. Then count yourself successful when that task is done, even if nothing else is. (And it shouldn't be "all the laundry" -- make it "one load of laundry" or "master bathroom shower and toilet cleaned" or whatever. Look for 15-minute-ish tasks so you can BE successful.)

[carnation.pink]

I agree with a lot of people saying celiac has been a blessing in disguise...(if you don't have long, read the last two paragraphs if nothing else!!!!)

To me it means that yeah-i do have to be incredibly careful what i eat-but so many more positive things that outweigh that to no end!

-I was never crazy as a kid when I woke up feeling awful and my parents thought I was faking to stay home from school

-my OCD symptoms have dissipated

-My bulimia/anorexia (i compare it to looking into a funhouse mirror) was NOT that i legitimately got FAT and gained weight right after eating..it was gluten all along

-the skills (all be they dangerous when entangled in the disease) acquired from this disorder (ingredient checking, calorie counting, writing down what i eat, restricting what I eat) have actually enabled the ruling out of gluten to be quite easy and seemingly natural.

-My recovery from my ED has been easier because I still have to have compulsive control over what I eat, but now it's a control that keeps me healthy vs. thin and unhealthy.

-I am no longer 5'2" and 167 pounds(i suffered from compulsive over eating and tried every diet in the book before i became bulimic)..in fact, I'm thinner now than I ever got with an eating disorder but am HEALTHY and well within a healthy weight range! ruling out glutenous products HELPS to keep me here without obsessive calorie counting and a new diet every second month!

-I no longer 'lose control' over my actions and ramble on incessently, I don't get foggy and I am aware of what I am doing! I was never just 'weird'!

-My hair is healthier and thicker because I stopped using glutenous shampoo! (CHECK THE INGREDIENTS!!!!)

There are a MILLION AND ONE reasons why discovering my celiac disease has IMPROVED my quality of life! Some are hidden and you have to look for them, (like celiac leading to eating disorder leading to skills that helped me cope with my diagnosis of celiac) BUT THEY ARE THERE!!!!!!

Try not to focus on losing out on a certain dish, I grew up in an Italian family and my Nona constantly tells me 'all that good food!! you're missing out on so much!!' but when I think of the happy memories in my life, the family dinners, the nights playing card games, the hockey road trips, my senior year of high school..it wasn't the lasagna, the cheesies, the pre-game meals, or the cafeteria food that made my life SO blessed and happy...it was the people, the surroundings, the things that are VERY MUCH still there!

Yes, I do feel anger that I suffered with bulimia and an ED for so long, but I'm okay now!!! I KNEW all along it wasn't JUST the disorder making me see weight gain after meals and making my pants tight, and finding out it was celiac proved to me I wasn't just completely crazy! I'm happy now, I'm healthy and liberated from illness, I LOVE my life for the people in it! Not the food I eat when I am around them!! I challenge you to make a list of your happiest memories in life and I am willing to bet that for the vast majority of them (perhaps excluding your wedding or something of the likes) that you will NOT remember what you ate that day! What about that day DID make you happy? Was it the food?

And all the things you feel you've missed out on--you're FREED from the reason behind that! It's gone! changing your chicken alfredo dinner to chicken and rice has HANDED YOU everything you have spent your life wanting! You'll have energy to play with your kids or play sports, you'll have better skin hair and nails, you'll lose or gain weight more easily, you'll feel healthier, you'll never be asked if you're pregnant again, your mental illness may very well improve remarkably or cease to exist all together!

It's all up to you how you choose to see this diagnosis--as a sentence to a life time of limits(past and present) or as a bright shiney new door leading to a completely new outlook and lifestyle for you and your loved ones.

Which one would you rather pick?