Personality Changes

[sandsurfgirl]

I didn't realize the horrible effect gluten has on a celiac brain until I was diagnosed and have seen the changes in myself.

I always thought I was just a high strung, type A personality. I was intense about things and I blamed it on being a fiery Italian girl. I would watch TV and get all upset over politics or whatever and I thought I was just passionate.

But now I have changed so much. I don't get upset about non essential things anymore. I am more patient with my kids. I just don't care about things I was so "passionate" about that caused me stress. Now I enjoy peace that I never felt before when I was on gluten.

My husband says I'm like a different person and I feel like a different person entirely. I really have changed because there is not gluten on my brain.

I used to always be on the go, running around and now I am able to enjoy nice relaxing days at home.

And then there's a general lack of depression and anxiety. My anxiety got so bad for about 6 months before diagnosis I felt like I was crawling out of my skin. I would have full blown panic attacks on my way to a fun day at the beach with my kids or just hanging around the house. Now I almost never feel anxious. Once in awhile I get panicky when I'm trying a new restaurant.

Anyone else find their personality changed for the better?

[tmbarke]

I actually found my personality change as well.........but mine (prior) was depression and hopelessness with the attempt to have some fun.

Now I am calm and have clarity.....with a bit of sassiness! But also find I can be less tolerant of ignorance too.

I have goals and maintain certain projects around the house that give me that sense of accomplishment.........where before, I'd start and stop and not go back to it.

I do notice tho that when I'm glutened (mislabeled pkg.....thanks OreIda!) I lose focus and my job becomes a chore (administration) just trying to focus on the computer screen without the mind wandering and eyes lose focus and then I get sleepy.

But all in all............I'm more of the go getter I used to be when I was younger and full of ambition. I hope to get all of her back......but for now, I'm more the extrovert than I was.

Glad your 'new' you is attitude! Type A's aren't always the fun type to be around...lol

[tmbarke]

btw - so sorry!

thought the minus sign was for no quote and I lowered your reputation I think!

so so sorry

[Jestgar]

I upped her one. I'm much nicer without gluten.

[dilettantesteph]

I noticed a big personality change too. It comes back somewhat when I get glutened, unfortunately. I didn't know how sick I was until I got better. I am much nicer to my kids off gluten.

[T.H.]

Oh yeah, definitely a change for the better!

Stress, anxiety, anger levels all way down. Depression pretty much gone. And I noticed the same...hmmm...mellowing, I suppose I'd call it. Things that I used to get up in arms about are much easier to cope with now, I don't feel as passionately opposed, or rather, even if I have a problem, I feel more able to apporoach it without so much negative emotion involved.

Considering that I have had to come up with a totally new diet for the whole family, with other food allergies to avoid, the lack of stress seems so telling!

[tmbarke]

I upped her one. I'm much nicer without gluten.

Thank You! I payed it forward to you..........

[knittingmonkey]

I didn't realize the horrible effect gluten has on a celiac brain until I was diagnosed and have seen the changes in myself.

Anyone else find their personality changed for the better?

Most certainly, though I'm not all the way back to my 'old self' yet.

[Skylark]

You want to see a personality shift, try recovering from bipolar illness. My family likes me MUCH better now.

[jerseyangel]

Oh yes--I don't sweat the small stuff anymore like I used to. I was absolutely exhausting prior to being gluten-free.

[GFinDC]

gluten-free has changed my head for the better in some ways. I used to get obsessed with thots and not be able to get re-focused on something different. Used to feel poorly and be depressed a lot. Used to get angry over minor things at times. Used to forget what I was doing and have to recheck everything I did a couple / three times to make sure I had done it. Used to not want to go out and be around people. Couldn't remember people's names. Couldn't sleep. My mind would go a zillion miles an hour when I layed down to sleep. I can talk to people more easily now.

On the down side I don't think I am as obsessively creative as I used to be. I do art when I am not doing my day job, and it used to be I couldn't think of anything else but art and making art. Always had a million ideas floating around in my head. I still love doing art but I don't feel as obsessed as then. That I kind of miss. It was like having a hot wire to a creative energy. My head is more stable and less flighty now.

[sandsurfgirl]

Thank You! I payed it forward to you..........

You two are cracking me up!

[sandsurfgirl]

gluten-free has changed my head for the better in some ways. I used to get obsessed with thots and not be able to get re-focused on something different. Used to feel poorly and be depressed a lot. Used to get angry over minor things at times. Used to forget what I was doing and have to recheck everything I did a couple / three times to make sure I had done it. Used to not want to go out and be around people. Couldn't remember people's names. Couldn't sleep. My mind would go a zillion miles an hour when I layed down to sleep. I can talk to people more easily now.

On the down side I don't think I am as obsessively creative as I used to be. I do art when I am not doing my day job, and it used to be I couldn't think of anything else but art and making art. Always had a million ideas floating around in my head. I still love doing art but I don't feel as obsessed as then. That I kind of miss. It was like having a hot wire to a creative energy. My head is more stable and less flighty now.

I've had the opposite creativity wise. I've been writing for years but never could finish anything because of anxiety and energy levels. Anxiety caused me writer's block or low self esteem where I couldn't create.

Since I went gluten free I finally finished a novel and I'm shopping for an agent now. I feel like a tiger was pent up inside my gluten filled brain and heart. Once I got gluten out of my life the tiger just sprang out of me and my creativity is just flowing like crazy.

I started dancing again. Something I haven't done in years. Even if I don't have a class or I'm not heading out to a salsa club, I dance and practice at home everyday so I can have the stamina to keep up when I do go out or take a class.

The first time I went salsa dancing I thought i was going to have a lung collapse because I had no cardio strength from being so sick! I had to keep resting and I felt like an old lady.

[GFinDC]

I've had the opposite creativity wise. I've been writing for years but never could finish anything because of anxiety and energy levels. Anxiety caused me writer's block or low self esteem where I couldn't create.

Since I went gluten free I finally finished a novel and I'm shopping for an agent now. I feel like a tiger was pent up inside my gluten filled brain and heart. Once I got gluten out of my life the tiger just sprang out of me and my creativity is just flowing like crazy.

I started dancing again. Something I haven't done in years. Even if I don't have a class or I'm not heading out to a salsa club, I dance and practice at home everyday so I can have the stamina to keep up when I do go out or take a class.

The first time I went salsa dancing I thought i was going to have a lung collapse because I had no cardio strength from being so sick! I had to keep resting and I felt like an old lady.

Congrats on your book Sandsurfgirl! That's great, it really is nice to be able to get things done eh? I guess for me it is about being able to think about something other than art now. Not that I don't love art, but I can think about it a bit less obsessively. I still love to experiment with materials and such, and try new ways of making art.

Even going dancing too, woohoo! Many things are on the upswing for you then. I bought a backless stool a few weeks ago and boy is it making my back stronger. Talk about feeling like an old fart! I work on the computer most of the time all day long, so it is less than vastly cardio stimulating.

One real nice change for me is I can see better than before. I can actually focus on the computer screen and read it ok. And I do get out to more art events now, openings and sketching events etc... I have even been in a couple shows this year which is great. And I made a new website for my art which is something I hadnt' even tried to do for years.

So all ok. Congrats on your progress SSG!

[Ahorsesoul]

On the down side I don't think I am as obsessively creative as I used to be.

This might explain why I haven't been doing my scrapbooking and genealogy like I did pre-gluten free. I use to have several days a week devoted to each.

Since I went gluten free I finally finished a novel and I'm shopping for an agent now.

Keep us informed on when your novel goes to print! You can do it.

[Skylark]

This might explain why I haven't been doing my scrapbooking and genealogy like I did pre-gluten free. I use to have several days a week devoted to each.

That happened to me as well. Overall, I'm OK without the obsessiveness though.

[sandsurfgirl]

Congrats on your book Sandsurfgirl! That's great, it really is nice to be able to get things done eh? I guess for me it is about being able to think about something other than art now. Not that I don't love art, but I can think about it a bit less obsessively. I still love to experiment with materials and such, and try new ways of making art.

Even going dancing too, woohoo! Many things are on the upswing for you then. I bought a backless stool a few weeks ago and boy is it making my back stronger. Talk about feeling like an old fart! I work on the computer most of the time all day long, so it is less than vastly cardio stimulating.

One real nice change for me is I can see better than before. I can actually focus on the computer screen and read it ok. And I do get out to more art events now, openings and sketching events etc... I have even been in a couple shows this year which is great. And I made a new website for my art which is something I hadnt' even tried to do for years.

So all ok. Congrats on your progress SSG!

Wow that's great on the art shows! When you don't feel like walking death you can get some things done. LOL

[rdunbar]

I'm really only 4 months in, and do feel like a different and much improved person; if i have an episode of anxiety/panic, it's only a 'mini' compared to what i used to go through regularly. way less intense, and only lasts 20 minutes instead of 2 days. truly amazing. feeling more comfortable in social situations and with meeting people/ interacting with strangers.

good to see you back on the board, SSG, i figured you were scarce because you were doing better, no news is good news, right?

and thanks for all your encouragement Skylark!!

[sandsurfgirl]

I'm really only 4 months in, and do feel like a different and much improved person; if i have an episode of anxiety/panic, it's only a 'mini' compared to what i used to go through regularly. way less intense, and only lasts 20 minutes instead of 2 days. truly amazing. feeling more comfortable in social situations and with meeting people/ interacting with strangers.

good to see you back on the board, SSG, i figured you were scarce because you were doing better, no news is good news, right?

and thanks for all your encouragement Skylark!!

Isn't it great not to have all day anxiety attacks? I've been spending all my free time writing and now looking for an agent. I missed all my celiac peeps though! The best club you never wanted to join!

[sandsurfgirl]

I had independent confirmation yesterday about this. I went to a pool party at a friend's house whom I haven't seen in about a year.

She came up to me and said "Heather you have changed so much. I've never seen you so calm and at peace. You are a totally different person. Even in your emails I could tell a difference."

She knew I was sick for a long time but she didn't know the extent of my anxiety attacks and nervousness, heart palpitations, etc. When I told her about it she was blown away. She said I used to look I was always on edge. The look on my face would be one of panic. I didn't even know I looked like that so often! I certainly felt that way.

I've been cutting down on my friends list too. I realized I had some very toxic people in my life that I needed to get rid of. I was fighting to remain in unhealthy relationships because my discernment wasn't quite right. I've moved on from some people that when I got really sick before diagnosis and during my terrible withdrawals that had me bedridden, showed me their true colors. I should have seen it coming but I wasn't clear headed.

I am firmly convinced that for us gluten truly is poison. It's NOT a metaphor. It IS poisonous if it affects our brains and personalities this way.

I used to care about politics and parenting styles and breastfeeding versus bottle feeding and all these controversial topics. I would watch the news or read stuff and get all upset over it. Now I honestly could care less. Not that it doesn't matter but I have the ability to pick my battles. I do what I can do in my life and I can vote and that's about it.

I recently had an acquaintance backstab me and a friend told me to protect myself. In the past I would have been upset for days and days, weeks even. But I shrugged it off. She's not somebody I would ever consider a friend. She's being an immature idiot and it's better if I stay away from her anyway. It bothered me that she would be mean behind my back and try to exclude me from something in a group I belong to, but it bothered me for an afternoon, not a month.