Hello

[NickMcKinnis]

Hello all,

My name is Nick, I am twenty six years old and I have just become a member of this forum. I was diagnosed with celiac disease around eight years ago, but have only been gluten free for approximately two years. I have never seen a nutritionist, and dine out a little too often (although I take as many steps as possible to avoid gluten). I have recently gone through a break-up and as such have sort of lost my support, so I thought it might help talking with other people who also have celiac disease.

So I suppose I just wanted to introduce myself.

Thanks for taking the time to read my post

[mommida]

Well welcome to the forum!

:D

[Bubba's Mom]

Hello Nick..welcome!

Sorry to hear about the break-up. We're here for any support we can give.

I started to hyperventilate when you said how long ago you were Dxed, and gluten-free for 2 years. I hope things are on track now?

[NickMcKinnis]

Thank you for the warm welcome. I think things are on track, It was a bumpy road at first, I had a tendency to forget about gluten being in things like medicine and toothpaste. Now my biggest challenge is finding (affordable) quick/on the go type foods that I find satisfying.

Somewhat unrelatedly I was wondering if anyone here might be able to tell me about their experience with celiac related mental or emotional problems. When I was diagnosed I was not educated of this possibility and was wondering if I had been afflicted by this or if my inner hypochondriac was self diagnosing.

[RuskitD]

Welcome Nick!!!! Sorry to hear that life has thrown some bumps in your road! You came to the right place to find support and information.

Quick and easy foods are simple. You spend an afternoon every week or so cooking for yourself. Put the food in your fridge or freezer, so you can grab something out. Your health is worth the inconvenience of one afternoon.

And your home made 'fast food' is better than anything you grab in a store.

Mental and emotional problems are not unrelated. They are a very real side effect of eating gluten.

In my life, I have suffered from depression nearly to suicide twice, but mostly it was apathy. I couldn't care less whether I lived or died. I didn't care about anything.

I've also had bouts of what I would describe as bi-polar, paranoia, and extreme anxiety.

Some days I was a screaming shrew, even while inside me, I knew I didn't feel that way. I would carry guilt at how I acted, yet somehow couldn't control it.

I have made my loved ones lives a living he// from time to time. I think I can directly blame gluten for a divorce! Truly! He was a good man, and I was a nutty woman.

If no other side effects of gluten cleared up, I would still be thankful to just have the real me back. I have only had hours long bouts of apathy since going gluten-free for 6 months, instead of it lasting for months. Those are tied directly to foods I ate, according to my food diary.

Mental clarity just keeps getting better. My family come around so much now, I am so fun to be with, and they can't get enough of me. This is the real me!

My 30 yo son told me the other day, I act now like I have had a couple drinks.... giggly, cheerful, joking, warm and loving....

I AM intoxicated! My health has made me that way!

Don't be hard on yourself for what your mind is doing. But DO take this seriously! You were blessed to be diagnosed at such a young age, compared to a lot of us that have suffered. This means you have a chance at a better life than we have led. Take full advantage of that, please!!!!

Take care of what you can control, and you CAN control your intake of gluten. Don't feel sorry what you can't have... a burger bun.... be thankful that you now know the key to what you can have... a better healthier life!!!!

When you are fully gluten-free for a long period of time, You will be able to handle what life throws at you, better and better, the longer your diet is clean of the poison.

Control of your life is right in your own hands. Take control of your diet, and I am betting you will find that your clear mind will come right along with it!!!!

[GF Lover]

NickMcKinnis

Somewhat unrelatedly I was wondering if anyone here might be able to tell me about their experience with celiac related mental or emotional problems. When I was diagnosed I was not educated of this possibility and was wondering if I had been afflicted by this or if my inner hypochondriac was self diagnosing.

[sorairobara]

WELCOME!

And the emotional and mental problems are definitely not all in your head! Any sort of malnourishment can be very bad for your mental and emotional well being! I thought I was crazy for a few months when starting to try to go gluten free. My anxiety and depression went through the roof and many times would pop out of nowhere. I'm pretty sure that some of the people at the Hyvee by my house recognize me as the girl always coming in crying...hopefully they never saw me falling down in the isles too, but thats all been doing so much better! Eat healthy and exercise even if its just a little! It makes a world of difference!

[NickMcKinnis]

Thank you all for your kind words and good advice. Summoning the willpower to follow the diet isn't difficult for me anymore but I do need to be more diligent when it comes to cross contamination. I believe my recent breakup could be attributed to problems from celiac so I can relate to RuskitD's divorce. Though my ex never said so, I believe our breakup was mainly due to the fact that I was pretty boring. I haven't had the desire to do much more than watch tv or play video games when I get home from work and when we did something socially, we went camping or went on picnics a few times but when it came to typical twenty something nightlife I was a stick in the mud.

For me, the emotional problems tend to be more damaging to myself than they are to my loved ones. I have a hard time admitting I have any emotional problems in the first place because I have worked really hard to be the best emotional problem solver possible. I'm the type that always listens to other people's problems but never very good at communicating my emotional needs. I'm all for peace love and compromise, but at my core I still have that sense of (male?) pride that makes me want to cover up all of my weaknesses. So when the crap hits the fan I have to fight myself not to turn inward.

@sorairobara I actually have been riding my bike approx. forty miles per week for around three years and can definitely agree that it has helped me immensely.

[sorairobara]

Typical twenties night life is overrated! It's the people you're with not what you're doing! At least that's how I personally feel, but not being able to participate in going out and eating or drinking with friends is a definite bummer. Especially when people stop asking you out because it's awkward being the only one not eating or drinking, so TV and video games are nice!

And forty miles? Damn that's impressive! Exercise for me is walking to and from classes and yoga in the night or morning or night and sometimes that's too much for my body. >.<;